Decorative asbestos plaster has been used widely in construction and paving walls in the 1940s to the 1980s. However, the once so popular product - as we learned later on - turned into a major health threat. When asbestos containing material get disturbed, toxic fibers can get released to the air and put everybody on-site at risk. Asbestos plaster is often referred to as acoustical plaster or Artex. This type of plaster can usually be found in older constructions, especially if they were built in the 60s and 70s. The Artex plaster ceilings which were manufactured prior to 1980 contain white asbestos, called chrysotile.

Chrysotile, among all forms of asbestos, is categorized as the least carcinogenic substance. Nonetheless, being exposed to it can still trigger the onset of asbestos induced diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestosis. Asbestos contractors have been in contact with asbestos plaster often for years or even decades. Also, workers employed by asbestos manufacturers are among the individuals who had a higher risk of developing an illness because they were more likely to inhaled the toxic dust particles. As a homeowner, you need to use caution when considering removing decorative asbestos plaster. During the removal, chances are that the material gets damaged and as mentioned earlier, this will contaminate the air and pose a severe health risk.

   Asbestos Plaster Board
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Therefore, you should definitely hire an asbestos removal company and not take down the plaster yourself. Specialized experts to have the experience and the tools to make sure that the job will not leave anybody at a health risk.
But before you take any steps, you should know that in many cases a removal of the asbestos plaster is actually not necessary. Experts advise to leave the product alone if it is still intact. The problem with that is: how do you know whether or not the product is in good shape? The only reliable way to find that out is by hiring an asbestos testing company. Those companies specialize in the evaluation of premises and can provide a thorough assessment of your situation. Air and product samples will be taken and send to a lab for further examination. After that and based on the results you can then make a decision.

I was diagnosed with kidney cancer in October of 2009. I will never find out what actually caused my renal cell carcinoma, however, there is a chance that is was trigger by exposure to asbestos. Back in the 80s, asbestos plaster sheets were widely used in Europe for insulation purposes. And I used to help my father cutting, trimming and mounting those sheets. Back then we didn't care too much about protection gear and I remember very well that at the end of a working day, my face was covered in asbestos dust and since I didn't wear a protection mask, I inhaled and ingested good amounts of the material.