For many years, asbestos was used to fireproof, soundproof and insulate homes, schools and other buildings. It also was used in floor tiles, roofing material, car parts and other products.

You usually cannot tell by looking if something contains asbestos.

Asbestos in the Home
Some of the places where asbestos can be found are:

• Roofing and siding shingles
• Insulation of houses built between 1930 and 1950
• Vinyl tiles and flooring
• Oil and coal furnaces
• Hot water and steam pipes in older homes
• Textured paint and patching compounds used on wall and ceiling joints
• Artificial ashes and embers in gas-fired fireplaces
• Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves

What You Can Do to Protect Your Child from Asbestos

• Do not let your child play near anything that might contain asbestos.
• Do not touch, remove, dust or sweep anything that might contain asbestos.
• Do not track dust that might contain asbestos through the house.
• If you think your home may contain asbestos, hire a professional inspector to check. Your local health department can give you a list of inspectors.
• If your home contains asbestos that is in good condition, it may be best to leave it alone. The inspector will advise you. If the asbestos must be removed, hire a licensed contractor to do the work. Do not do the work yourself. Your local health department can give you a list of contractors.

For More Information
The Web site of the Environmental Protection Agency has more information.

April 2008