How Exposure to Asbestos Popcorn Ceilings Bound to Cause Mesothelioma Cancer?

Asbestos Popcorn Ceilings: In numerous households across the United States, popcorn ceilings remain a prevalent feature. These textured drywall ceilings gained popularity between 1945 and the early 1990s.


asbestos popcorn ceiling



Particularly, popcorn ceilings installed prior to the 1990s often contain asbestos, a fire-resistant mineral that was widely used in construction materials until the 1980s. Contact with asbestos in popcorn ceilings has been linked to the development of mesothelioma cancer.

 

 

Do Popcorn Ceilings Have Asbestos?

From 1945 to the early 1990s, asbestos popcorn ceilings gained popularity due to their textured appearance, serving both as acoustic insulation and a method to conceal imperfections. Unfortunately, these ceiling materials frequently incorporated asbestos.

During that era, asbestos was a prevalent component in various construction materials, including popcorn ceilings. Its widespread use stemmed from its fire-resistant properties, cost-effectiveness, and durability.

The composition of popcorn ceiling coverings typically contained asbestos ranging from one to ten percent.

 

 

What Does a Popcorn Ceiling Look Like?


  • Surface displays visible pockmarked texture
  • Colors commonly include white, off-white, or beige
  • Variation exists in the depth of the "popcorn" effect



How Common Is Asbestos in Popcorn Ceilings?

Popcorn ceilings and various products commonly used throughout the 20th century often contained asbestos. Records suggest that popcorn ceiling materials installed between 1945 and the early 1990s likely included asbestos.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) in 1973, prohibiting hazardous substances in ceiling coverings.

Studies indicate that asbestos might have persisted in asbestos popcorn ceiling materials even after this regulation. Asbestos-containing inventories were exempt from the ban, potentially leading workers to continue using them.

There are some reports that suggest that stockpiles of asbestos-containing materials for asbestos popcorn ceilings might have remained until the 1990s.


Armstrong World Industries History of Asbestos


 

When Did Companies Stop Using Asbestos in Popcorn Ceilings?

Popcorn ceilings containing asbestos were a common feature from 1945 through the 1990s.

Although asbestos was formally prohibited from ceiling coverings in 1973, products manufactured earlier, which contained asbestos, might have still been installed in residences until the 1990s 

Individuals who own homes built before the 1990s should assume asbestos is present in all popcorn ceilings. Materials installed after 1995 likely did not contain asbestos. Some other names for popcorn ceiling products include:


  • Acoustic ceiling
  • Blown-on ceiling
  • Cottage-cheese ceiling
  • Spray-on ceiling
  • Stipple ceiling
  • Stucco ceiling
  • Textured ceiling

 

Should these ceilings not have been replaced, residences and other structures might still harbor asbestos within their materials.  

If homeowners believe their popcorn ceilings were installed before the early 1990s, it's advisable to engage a professional for testing, removal, encapsulation, and proper disposal of any asbestos present.

Handling asbestos should strictly be undertaken by certified asbestos contractors. Any activities like sanding, painting, or patching of a popcorn ceiling might disturb asbestos fibers, leading to the creation of hazardous asbestos dust.

In homes with asbestos-containing ceilings, professionals may opt to either remove or encapsulate the materials as deemed appropriate.

Asbestos removal entails the meticulous elimination of asbestos-containing materials from a building. A licensed professional manages this process, ensuring the safe and legal disposal of the asbestos.

On the other hand, asbestos encapsulation involves covering or sealing asbestos-containing products to prevent the release of fibers into the air. This method aims to contain and prevent the dispersal of asbestos particles.


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How to Test Your Ceiling for Asbestos?

If there's suspicion of asbestos in a home, homeowners should avoid attempting removal or encapsulation on their own and instead, engage a licensed abatement contractor as the initial step.

If asbestos materials might have been disturbed, taking preventive measures can help minimize exposure. To prevent asbestos exposure before the arrival of abatement professionals, homeowners can:


  • Evacuate pets and individuals from the area
  • Close all vents and doors in the affected zone
  • Dampen the area to prevent airborne fiber release


Entrusting asbestos handling to professionals is the safest approach, safeguarding friends and family from inhaling hazardous asbestos fibers. 

Regarding testing your ceiling for asbestos, a professional asbestos testing service can accurately determine the presence of asbestos in your ceiling materials.


Pleurocentesis (Thoracentesis) Procedure, Risks & Complications

 

 

How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings With Asbestos?

A licensed asbestos abatement contractor is the appropriate professional to handle asbestos removal. It's crucial for homeowners, landlords, tenants, or general contractors to avoid attempting removal themselves.

Contractors assessing asbestos in ceilings consider its condition and friability—the degree of "crumbliness" of the material. Highly friable asbestos products pose the most significant risk as they're more likely to release fibers into the air, often necessitating removal by professionals. 

In cases where low friability products are in good condition, encapsulation might be recommended by contractors.

For a comprehensive asbestos popcorn ceiling removal, the contractor typically initiates by shutting off ventilation to the affected area. Wetting down the products helps prevent the release of airborne fibers during removal.

Disposal of asbestos products adheres to state regulations, with licensed contractors ensuring the safe disposal of these materials to prevent harm to others.

 

The Dangers of Asbestos in Popcorn Ceilings

Please note that disturbed or damaged asbestos popcorn ceilings have the potential to release harmful fibers into the air.

Inhalation or ingestion of these asbestos fibers poses significant health risks. Once asbestos enters the body, it can lead to the development of severe health conditions over time.

 

 

Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure from Popcorn Ceiling

Asbestos fibers have the potential to embed themselves within the linings of internal organs, leading to prolonged irritation and scarring over time.

This irritation can result in several hazardous health conditions, the most severe being mesothelioma cancer. Other associated illnesses include asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer.

In a specific case study, researchers investigated the exposure of a woman who lived in a residence with asbestos ceilings for three decades. Ongoing water damage caused the release of asbestos dust into the air. The individual began experiencing severe coughing spells in the 1990s. By 2010, she received a diagnosis of lung cancer and subsequently displayed lung scarring consistent with asbestosis.

Asbestos-related diseases may take anywhere from 10 to 50 years to manifest after initial exposure. While there's no identified safe level of asbestos exposure, repeated or prolonged exposure might elevate the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. 

 

Who Is Most at Risk From Asbestos Popcorn Ceilings? 

Today, a number of groups face different levels of risk regarding contact with asbestos in popcorn ceilings:

 

  • Construction Professionals: Those involved in construction, renovation, or demolition work are at occupational risk of encountering asbestos in popcorn ceilings. 
  • Homeowners and Families: In residences with asbestos-containing popcorn ceilings, entire families might be exposed to the mineral. Removal or encapsulation of these ceilings can help mitigate asbestos exposure at home. 
  • People in Close Proximity to Asbestos Workers: Individuals living or working closely with those handling asbestos have a heightened risk of exposure. Secondary exposure can occur through contact with someone who has asbestos fibers on their clothing or body. For instance, spouses of asbestos workers might face this risk. 
  • Owners of older homes, in particular, should consider testing popcorn ceilings and other materials for asbestos content. Professionals can conduct tests and recommend suitable mitigation plans to prevent potential exposure.





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