Makes sense. Thanks Blackhawk

Posted by mookster And don't forget a mask is only good up to a point if there is free floating broken asbestos lying around. It may protect your lungs but you will carry those fibres on your clothes, your shoes, your hair, everywhere you go. Which will then get transferred into your car, onto other people, your pets, your belongings.

One of those cans of compressed air does wonders. I have a truck with air brakes and a small air hose attachment that I can use to hose myself off.

You are also totally correct, asbestos is not as serious as black mold as far as acute exposure. The real worry with asbestos was long term exposure from living in a contaminated building. It's not that asbestos is radioactive or something, it is physically abrasive in the lungs.

Posted by michaelb323 One of those cans of compressed air does wonders. I have a truck with air brakes and a small air hose attachment that I can use to hose myself off. You are also totally correct, asbestos is not as serious as black mold as far as acute exposure. The real worry with asbestos was long term exposure from living in a contaminated building. It's not that asbestos is radioactive or something, it is physically abrasive in the lungs.

Like dust using compressed air to blow asbestos off clothes will drive some of the small dust like fragments into the cloth. Better to use a shop vac with a HEPA filter. Trash all seriously contaminated clothes asap.

Most asbestos related diseases are from industrial exposure. Few houses are contaminated with any hazardous amounts of airborne asbestos.
One the exceptions are homes insulated with expanded vermiculite that is contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos occurs naturally in some of the vermiculite deposits but not all. Those homes that contain the asbestos bearing expanded vermiculite are a potential hazard because it's not sealed. Air currents can displace the asbestos particles for as long as the insulation is there.

Actually in most buildings I go in.

Some people don't know it but form follows function, so I like to be protected before looking good.

Besides if you meet others in there they will likely leave the building because you are wearing a mask.

Posted by SuchundFind Actually in most buildings I go in.

That include active public buildings with asbestos tile floors, mold in the walls, and mouse feces/urine in the overhead drop ceilings?

Some people don't know it but form follows function, so I like to be protected before looking good.

First hellhole you fall into because your downward vision was blocked, your form may not function...

Besides if you meet others in there they will likely leave the building because you are wearing a mask.

Unlikely as I already will have the edge... if I'm not laughing too hard.
On a hot, humid day you'd be wilting and be fun to play with
It's impossible to be sharp when you're already distracted and fatigued.

The one thing you should be wearing is something to protect your eyes not your lungs.
One eye impalement will end your binocular vision forever.

Posted by blackhawk On a hot, humid day you'd be wilting and be fun to play with It's impossible to be sharp when you're already distracted and fatigued.

Maybe you need to stop doing that if you can't take the heat.
In the military we went on the shooting range in full gear under NBC protection wearing an Overgarment (look it up yourself) and did 10 pushups before shooting.
So just wearing a half mask respirator is nothing against that.
And eye wear is off topic.

Posted by SuchundFind Maybe you need to stop doing that if you can't take the heat. In the military we went on the shooting range in full gear under NBC protection wearing an Overgarment (look it up yourself) and did 10 pushups before shooting. So just wearing a half mask respirator is nothing against that. And eye wear is off topic.

This isn't the military. Maybe you should have done your 20.
Bum advice wastes money, time, gives a false sense of protection and could cost someone their life.
I've tripped enough times wearing respirators to know... in known environments.
I was fit tested before you were born

Is for the heat, I play in the desert for fun and live with no A/C.

I was in a run down textile factory a couple times and I suspected asbestos contamination but I never wore a mask. I was exposed to it for about 2 hours around 3 times in my life. Am I going to develop cancer in my 40's? Should I be concerned? What kind of mask would be a good idea to get?

Posted by Skor I was in a run down textile factory a couple times and I suspected asbestos contamination but I never wore a mask. I was exposed to it for about 2 hours around 3 times in my life. Am I going to develop cancer in my 40's? Should I be concerned? What kind of mask would be a good idea to get?

Dead man posting
Avoid heavily contaminated sites.
Unless your willing to implement all the needed steps and get the needed PPE.
Otherwise, don't worry about it.

There are industrial workers that died of old age that ate more asbestos in one working of hundreds, thousands than you could have in that trip.

If you're still concerned the only things you can do is never smoke and don't expose yourself again.

*lights cigar* You don't want to live forever, do you?

Posted by blackhawk Well they did many times seal it in or when used as a filler it was effectively sealed in. Unfortunately asbestos is almost immortal and sooner or latter what's binding it breaks down or is disturbed. Sealing it doesn't protect those who mine and process it though and they bore/bear the brunt of the risk. Years back you could smell the burning binders and asbestos in brake shoes and clutches at times going down the highway. Mechanics say the burnt or dead asbestos isn't as harmful. Even though it's not used in clutch and brake products anymore... it's everywhere.

Is this asbestos?




I have a feeling that it is, and if so, this is a pretty great example of it. I've never identified it before, but I just had a gut feeling this was all asbestos and it was EVERYWHERE. This was a mill inside of a very well known Colorado mining ghost town. EPA evacuated everyone forcibly back in the 1980's after over a century or so of mining polluted the soil and water beyond anyone's ability to fix the problem in the short term. I stepped very lightly around here.

Posted by blackhawk .... Besides if you meet others in there they will likely leave the building because you are wearing a mask.

Unlikely as I already will have the edge... if I'm not laughing too hard./i]

Someone in a mask wouldn't scare me off. Now if I were to see someone in, say, a level 5 Hazmat suit.., I might pause and reconsider my location.

Posted by Dee Ashley Is this asbestos? click to view I have a feeling that it is, and if so, this is a pretty great example of it. I've never identified it before, but I just had a gut feeling this was all asbestos and it was EVERYWHERE. This was a mill inside of a very well known Colorado mining ghost town. EPA evacuated everyone forcibly back in the 1980's after over a century or so of mining polluted the soil and water beyond anyone's ability to fix the problem in the short term. I stepped very lightly around here.

It very likely is due to the age and application. You can see fibers but not all fibers used for insulation were asbestos.
Better to err on the safe side and treat it as asbestos. In general never do things that stir up dust at sites. Leave that area immediately if you do... wait for the dust to settle.
Avoid heavily contaminated sites on dry, windy days.

Just because it's posted or not doesn't give you an accurate threat level posed by a site.
Use your better judgement.

Industrially I use respirators, etc but not for exploring. If I need to use a respirator at a site, I'll skip it; too much like work

Posted by Dee Ashley Is this asbestos? click to view

- I cant tell from that pic but, yes.

When it comes to pipe insulation, if you can't definitively tell that the insulation is not asbestos, then it's asbestos.

Works pretty good for pretty much any type of fireproofing or acoustic tile.

Posted by blackhawk <snip> Hauntavirus will kill you. Be very wary of heavily rodent infested areas. <snip>

Out here in the desert, every mine is home to mice and rats. Short prospect tunnels are the worst because they almost always have a huge nest at the end. With the bronchitis I've had recently that kicked my butt, I do worry about breathing issues more than I have ever before. I purchased an RZ Mask that I'm going to be trying out in the near future.

Abby Normal

Posted by Abby Normal Out here in the desert, every mine is home to mice and rats. Short prospect tunnels are the worst because they almost always have a huge nest at the end. With the bronchitis I've had recently that kicked my butt, I do worry about breathing issues more than I have ever before. I purchased an RZ Mask that I'm going to be trying out in the near future. Abby Normal

Be mindful to wash your hands before you eat and/or wear gloves. It's the dry mouse urine and feces that carry it. Present in saliva too of infected rodents; avoid bites. A simple paper mask is generally enough. Avoid disturbing nesting areas.

In the United States, as of July 2010 eight states had reported 30 or more cases of hantavirus since 1993[33] – New Mexico (84),Colorado (70), Arizona (62), California (42),Washington (41), Texas (37), Utah (31) andMontana (30). Other states reporting a significant number of cases include Idaho(16), Kansas (15), South Dakota (15), North Dakota (12) and Oregon (11).

Flea bites should avoided if possible; bubonic plague crops up is some areas too.
There are other diseases rodents are reservoirs for as well such as Lyme disease and more than most care to think about.

Seems appropriate:
https://www.youtub...atch?v=jsF5nmwAp3s

Also, they are not (technically) referred to as "masks", but respirators, instead.

Posted by blackhawk .... There are other diseases rodents are reservoirs for as well such as Lyme disease and more than most care to think about.

A friend of mine has Lyme disease. It's no joke. What's worse, we don't really understand Lyme disease, so it seems to me that it's mostly a guessing game when it comes to a treatment and it stays with you for life (hence the disease part).

Posted by Dee Ashley A friend of mine has Lyme disease. It's no joke. What's worse, we don't really understand Lyme disease, so it seems to me that it's mostly a guessing game when it comes to a treatment and it stays with you for life (hence the disease part).

I can confirm this. Ive known 3 people with this (what are the odds), one of them has already died due to it, the others two are permanently messed up and getting worse.

Google it up (and its origin) for a good and scary read. Sorry if its off topic about masks but Permethrin or even a good dousing with DEET is your friend anywhere there a deer or cattle.

Posted by 2Xplorations <snip> Sorry if its off topic about masks... <snip>

May be off topic for masks, but spot on for personal safety while exploring. Sure, exploring can be hazardous, but knowing the hazards lets us manage the risk.

Abby Normal