I need expert advice! Remember that gas explosion in downtown Seattle that took out a few commercial buildings? My BF Katie lives in a building right next to that and her building was damaged. Turns out they found ASBESTOS in her building! Now her landlord says she has two days to get all her stuff out before the asbestos remediation people destroy it.
If it's safe for her to go back into her place, is it safe for her to touch her stuff? Should the landlord even be letting people get their stuff if the asbestos people planned to destroy it? Needless to say, Katie doesn't want to destroy all her books and comics and souvenirs! Does anyone know anything about asbestos?
I know nothing about asbestos.
DC metro is shutting down the whole system for 29 hours starting at midnight. This will be a mess. My University is operating normally, but the Feds are getting unsheduled leave/telework options. We had someone in town, that I think we will not get to see, now.
What are my strengths? I don't know.
Tell them you control the Ancient Psychic Tandem War Elephant: [link]
I basically said "unfucking shit" but, you know, nicely.
Flea, that's awful. I'm sorry.
Zen, I'm not sure about asbestos. I've seen things on reno shows where they find it and have to deal, but they don't go into health and safety that deeply. And I'm not sure HGTV would be my first stop go medical advice anyway--it's just not their field.
Tell them you control the Ancient Psychic Tandem War Elephant
Can they prove she doesn't?
Asbestos team said the building that exploded had asbestos, and they haven't found it in her building yet but are still checking. They can't let anyone legally remove stuff after they find it, so they're basically giving everyone 2 days to get their stuff out.
That is less scary than what we were originally told, by the somewhat panicky landlord.
What a mess.
So it's an "odds are good, but once it's proven all bets are off"?
Asbestos comes in two flavors, friable and non-. Friable means you can crumble it with your fingers. Likely places for asbestos include insulation around pipe elbows, siding, and shingles. Also some textured ceilings, the only one that's friable if intact. If none of those things is damaged in her apartment, it's probably okay. Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Mesothelioma is technically possible to get from a single exposure, but the other stuff is hardcore exposure over time (asbestosis, lung cancer). The EPA no longer allows single use paper masks around asbestos, but that's again workplace guidelines. An NIOSH N-95 or P-100 may provide some protection.
Source: trainings on asbestos when I worked in construction recycling, and a little googling just now.
Thank you much, smonster! I figured you'd have the intel. Her place doesn't have a textured ceiling as I recall, and I think the only thing damaged was the wall around a window. Sounds like she's probably okay to go in and get her stuff. That's a relief.
