"uz" wrote:

We remodelled our bathroom (home built in 73) last year in june. There
was linoleum flooring in the bathroom about 24 square feet that was
removed as well as the ductwork that we cut a piece of that contained
asbestos. We didn't know at that time and therefore no precaution was
taken. After a month or so i found out that the the duct work contained
asbestos and the linoleum may also have so i had some professionals
come in and vacuum my house with a HEPA vacuum. I'm now so scared that
the asbestos may still be in my house, on my clothes in my closets, on
our beds etc. I have a two year old in the house and I'm scared to
death. I feel I have jeapordized his health. I'm literally obsessed by
these thoughts and can't think of anything else. My husband is totally
oblivious to this. Even last year when I got the house vacuumed he
thought i was over reacting to the situation. What should I do now? is
my house totally contaminated? I need help!!!!!!

The asbestos scare has gone way out of proportion. If your house is in your
opinion "contaminated" but you can't see it (there are no piles of asbestos lying
about) you will probably inhale just as much fibers as you would be on a normal
sunny day in traffic!

But if you are still worried now is the time to quit smoking. Most people are
worried about lung cancer and not asbestosis which is more directly related to
asbestos. But to get asbestosis you'd have to inhale it on a regular basis for
years and years. But getting back to lung cancer ... the current thinking on how
asbestos fibers could cause cancer is this: the smallest asbestos fibers are so
small that they may puncture cell walls without destoying the them. While
asbestos itself does not contain carcinogens particles from smoking does. And if
that stuff is near the punctured cell carcinogens may enter the cell and cause a
mutation and cancer.