How Much Asbestos Exposure is Dangerous?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once widely used in buildings and products for its heat resistance and strength. 

However, it is now well known to be a very dangerous substance. 

In the UK, asbestos-related diseases still cause thousands of deaths each year – in fact, asbestos exposure kills more people annually than road accidents. 

This is because inhaling asbestos fibres can lead to serious illnesses much later in life. 

But how much asbestos exposure is dangerous?

In this article, we explain how much asbestos exposure is dangerous, why asbestos is so hazardous, who is at risk, and how to stay safe from exposure.

How Much Asbestos Exposure is Dangerous?

There is no completely safe level of asbestos exposure. 

Even a tiny amount of asbestos fibres can potentially lodge in your lungs and cause harm over time. 

Health experts agree that any exposure to asbestos carries some risk. 

That said, the likelihood of developing an asbestos-related disease generally increases with higher levels of exposure and more frequent or prolonged exposure. 

But because asbestos fibres can trigger disease decades later, all exposure is treated seriously. 

Workplace safety asbestos regulations reflect this by setting strict limits and requiring exposure to be minimised. 

The bottom line is that no amount of asbestos dust is truly safe, so it is best to avoid breathing in asbestos fibres altogether.

Why is Asbestos Exposure so Dangerous?

Asbestos exposure is dangerous because inhaling the tiny fibres can cause permanent, life-threatening damage in the body. 

When asbestos materials are disturbed, microscopic fibres are released into the air and can be breathed deep into the lungs. 

These fibres get stuck in the lung tissue and remain there, causing irritation and scarring. 

Over many years, this damage can lead to serious illnesses. 

Crucially, asbestos-related diseases usually take 20 to 50 years to develop, so by the time symptoms appear and a disease is diagnosed, it is often very advanced. 

In many cases, treatment is difficult or ineffective once the illness is discovered. 

Here are the main diseases caused by asbestos exposure:

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs (pleura) or the abdomen (peritoneum). 

Mesothelioma is almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure and is usually fatal by the time it is diagnosed.

Lung Cancer

Asbestos fibres can cause lung cancer. 

The risk is especially high for people who also smoke, because smoking combined with asbestos greatly increases the chance of lung cancer.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease where inhaled asbestos fibres cause scarring of lung tissue. 

It leads to progressive shortness of breath and coughing. 

Asbestosis typically occurs after many years of heavy exposure.

Pleural Thickening

This is a condition in which the lining around the lungs (pleura) becomes scarred and thickened. 

This can restrict breathing and cause chest discomfort. 

Pleural thickening is not fatal on its own, but it indicates a history of substantial asbestos exposure and can reduce lung function.

What are the Risk Factors for Asbestos Exposure?

No matter what type of asbestos is present, certain factors make asbestos exposure more likely to cause harm. 

Key risk factors include:

Level of Exposure

Breathing a high concentration of asbestos dust (many fibres in the air) greatly increases the risk of illness.

Duration of Exposure

The longer and more often you are exposed to asbestos, the higher your risk. 

Repeated or long-term exposure (for example, working with asbestos for years) is far more dangerous than a one-time brief exposure.

Protective Measures

If exposure happens without proper safety precautions, such as not wearing a suitable HEPA filter mask or not using ventilation, more fibres will be inhaled. 

Lack of protective gear or safe procedures during asbestos work means a higher risk of health damage.

Smoking

Smoking while being exposed to asbestos significantly raises the risk of lung cancer. 

The combination of cigarette smoke and asbestos fibres has a multiplying effect on lung cancer risk.

Asbestos Exposure Symptoms

One challenge with asbestos exposure is that it does not cause any immediate symptoms. 

You won’t notice anything unusual right after breathing in asbestos fibres. 

Instead, health problems only emerge years or decades later, once an asbestos-related disease has developed. 

If you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, it’s important to be aware of the possible symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses. 

Common signs to watch for include:

• Shortness of breath – especially during physical activity or exercise. This tends to worsen over time as lung damage progresses.

• Persistent dry cough – a long-lasting cough that doesn’t go away, which may indicate irritation or scarring in the lungs.

• Chest pain or tightness – discomfort in the chest or pain when breathing deeply. This can result from lung scarring (asbestosis) or fluid build-up around the lungs (as with mesothelioma).

• Unexplained weight loss or fatigue – a noticeable loss of weight or ongoing fatigue and weakness. 

What to do if Exposed to Asbestos

If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos, for example, by accidentally disturbing old insulation or breaking a material that contains asbestos, you should take the following steps promptly:

Stop the Exposure and Leave the Area

Immediately stop whatever activity is causing asbestos dust and move away from the source. 

The first priority is to avoid breathing in any more fibres.

Remove Contaminated Clothing and Wash

Carefully take off the clothes you were wearing (to avoid shaking out the dust) and seal them in a plastic bag. 

Shower thoroughly and wash your hair to rinse off any asbestos fibres from your body.

Report the Incident and Seek Medical Advice

If the exposure happened at work, report it to your employer or supervisor. 

In any case, inform your GP about the exposure as soon as possible.

Explain what happened and roughly how much dust you think you inhaled. 

There may not be any immediate treatment needed, but having it noted in your medical records is important for future reference.

Arrange Safe Clean-up and Avoid Future Exposure

Do not try to clean up any remaining asbestos debris yourself (sweeping or vacuuming can spread fibres). 

Instead, if asbestos material remains present, contact licensed asbestos removal professionals, such as us here at KD Asbestos, to handle the clean-up safely. 

Also, take steps to prevent further exposure – for example, do not disturb any more suspect materials and follow safety guidelines if you plan any additional work.

Is One Time Exposure to Asbestos Dangerous?

Many people worry that a one-off exposure to asbestos will inevitably cause serious illness. 

The encouraging news is that a single, brief exposure is generally low risk in terms of long-term health effects. 

Most individuals who develop asbestos-related diseases have had significant, repeated exposures over months or years (often in jobs where they worked with asbestos regularly). 

By contrast, if you inhaled a very small amount of asbestos dust just once, the chance of it causing an illness is extremely low. 

However, low risk does not mean no risk. 

Doctors cannot guarantee that even a tiny exposure will be completely harmless, because in theory, even one asbestos fibre lodged in the lung could eventually trigger disease. 

Very intense one-time exposures, for instance, being in an enclosed space with a large amount of asbestos dust, could be more dangerous than a minor exposure. 

The risk depends on factors like how much dust was inhaled and whether you have other risk factors such as smoking. 

Overall, one-time exposure to asbestos is unlikely to be dangerous if it was a small or moderate exposure, so you shouldn’t lose sleep over a single incident. 

Just make sure to avoid any further exposure in the future. It’s wise to mention the event to your doctor during your next routine visit, but there is usually no need for drastic measures after one brief exposure. 

Remember that asbestos-related illnesses are rare from minimal exposures – they mostly arise from heavy, long-term contact with asbestos.

Who is at Risk of Asbestos Exposure?

Asbestos can still be found in many older structures, so certain groups of people are at higher risk of encountering asbestos. 

These include:

Construction and Trades Workers

Builders, demolition crews, electricians, plumbers, and similar workers who deal with buildings built before 2000 are at risk of exposure if those structures contain asbestos. 

Disturbing old insulation, tiles, cement, or other materials can release asbestos fibres if proper precautions are not taken.

DIY Home Renovators

Homeowners doing DIY renovations on older houses may unwittingly expose themselves by cutting, sanding, or removing materials that contain asbestos. 

Without professional testing and safety measures, activities like stripping old lagging or sanding vintage floor tiles can release hazardous fibres.

People in Old Buildings With Damaged Asbestos

Anyone spending time in an older building could be exposed if asbestos-containing materials are deteriorating or damaged there. 

For example, crumbling asbestos pipe lagging or broken ceiling panels in a pre-1980s building could release fibres that nearby occupants (such as residents, office workers, or students) breathe in. 

This is why proper maintenance and management of asbestos in buildings is so important.

Family Members of Asbestos Workers

In the past, family members of asbestos industry or construction workers were put at risk by fibres brought home on the worker’s clothing. 

A spouse washing the dusty work clothes, for instance, could inhale asbestos. 

Today, strict hygiene practices (like showering and changing clothes at work) aim to prevent this kind of secondary exposure, but it can still be a concern if safety rules aren’t followed.

How to Avoid Dangerous Asbestos Exposure

Avoiding asbestos exposure comes down to being aware and careful. 

Here are key ways to protect yourself and others:

Know Where Asbestos Might Be

Be aware that any building built before 2000 could contain asbestos in materials like insulation, ceiling or floor tiles, cement sheets, or textured coatings. 

Identify and treat these materials with caution.

Don’t Disturb Suspect Materials

Asbestos is only dangerous when fibres are released into the air. 

If you suspect that a material contains asbestos, do not drill, cut, sand, or break it. 

Leave it undisturbed and seek advice on what to do.

Use Professional Services

If you plan renovations or need to remove something that might contain asbestos, hire licensed asbestos professionals to test and handle it safely. 

Never try to remove large amounts of asbestos yourself, as improper handling greatly increases the danger.

Wear Proper Protection

If you must work around asbestos, use appropriate protective PPE gear. 

This includes a high-grade respirator mask (designed for asbestos filtration), disposable coveralls, gloves, and eye protection. 

Follow all recommended safety procedures to minimise dust and fibre release.

Manage Existing Asbestos Safely

If asbestos-containing materials are present in your home or workplace, ensure they are maintained in good condition. 

Seal or encapsulate them to prevent fibre release, and have them regularly inspected for damage. 

Do not ignore deteriorating asbestos material – get professional help to repair or remove it before it becomes a hazard.

Conclusion

You should now have more of an understanding of how much asbestos exposure is dangerous.

Asbestos is a hidden hazard that can have deadly consequences, but the good news is that exposure is preventable with knowledge and caution. 

No amount of asbestos exposure is completely safe, so the best approach is to avoid exposure whenever possible. 

While a single small exposure is very unlikely to harm you, frequent or heavy exposures over time can be devastating. 

The key is to respect the danger and handle any potential asbestos material with great care (or let professionals handle it), use proper safety measures, and seek advice if exposure does occur. 

By staying informed and careful, you can protect yourself and others from asbestos-related diseases and stay safe.

For more information, or help with any and all of your asbestos requirements, get in contact with us here at KD Asbestos.