Is it unsafe to drill holes into walls that have asbestos?

Yes According to the U S Environmental Protection Agency asbestos that is in good condition and left undisturbed doesn t pose a medical exposure However actions that interfere with asbestos like drilling holes to hang a picture or a shelving unit on a wall release the material into the air Asbestos comprises six minerals that have been used in home construction since the s with popcorn ceilings installed before being made of asbestos according to the Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos com Once they are disturbed asbestos fibers can get into the human body and irritate the lining around various internal organs the mesothelium This can lead to the expansion of mesothelioma a cancer affecting this lining According to the National Cancer Institute the bulk cases of mesothelioma are the outcome of exposure to asbestos Asbestos exposure can also lead to lung cancer laryngeal cancer and ovarian cancer This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one MinnPost partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs bite-sized fact checks of trending proposes Read our methodology to learn how we check states Sources Environmental Protection Agency Asbestos Frequently Inquired QuestionsEnvironmental Protection Agency Asbestos Exposure and Cancer RiskThe Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos com Guide to Asbestos in the HomeThe Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos com MesotheliomaThe Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos com Asbestos CancerThe Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos com Asbestos ProductsThe Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos com Types of Asbestos The post Is it unsafe to drill holes into walls that have asbestos appeared first on MinnPost