Most asbestos containing material in good condition is safe. Asbestos is only dangerous when it’s in a loose form, damaged, disturbed or worked on as this can release the asbestos fibres into the air.

If these fibres are breathed in over a long time, they may damage the lungs and can lead to very serious diseases such as: -

•   Mesothelioma – a cancer of the lining to the lungs and stomach
•   Lung cancer; and
•   Asbestosis - lung scarring

There are no sudden changes in health after breathing in fibres - these diseases have a long latency period and can take from 15 to 60 years to develop. They are incurable and many fatal.