Asbestos in the Air: How Long Does It Last?
Each year, diseases related to asbestosis claim thousands of lives in the United Kingdom. Because of the terrible effects these tiny fibres have on your respiratory system, you may be wondering, "How do I know if asbestos is in my building?" and "For what duration does asbestos remain in the air?"
It can be difficult to provide answers to these queries, and doing so calls for the involvement of asbestos removal experts. This is due to the lack of a precise estimate for the amount of time asbestos remains in the air. It is largely dependent on where the asbestos is found and how frequently it is disturbed.
How long does asbestos stay in the air?
Once disturbed, asbestos fibres may remain in the atmosphere for 48 to 72 hours. The particles typically settle after this amount of time, but this isn't always the case.
If air currents are disrupting the fibres, they may persist in their lingering state. Attempting to regulate asbestos fibres can be disastrous when it comes to temperature-regulating systems or even a window breeze.
The smallest wind can cause asbestos-containing objects to be disturbed, releasing previously settled fibres back into the air or adding new ones.
This makes it impossible to determine how long asbestos will remain in the air in your building through observation alone, especially since asbestos fibres are invisible to the unaided eye. To be certain that the area is safe, expert asbestos testing must be performed.