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Strelok
location:
Alpharetta, GA
Gender: Male
 |  | The presence of asbestos
< on 8/12/2008 1:00 AM >
|  | | | So I've explored a few places now, with no negative effects, but I was wondering, what kind of buildings are most likely to have dangerous asbestos levels? Would a small house be anything to worry about? It seems when I've heard most people talk about asbestos they're usually referring to larger places such as hospitals and factories. Also, what would be sufficient protection? Would a dust mask be fine, or would you recommend a full on respirator?
Thanks in advance.
If Abercrombie suddenly decided that breathing wasn't cool, Half of American teens would have died within the past 24 hours. |
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Shawn W.
     
location:
Niagara Falls, NY
Gender: Male
Optimistic Pessimist
| |  |  | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 1 on 8/12/2008 1:32 AM >
| | | | Posted by Strelok
So I've explored a few places now, with no negative effects, but I was wondering, what kind of buildings are most likely to have dangerous asbestos levels? Would a small house be anything to worry about? It seems when I've heard most people talk about asbestos they're usually referring to larger places such as hospitals and factories. Also, what would be sufficient protection? Would a dust mask be fine, or would you recommend a full on respirator?
Thanks in advance. |
A dust mask won't cut it. You need something rated for asbestos. I'd post a link to a thread where this is discussed, with a couple of purchase links, but I can't seem to find it at the moment, so I'll just say look on Amazon.com. They have more than one mask that should work.
Edit: How long are you spending in these places? Also, asbestos won't affect you in the short term, but it can affect you in the long term.
[last edit 8/12/2008 1:33 AM by Shawn W. - edited 1 times]
What is a rebel? A man who says no. - Albert Camus |
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Strelok
location:
Alpharetta, GA
Gender: Male
| | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 2 on 8/12/2008 2:06 AM >
| | | | I never stay in more than 10-20 minutes. I don't have a camera at the moment, so I'm not taking the time to get photos and all. I also actually try to limit my breathing a bit, and go outside for fresh air often. I don't think any of the have been abandoned long so I doubt there's many asbestos, if any at all.
If Abercrombie suddenly decided that breathing wasn't cool, Half of American teens would have died within the past 24 hours. |
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programmer437
location:
Columbia, SC; Charlotte, NC
Gender: Male
| | | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 4 on 8/12/2008 4:44 AM >
| | | | Posted by Strelok
I never stay in more than 10-20 minutes. I don't have a camera at the moment, so I'm not taking the time to get photos and all. I also actually try to limit my breathing a bit, and go outside for fresh air often. I don't think any of the have been abandoned long so I doubt there's many asbestos, if any at all.
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http://www.hhs.gov...res/20010916a.html
You really ought to be fine for a single exposure. But if you plan on spending alot of time around these places, or visiting alot of places with asbestos hazards, then you should certainly carry some P-100's. But for a one-time trip it wouldn't be worth the investment.
"I don't care if you're urban explorers or urban infiltrators or URBAN LEGENDS!" |
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DJ Craig
   
Moderator
location:
Johnson City, TN
Gender: Male
Break the Silence
| | | | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 5 on 8/15/2008 3:56 AM >
| | | | Does a good thick dust mask help at all? Or are the completely futile? I've had friends who have gone exploring around asbestos with dust masks - they were people who weren't really wanting to get into doing this on a regular basis, so they didn't want to buy respirators that they would only use once or twice. They did use the thicker dust masks that are made for painting, not the cheap thin wood-working ones.
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." -Dr. Suess |
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programmer437
location:
Columbia, SC; Charlotte, NC
Gender: Male
| | | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 6 on 8/15/2008 5:15 AM >
| | | | Posted by DJ Craig
futile? I've had friends who have gone exploring around asbestos with dust masks - they were people who weren't really wanting to get into doing this on a regular basis, so they didn't want to buy respirators that they would only use once or twice. They did use the thicker dust masks that are made for painting, not the cheap thin wood-working ones.
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Asbestos fibres can be a fraction of a micrometer in size. They just get sucked through the mask alongside the air you breathe in. Anything less than a P-100 won't do much good at all, if any.
"I don't care if you're urban explorers or urban infiltrators or URBAN LEGENDS!" |
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Shawn W.
location:
Niagara Falls, NY
Gender: Male
Optimistic Pessimist
| | | | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 7 on 8/15/2008 5:32 AM >
| | | | Posted by programmer437
Asbestos fibres can be a fraction of a micrometer in size. They just get sucked through the mask alongside the air you breathe in. Anything less than a P-100 won't do much good at all, if any. |
Kind of like the dust masks that the Soviet government gave to the people who dealt with Chernobyl in the immediate aftermath. Not good for much except a placebo effect.
What is a rebel? A man who says no. - Albert Camus |
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The Nozzmiester
location:
Deepest Darkest Australia.
Gender: Male
| | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 8 on 8/15/2008 10:42 AM >
| | | | I tend to err on the side of safety and bring the respirator along anyway. Work on the principle that even if there's no asbestos around, it's stopping you breathing in gross dust, pigeon crap particles, etc etc.
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Shawn W.
location:
Niagara Falls, NY
Gender: Male
Optimistic Pessimist
| | | | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 9 on 8/15/2008 11:36 AM >
| | | | Posted by The Nozzmiester
I tend to err on the side of safety and bring the respirator along anyway. Work on the principle that even if there's no asbestos around, it's stopping you breathing in gross dust, pigeon crap particles, etc etc. |
Probably of more concern in many sites is mold. One place that I was in last year had that issue in abundance. I can't remember if I'd left my respirator in the vehicle that I'd ridden in, or if I'd just decided not to use it, but honestly, after being in this environment for a couple of hours, my body began to feel kinda weird, mostly my lungs. I'm pretty sure that I ended up spending at least another hour in there after that. If I get a chance to go back to said place before it's demolished (it's a matter of when, not if, at this point), I'm packing the respirator.
What is a rebel? A man who says no. - Albert Camus |
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micro
Gender: Male
Slowly I turned
| | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 10 on 8/15/2008 2:36 PM >
| | | | Posted by Shawn W.
Probably of more concern in many sites is mold. One place that I was in last year had that issue in abundance. I can't remember if I'd left my respirator in the vehicle that I'd ridden in, or if I'd just decided not to use it, but honestly, after being in this environment for a couple of hours, my body began to feel kinda weird, mostly my lungs. I'm pretty sure that I ended up spending at least another hour in there after that. If I get a chance to go back to said place before it's demolished (it's a matter of when, not if, at this point), I'm packing the respirator.
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Lemme guess.. you're talking about the Aud, aren't you?
I think mold is only an issue if you're exposed to it for long periods of time, and by long periods of time, I mean months.. not hours. It's going to be a concern if it's in your house and it's something you're living with, otherwise don't worry about it. Just don't eat it and you'll be fine.
As for as asbestos, I think there's a fair amount of hysteria surrounding it, but maybe I'm a bit biased because I've spent time a fair amount of time exploring asbestos mines and have somewhat of a blasé attitude toward it now. You tend to get that way when walking around places where even the roads are paved using the stuff.
I'd just be aware of what asbestos looks like so that you can avoid getting covered in the stuff when you can. That means being careful in places like steam tunnels or basements where old pipes can be wrapped in asbestos insulation or around certain industrial components. Otherwise, just relax and don't get too paranoid about it. I'd be more concerned about breathing in second hand smoke or ingesting whatever they're putting in the food at McDonald's these days.
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Air
 
location:
Canada
| | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 11 on 8/15/2008 3:35 PM >
| | | | Posted by DJ Craig
futile? I've had friends who have gone exploring around asbestos with dust masks - they were people who weren't really wanting to get into doing this on a regular basis, so they didn't want to buy respirators that they would only use once or twice. They did use the thicker dust masks that are made for painting, not the cheap thin wood-working ones.
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No, they do not block out the fibers. i bought one and have used it less then 5 times. Although the other night I think I should have had one, I think the mold/skank in one of the buildings I went into gave me a really bad sinus headache, which I also seem to get in drains when there is more mist and humidity.
"The extraordinary beauty of things that fail." - Heinrich von Kleist |
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Shawn W.
location:
Niagara Falls, NY
Gender: Male
Optimistic Pessimist
| | | | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 12 on 8/15/2008 3:57 PM >
| | | | Posted by micro
Lemme guess.. you're talking about the Aud, aren't you? |
Shhh.  Yes, the Aud.
What is a rebel? A man who says no. - Albert Camus |
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micro
Gender: Male
Slowly I turned
| | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 13 on 8/15/2008 4:09 PM >
| | | | Yeah, the carpets in there are pretty skanky.
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Shawn W.
location:
Niagara Falls, NY
Gender: Male
Optimistic Pessimist
| | | | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 14 on 8/15/2008 5:44 PM >
| | | | Posted by micro
Yeah, the carpets in there are pretty skanky. |
I wasn't just talking about the carpets. There are some areas where black mold is the dominant lifeform.
What is a rebel? A man who says no. - Albert Camus |
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Chris Hansen
I'm Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC. Why dont you have a seat over there?
| | | | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 15 on 8/16/2008 2:02 AM >
| | | | pretty much any old building will have it. most of the ceiling tiles in old buildings are asbestos i thing, and old churches. it was used alot to prevent fires because it cant burn or is flame retardant until they found out it can cause cancer, buy if you wear a resporator it will be fine.
[last edit 8/16/2008 2:03 AM by Chris Hansen - edited 1 times]
My name is Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC's To Catch a Predator. Why don't you have a seat over there? |
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flux
location:
North Carolina
Gender: Male
so many places... so little time...
| | | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 16 on 8/17/2008 10:54 PM >
| | | | I'm assuming that this place had a little, this was posted in the basement. :-p
Capturing God's beauty and mans decay. |
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KingKong
location:
Pittsburgh PA / Rochester NY
Gender: Male
Insert artistic / badass sounding phrase here.
| | | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 17 on 8/24/2008 2:14 AM >
| | | |
Usually you will find asbestos in buildings with heat sensitive fixtures, ie steam pipes, heat shields. Also, many buildings had tiles, ceiling pannels and fire doors made of asbestos. It is mostly present in buildings abandoned before the 1980's (guess). Intact, it will appear on pipes like a cast over a broken bone. When it breaks down, it will appear as a sort of white powder.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN A P-100 RESPIRATOR.
Dont touch, photograph, poke or do anything involving coming in contact with this. I cant emphasise how much this stuff will fuck you up. Once it gets in your lungs, it doesn't come out. Period. If my friend in the picture and I (taking the picture) knew there was going to be that much asbestos in that room, we would have brought respirators. I probably took ten breaths the whole time we were in there.
Respirators are also a wise idea for protecting against dust from bird feces, rodents, rust, some chemicals and tons of other hairy shit.
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g3shooter
location:
Northern Virginia, Loudoun
Gender: Male
| | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 18 on 8/27/2008 6:48 PM >
| | | | "Get out of here stalker"
Avoid asbestos, I would suggest getting a military surplus gas mask.
Either Russian or NATO issue, and several filters.
Shake out all clothing and shower.
DO NOT TOUCH ASBESTOS INSULATION, as long as it is not disturbed, there will not be much dust in the air.
The Right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed! |
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fopjn01
location:
Springfield Ma. USA
Gender: Male
| | Re: The presence of asbestos
<Reply # 19 on 9/2/2008 7:10 PM >
| | | | Most asbestos won't harm you unless you breath the fibers. I'm pretty sure airborne asbestos, or asbestos that is likely to become airborne is called "FRIABLE".
This a picture from a steam tunnel at [massachusetts] State hospital. The pipes were wrapped with asbestos and taped. Exposure to the elements rotted the tape, and the asbestos below is ready to puff into dust at the slightest touch. This is the kind of thing you need to worry about. I would not go into this tunnel without a mask.
A little further in the tape is intact. This is mostly safe, but avoid touching it if possible. Note the spots where it has deteriorated and the asbestos beneath is exposed. "Do not taunt happy fun asbestos!"
I had an induced asthma attack about 2 years ago, and was afraid it might have been impacted by exposure to asbestos. I told the doctor about my UE activities. She told me that there was little danger of cancer or mesothelioma
unless you are exposed for years, and often. But it's still best to avoid breathing it. She also looked at me as if I was insane...
I'm also pretty sure that all floor tile that is 8 inch square is made of asbestos too.
If you have done things right people won't be sure if you have done anything at all. |
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