Serious problem with cutback adhesive

[Vinny]

My mother is getting new tiles put in the house. They lifted the old ones in the living room, and it was covered in black, tar like stuff (cutback adhesive, right?) that couldn't be scrapped up. The contractor she hired said the only way to get it up was by grinding, and used a giant grinding machine. Just the contractors were home for this, and they swept up and vacuumed most of the debris. Even though they taped off the area, a thin layer of dust has settled on everything in the nearby room.
I'm freaking out here. This stuff contains asbestos, right? My mother (typical of her) doesn't really care, but I don't know what to do. Should I go over and vacuum and wipe down everything in the house? Should I call EPA or something? Any help would be appreciated, as this seems like a serious situation.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Should I call EPA or something?

Well, if you want to pay thousands in fines and and then thousands more for a certified remediation service, make thay phone call !

To be honest, I don't know if the adhesive contains asbestos, but the tile likely did contain asbestos !

Even though they taped off the area, a thin layer of dust has settled on everything in the nearby room.

I'm betting most of the dust is concrete dust !

Using a dust mask, take a soft cloth, dampen it and dust everything in the room. Place damp rag in a plastic garbage bag and seal.

Do NOT vacuum with a regular vacuum cleaner ! The dust will just blow through the filter. You can purchase a HEPA filter for most shop vacs, maybe even for regular vacuums. When your done, use damp paper towels to clean out the shop vac. Place the filter in a plastic garbage bag with the paper towels and seal.

 

[Tbucit]

First I agree with theoldwizard that it was the tile that had the asbestos. But the damage has been done as the problem is the airborne particles not any contamination that would occur by touching or even eating it. That is why if it is not disturbed it poses no real hazard. It has to get to the lungs and even then most problems were after years of exposure. Just like the wizard said wipe it down don't **** it up and it should be fine.

Randall

 

[slickgt1]

I agree with the above as well. Grow a pair and relax. It takes years of exposure, (read working with it) to cause damage. Wipe it, then wipe it again.

I really love how asbestos makes people freak out like they are going to die tomorrow. There was a Holmes on Homes episode where a couple has a pipe with asbestos insulation on it. Everyone was freaking out. WTF is wrong with people, just leave it there, and you are golden. **** wrap it in something else, and call it a day.

 

[SWells]

The issues occur when particles become airborne and you breath them. I agree with the above, if you don't disturb it your golden. Seeing how you do need to clean it up, A HEPA filter is necessary or as already said, a damp rag and a dust mask should work fine.

 

[Vinny]

Thanks guys. I threw on a dust mask and vacuumed big chunks of cement and stuff they missed (only a little bit, it was in the corners and under where the base boards were) and then I took a mop and mopped the whole room. And by that, I mean the walls, the doors, the floor, the windows, EVERYTHING. Removed all the pictures and furniture and stuff and hosed them off out back. Still little bits stuck somewhere I supposed, told her to wash all her dishes before using them.
Glad to know it's not as dangerous as I thought. I guess we're force fed that by the media. I should know better than this, though, as I'm a chemical engineer and I know that MSDS are legal documents first, safety sheets second. I guess I just panicked because it's my mother and I never really studied about asbestos.

 

[rockchucker]

Damp Cloth. Nothing you can do about it now.

 

[tncatadjuster]

Asbestos of this nature is not much to be concerned about. Like any debris the less inhaled the better.

 

[jweller]

The company is right, grinding is the only solution, I had it on my basement floor and after trying all manner of things that weren't grinding, I finally admitted the truth, and ground it. Wish I'd done that 2 weeks earlier, as I'd have been done 2 weeks earlier.

The adhesive may or may not have had asbestos in it. depends on what year it was laid down. Only way to know for sure is to test it.

most of that dust is concrete. I had to continuously clean the adhesive off of the diamond wheel or it would get too gummed up to work. I doubt much of anything in that stuff got into the air.

I would clean up the dust, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

 

[cderalow]

there is a distinct difference between friable asbestos and non-friable asbestos.

Friable is things that can crumble and become airborne under light pressure: most pipe insulations, sprayed fireproofing. these are dangerous and should generally be dealt with appropriately by certified contractors and remediation folks.

non-friable is things where the asbestos fiber (read the harmful part) are bound in some sort of matrix: floor tiles, adhesives, ceiling tiles, cement products. grinding these things makes them friable, that's bad, and requires certified contractors and remediation folks. cutting them, leaving them alone is fine and requires no modifications. most people use a floor scraper to bring up any loose tiles, infill the gaps with self leveler, and just floor right over it. not only does it seal the asbestos in place, but it's a hell of a lot easier and cheaper than grinding up the damn adhesive.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The company is right, grinding is the only solution ...

I have had good luck with Sentinel 747. Admittedly it was a small area (10x14). Work a small area (3x3), let the chemical "do its job" by letting it sit the prescribed time, and then wipe up with blue paper towels. Thick areas may have to be done 2 or 3 times.

After the Sentinel, I did a wash with a normal cleaner. I wanted to apply epoxy, so I used an acid etch, rinsed, dried over night and rolled it on. A year later, it still looks good, but it is a light traffic area (laundry/furnace room).

For a full basement, grinding is probably the easiest solution.

 

[jdaallen]

You should of called your local health department. California laws are very strict when it comes to asbestos. The clean-up cost would have not been yours to bear. The contractor doing the grinding is at fault and liable. He violated EPA, OSHA, and California laws and should be held responsible for his negligence and incompentence. Please do not let any children in that house!! It is true that Asbestos has a laytencey period from exposure to health effect of 10 to 30 years. So you expose a 5 year old child, he could become ill in his prime of 25 years old. That's why the first Federal laws governing asbestos exposure mandated schools to find and manage their asbestos. The law was called AHERA, if interested.

The grinding of that mastic resulted in exposure levels many THOUANDS of times greater that allowed by law, for both employees and occupants of the building. Asbestos fibers can NOT be removed from carpet, or any other fabric materials once exposure has taken place.

At this point, I would at least have aggressive air testing done in the home and analyzed for asbestos to know if the house is safe.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... The grinding of that mastic resulted in exposure levels many THOUANDS of times greater that allowed by law, ...

Hey buddy how about reading the whole thread !

They mastic does NOT contain asbestos !

Guys like you prevent anyone the least bit nervous from doing anything themselves and then spending huge amounts for professionals when it is not required.

 

[jdaallen]

Hey buddy how about reading the whole thread !

They mastic does NOT contain asbestos !

Guys like you prevent anyone the least bit nervous from doing anything themselves and then spending huge amounts for professionals when it is not required.

Ok "BUDDY" Would mind showing me in this thread where it says that the Contractor knew (by required and certified testing) prior to his grinding this mastic that it did not contain any asbestos? In fact "BUDDY", show me anywhere in this thread that the original author , Vinny, said it was NOT asbestos?? I can't seem to find what you are refering to.

And even so, it doesn't change anything I wrote. If you believe asbestos is of no or even limited danger, then please go to any local hospital and speak with someone who has Mesothelioma or talk to a family member of someone who died of Mesothelioma. It is a horrible slow death and caused by asbestos exposure.