Homeowners Abatement: What kind of asbestos containing material was abated?

Asbestos containing materials become a health risk when they break up or crumble and release asbestos fibers into the air. (Flaking or loose and fragmented asbestos containing materials are called "friable.") The more tightly the material holds together, the less chance there is for the release of asbestos fibers. Materials like roofing shingles or floor tiles will release fewer fibers during abatement than pipe insulation or sprayed on asbestos that has to be scraped off structures. Therefore, the kind of material that was abated and the condition of that material are the most important factors in deciding what problems may exist in your building or home. Also, for any given material, the larger the quantity of that material abated, the greater the potential for increasing fiber release.

Courtesy of the New York State Health Department