Hey everyone, I live in Ontario, Canada, and my house was built in 1979. Recently, I tested my popcorn ceiling for asbestos using a 0.5 sensitivity test, and thankfully, it came back negative. I went ahead and removed it while wearing a respirator, goggles, and gloves. But after the fact, I read that 0.1 sensitivity tests are more accurate, which has me worried that I might have been exposed to asbestos. I also found conflicting information about when spray-on asbestos products were banned in Ontario—some sources say 1973, while others suggest it lasted into the late '80s. If it was banned in '73, why are there suggestions that it was still being used years later? I'm really nervous about whether I made a mistake in handling this myself, so any clarity on the situation would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
It really depends on how you removed it. If you took safe precautions, you might be okay. Honestly, one ceiling’s worth isn't usually a huge risk. Just make sure you didn't create a huge mess with dust everywhere!
You're looking at near zero risk. Asbestos really needs long-term exposure, usually in industrial settings, to cause any serious problems, so you're likely in the clear!
I didn’t wet remove it, and for blasting sand, I made quite the mess. I had the window open with a fan running and blocked the door with a towel. I also wore a P100 respirator the whole time.