If you buy a house with popcorn ceilings, one of your first concerns may be that it contains asbestos. This can also be a concern for a worker who notices that their place of employment has these older styles of ceilings. If you’re spending eight hours a day somewhere, you don’t want to be breathing asbestos particles the entire time.
But is this concern warranted? Is there actually asbestos in popcorn ceilings?
Health risks of asbestos exposure
Asbestos fibers can be inhaled or ingested when disturbed, entering the lungs or digestive system and causing severe health problems. The most serious consequences of asbestos exposure are long-term and often irreversible. Asbestos exposure comes with unignorable health concerns that, unfortunately, can develop decades after initial contact.
The most common health risk is Mesothelioma, a rarely occurring but aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart. This type of cancer is unique because it’s almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and has a poor prognosis. Asbestosis is another chronic lung disease that develops from prolonged asbestos exposure.
Lung cancer is also a serious consequence of asbestos exposure, particularly dangerous for individuals who also smoke. There are also Pleural plaques, which are thickened areas on the lung lining. This condition can also develop and may cause breathing problems.
Furthermore, when asbestos fibers become airborne, they can be inhaled and lodge in the lungs permanently. These microscopic fibers cannot be broken down by the body and accumulate over time, eventually leading to inflammation, scarring and cancerous changes. Even brief exposure can be dangerous, as there is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. Most of these conditions often appear 20 to 40 years after exposure, meaning early detection is difficult.
Asbestos content can be as high as 10%
It is possible for there to be asbestos in older popcorn ceilings. If so, experts who work with remediation note that it is usually from 1% to 10%. Any percentage is dangerous. 1% sounds like a very small amount, but these are microscopic particles. Any amount of exposure is plenty to increase your risk of developing mesothelioma in the future.
How old are your ceilings?
Part of this is going to depend on when your ceilings were installed. Asbestos can no longer be used in popcorn ceilings, but it can still be made with paper fiber. So you want to check when the house was constructed or at least when the last run of aviation was done. It could be that your popcorn ceiling does not have any asbestos because it was made after the ban went into effect. But if it’s an older ceiling or if someone just painted over a popcorn ceiling that had been in place for decades, then it certainly could contain a concerning amount of asbestos.
Removing your popcorn ceiling
Many states have specific regulations governing asbestos removal that require professional certification and proper containment procedures. For Pennsylvania residents, the Department of Environmental Protection provides comprehensive guidelines for asbestos testing and removal requirements.
DIY removal of potentially asbestos-containing popcorn ceilings is extremely risky and may be illegal under EPA and OSHA guidelines. Professional testing and removal help ensure safety and compliance with regulations. Before attempting any work on popcorn ceilings, you should research local and state laws regarding asbestos handling.
If you or a family member has developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you know how detrimental this can be and how expensive things can get. Be sure you understand your legal options.