Asbestos

[Raoul]

Today, a part of the ceiling in my bath room came down along with a cat that had been trapped between the ceiling and roof for a few days (yes, it's true!). The ceiling panel turned out to be asbestos. I am surprised that it is still being used today in Indonesia. The building I live in is just one and a half year old.

The hole in the ceiling is lightly crumbling. Does anyone know if this poses a significant health risk? This is my last month in Indonesia. Is it worth moving?

[MadCat]

Yeah it's being used as construction material still. The roof of my shed is made out of asbestos plates :/ When I told the people putting it on that asbestos is a known carcinogenic I got that deer-in-headlights look and a lot of "huh, really?".

[davobali]

Raoul - If you paint it it will be Ok ..., its only dangerous to breathe in the dust , so the paint will seal any loose dust particles that may blow your way .

If you look at asbestos under a microscope , the dust has sharp hooks in it that jag themselves into the lungs , and the body cant get rid of it , and thats where the health problems begin .

When using it as a building material and cutting it , or doing demolition work , always wear a good quality dust mask or respirator , and you need to keep it wet to stop the dust from flying about. It is also best to put the wet rubbish/offcuts/rubble in sealed plastic bags and then dispose of it ( to stop further dust flying about ) , and also be cautious when removing clothing after working with and around asbestos as dust paticles may have stuck to clothing and may become loose and be breathed in . Many wives of asbestos worker also came victims to lung cancer just from washing their clothes .......,

but like madcat said , try to suggest any safe measures over here and all you will get is ......, " Huh ????? " as a response ,

but hopefully someone will listen and understand ..., and hopefully try to educate other workers (and families) , and convince those who work all day under unpainted asbestos corrugated roofing to slap on a coat of paint to seal in that deadly asbestos dust.

[Raoul]

Thanks! The penjaga here indeed did not seem to know about the risks of the crumbling material. Tomorrow I will ask them to cover the exposed asbestos with some paint.

[bigvolt]

If the asbestos is in a whats call " Free Raining state " or emitted into the air from deterioration (crumbling ) or mechanical disturbance ( panel falling ) It is of significant danger short and long term If you are unable to have it replaced or removed -- seal it up with polyurethane ( Three Coats ) and get you and your family out asap . other factor percentage of asbestos in the building material (example) "willie coat" is exterior siding used in the 30's through the 60's only 4%to6% asbestos but locked up in hard inert material little danger , or 50's steam pipe wrap 70% to 80% asbestos very fluffy and free raining . The whole situation you described does not sound good at all. Any other questions PM me BV --------- ---------- A bit more on Davobali's post He explained the natural design & dangers of the fiber perfect in addition it travels to the bottom of the lungs and festers into the lung wall resulting condition is Cancer.

[Raoul]

Thanks bigvolt. I moved to another room. But also in my new room there is a bath room ac unit in the asbestos ceiling. Again, the edges are exposed. Another case of 'apa boleh buat'. If only Indonesian lawmakers, enforcers and the education system became a bit less ignorant about these basic dangers. Here in Pontianak, there are house fires almost every week. Don't want to know how much shit I am breathing in besides the usual kretek, premium bensin and burning peat land fumes. One of the only reasons I am not too sad to leave this place soon...