The short answer is “yes” if the asbestos is disturbed. Asbestos is a health risk when extremely fine particles become airborne and are inhaled. These breathable fibres cannot be seen with the eye, but can enter and become lodged in the lungs where they may stay and develop into a disease. Current scientific and medical evidence supports the fact that simply living or working in a building containing asbestos is not dangerous as long as the asbestos is in good condition. When asbestos is damaged, worked with or disturbed and asbestos fibres are released the risk of developing an asbestos related disease is increased.

Risk factors

The likelihood of any particular person developing an asbestos-related illness depends on a number of factors, including:

• length of time a person is exposed to airborne asbestos fibres
• concentration or levels of asbestos in the air breathed
• individual susceptibility
• size and type of asbestos fibres
• influence of other factors, especially cigarette smoke. (Research has shown that smoking significantly increases the risk of lung cancer in people who have been exposed to asbestos.)

What is asbestos? 

Asbestos is the generic term for several fibrous silicate minerals commonly used in the building industry between the 1940s and 1980s.

The fibres are usually:

• less than 3 microns* in diameter and
• greater than 5 microns in length.

The manufacture and use of asbestos products was banned nationally from 31 December 2003. Before the health risks were known, asbestos products were widely used because they were durable, fire resistant and had good insulation properties. Products made from asbestos cement, a bonded asbestos material included fibro sheeting (flat and corrugated), insulation, roofing shingles and guttering.

Do I have an asbestos roof?

If your roof looks like the roof below then you have an asbestos roof. If you are concerned about the state of your asbestos roof you should have a licensed professional come and look at your roof. Call Reliance Roof Restoration now on 1300 300 748.