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Inhaling concentrated amounts of asbestos fibers can be deadly. That said, undisturbed asbestos is harmless and fire resistant. Since it's generally made of minerals, it is naturally occurring in the air we breathe every day.

But what happens when you have a piece of your popcorn ceiling fall in? Or you need to remove an old floor? The safest course of action is to call in a professional abatement company to do the removal. They not only know how to get rid of the asbestos safely, but they also have the equipment.

If you choose to take on the project yourself, please be aware of the nature and risk of handling asbestos.

First, friable asbestos fibers pose the most threat. This is when the asbestos is crumbled and a slight breeze can send it airborne. These fibers are extremely hazardous to breathe, especially in large quantities.

Keep in mind, the very name "asbestos" is derived from the Greek word meaning "inextinguishable" or "indestructible." And asbestos is truly indestructible.

If you were to put them under a microscope, you'd see tiny hooks on the fibers. Once it gets in your lungs, those tiny hooks latch on to the tissue and they will not dissolve. Over time, the hooks will shred your lung tissue causing all kinds of nasty breathing problems and even death. The average time it takes for this to happen is fourteen years.

Now that you know why asbestos is a nasty piece of work, here are some tips for safe handling.

WEAR A MASK

Since breathing asbestos is the biggest problem, you should pick up a mask from Home Depot or the equivalent. These are not the little paper masks that are a dime a dozen. They are the heavy duty ones with the snout-like fixtures on the front. There are filters that go inside the snouts to prevent asbestos from entering the body. Make sure the packaging says that they are specifically for asbestos and not just mold. Also keep in mind that even with these masks, you may not be 100% safe. Especially without a negative air machine.

SEAL OFF THE WORK AREA

To prevent the asbestos from traveling to uncontaminated areas, you need to seal off your workspace with heavy plastic. Make the seal as airtight as possible. The last thing you want is a breeze coming through and carrying asbestos to other areas that you will have to clean later.

DRESS PROPERLY

Because of the hooks, your lungs aren't the only things asbestos can latch onto. They can attach to any porous material such as clothing. While working with asbestos, wear something non porous and easy

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