About asbestos

There are several fibrous minerals commonly known as asbestos. These minerals can be used to make products strong, long lasting and fire-resistant.

Before 1990, asbestos was mainly used for insulating buildings and homes against cold weather and noise. It was also used for fireproofing.

The manufacture, import, sale and use of products containing asbestos is prohibited in Canada.

However, asbestos may still be found in older building materials, such as:

• house siding
• cement and plaster
• floor and ceiling tiles
• roofing products, such as:
  • tar paper
  • shingles and felt
• surface treatments, such as:
• paint
• putty
• drywall
• caulking
• sealants
• spackling
• industrial furnaces and heating systems
• insulation, including around hot water pipes and tanks

Some older automotive parts may contain asbestos, including:

• vehicle transmission components, like clutches
• car and truck brake pads

Asbestos fibres may also be released into drinking water.

Safety of asbestos

Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause:

• lung cancer
• asbestosis, a scarring of the lungs, which makes it difficult to breathe
• mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity
• other diseases

You can breathe in small asbestos fibres (or dust) released into the air from building materials during renovation and demolition activities such as:

• drilling
• sawing
• sanding
• scraping
• removing
• disturbing
• breaking apart
• smoothing rough edges

You can also breathe in asbestos fibres released when you're working on car or truck brakes, or replacing a transmission clutch.

However, there are no significant health risks if materials containing asbestos in your home are:

• left undisturbed
• isolated in an attic
• sealed behind walls and floorboards
• tightly bound in products that are in good condition