asbestos exposure! help! so worried

[amyterry1321]

Please someone help put my mind at ease a bit.  i live in an appartment building that is very very old.  up until recently i never put to thought the health risks an old building poses.  i have my laundry area in the basement of our building where i am constantly dumping baskets of dirty laundry on the floor.  never put any serious thought into this until recently i found out the crumbled (not powdery) tiles very likely contain asbestos.  so all this time over the last 2 years my clothes have been laying in this crap.  i am freaking out to the point of losing sleep and being unable to eat, as i have 3 small children and am scared to death for them.  i on the other hand do not have any form of ducts (heat nor central air) blowing into my home.  only electric heat.  i have been told by a few people not to worry too much as long as i dont sand the tiles or drill them.  but i cant help it.  i guess what im looking for is piece of mind.  can someone with some good experience and knowledge please give me some input.  please do not comment to scare me or give me any information that is not professional as im already losing my mind over this.  also i might add that my basement is closed off from the rest of my house by an entry way and door.  thank you to anyone in advance who takes the time to read this and im sorry if some of this doesnt make sense, my mind is all over the place right now.  help!!

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Hello,

There is truthfully no precise answer to your question about risk. In general, there are many buildings with asbestos tiles or other structural materials that contain asbestos. Intact asbestos does not typically pose any risk to health. Friable or crumbling asbestos materials that result in asbestos dust or particles can put people at risk. What we generally become concerned about is this: friable asbestos that produces dust or particles that may then be inhaled. This can occur in remodeling or demolition activities.

If you are unsure about the composition of the tiles or the dust produced from the tiles, you can have the dust and/or tiles tested to determine if there is asbestos present.

Please follow-up with additional questions that you may have.

~ Dr. Parks

This answer provided to you is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this Medhelp.org posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

[shinty]

Mr. Philip D. Parks---you have a lot of letters after your name! congratulations, and thank you for helping others.
       shinty..

           P.S.- I tried to message you  to tell you this, but it's not available...
                   shinty

[amyterry1321]

yes, how much at risk is my family and i potentially in from laying our dirty clothes on the cracked asbestos tile before i wash them?  and how much asbesto could actually be in my air upstairs if i have no circulating air coming from the basement and our basement has a door and an entryway between our living quarters.  im so worried!!

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Hello,

Do you have a specific question ?

~ Dr. Parks

This answer provided to you is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this Medhelp.org posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.