Did I have a risk of inhaling blue asbestos? I am very worried.

[Mladost1992]

I visited many abandoned buildings and am afraid I was exposed to blue asbestos, I saw broken roofing material and walked in dust.

I am aware that to white asbestos, years of exposure is needed before developing disease. However, I cannot let go of the thought that I might have inhaled blue or brown asbestos. I read often that it can cause disease after even a minimum exposure.. I hope someone can calm my mind.

I visited at least fifteen of such abandoned buildings all over Eastern Europe, such as in Bulgaria, Armenia and Azerbaijan. I have seen broken roofing material lying around and walked past broken pipes that might have been insulated with blue asbestos. I am literally worried sick and feel as if my life is over. I cannot imagine how stupid I have been. I hope anyone could help..

[MrPresley]

The latency period for development of asbestos-related disease from blue or brown asbestos is typically even longer that that associated with exposure to white asbestos.  Are/were you also a smoker?

[Mladost1992]

I'm not a smoker. I'm still extremely anxious about this.

[MrPresley]

Kudos for not being a smoker.  I used to be an asbestos inspector and a smoker (very stupid I know), so I started getting annual low-dose CT (LDCT) screenings annually about three years ago.  Note that asbestos fibers are out there in the environment, from automobile brake shoes, etc., so virtually everyone has had some exposure.