Linoleum Flooring Asbestos

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Linoleum flooring asbestos.

Rosato engineering consultant newton ma reinhold publishing 1959 library of congress catalog card no. Asbestos was used in vinyl wallpaper from the 1920s and in the vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring that rose to prominence in the 1950s. Old asbestos tiles can make a home appear dated. Unfortunately inhaling asbestos dust can lead to several serious diseases.

Vinyl asbestos flooring comes in two types tiles and sheeting. Asbestos vinyl sheet flooring should only be removed by a licensed abatement professional. This is why asbestos was a popular additive in vinyl flooring products for much of the 20th century. Asbestos is a hazardous material that is present in some older linoleum flooring materials.

Many tile contractors will not even consider the removal of the tile. Sanding sawing drilling or tearing the tiles out however can release fibers into the air. Vinyl asbestos tiles should not be sanded and the glue that holds the tiles to the floor should not be sanded either. It can cause lung cancer mesothelioma cancer of the larynx and ovaries and a health condition called asbestosis caused by fibrosis of the lungs.

Water has caused the flooring to shrink and curl away from the tub edge exposing about 1 2 inch of brown fibers and mold as well. Asbestos floor tiles will not release toxic fibers and pose a health risk unless they are disturbed. Vinyl flooring and wallpaper that contain asbestos cannot be recognized on sight. As with any asbestos containing material acm the first step to finding asbestos in linoleum sheet flooring and vinyl tiles is.

Tiles are safer to remove than the sheeting because the asbestos is held together by the vinyl which is not hazardous. Asbestos products and their history and use in various building materials such as asphalt and vinyl flooring includes discussion which draws on asbestos its industrial applications rosato 1959 d v. When you breathe in microscopic asbestos fibers they can get stuck in your body forever. Removing it is often not an option since the adhesive and dust are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of by a hazardous waste team.

I am concerned because of the exposure of the presumed to contain asbestos vinyl flooring edge due to water leaks under the linoleum. It is always safer to assume material manufactured before 1980 contains asbestos.