Do or did ceramic wall or floor tiles contain asbestos or lead?
Do or did tile grout, tile bedding compounds, thin-set mortars, or tile mastic used with ceramic tiles contain asbestos or lead ?
We explain the ingredients in ceramic floor tiles, cite authoritative research on the presence or absence of asbestos in these ceramic tile, or its absence, and we point to sources of confusion about the question of which ceramic products (tiles, pottery, filters) contain or ever contained asbestos as a filler or as a fiber strengthen
We include research citations indicating various hazards in the production of some tile products.
We report on an international survey of certified asbestos testing laboratories who were asked for their experience in receiving ceramic tile samples or mortar/grout samples and testing them for asbestos content.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Our page top photo illustrates a fragment-section of old ceramic floor tile. At left we show a side-view or cross-section of how this old ceramic floor tile was installed by bedding it directly into concrete. We would not expect to find evidence of asbestos in this tile installation.
[Click to enlarge any image]This example was found in a pile of demolition debris left at a building renovation site. The tile was set into and well bonded to concrete, and was removed under wet conditions.
The short answer for now appears to be "yes and no" depending on the tile and tile grout age and source, as follows:
Details, including authoritative citations and an ongoing survey of the results of tile testing at asbestos testing labs in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Korea, the U. K. and other locales are provided below.
OPINION: researching this question we find that the dominant opinion among experts and amateurs is that ceramic tiles are made of clay subjected to high temperatures and finished with a hard glazed surface. Not asbestos.
If there are some ceramic tiles whose clay source included asbestos or to which asbestos was added [a topic of ongoing research that we report and update below] the tiles are nevertheless a non-friable material that would not normally be a hazardous source of asbestos in buildings.
Non-friable materials are hard and do not easily release particles into the indoor environment.
Watch out: grinding, tile-saw cutting, sanding or similar activities performed on ceramic tiles of any composition could produce fine dust and debris that should be controlled and treated as a respiratory hazard, asbestos-containing or not.
See ASBESTOS REMOVAL, WETTING GUIDELINES
My husband & I are planning on replacing the floor tile in our entryway. I'm trying to research to see if it could contain asbestos as we have two young children. Our home was built in 1965 in a Pittsburgh suburb.
Could you take a look at this picture and let me know what you think? Thank you! - anonymous by private email, 2016/07/15
From your photo this looks like ceramic floor tile. If it is a modern, U.S.-made product it probably does not contain asbestos. However some mastic adhesives did contain asbestos so care in removing that material would be appropriate.
See ASBESTOS-CONTAINING ADHESIVES
If you cannot remove the flooring without making a dusty mess, it may be worth having a sample of tile and more-likely the adhesive mastic tested.
If you do decide to have the materials tested let us know the result as that may help other readers.
Asbestos could have been included in some ceramic floor tile formulas into the 1970's as a filler or in fiber form as a strengthener.
At least one asbestos testing lab director reports that asbestos is found in ceramic tiles made in some parts of the world such as the Mediterranean area and in unglazed terrazzo (non-ceramic) tiles.[44]
Below at CHINESE CERAMIC TILE ASBESTOS we discuss reports of asbestos in some recent Chinese ceramic tile and flooring products.
In our flooring photograph at left, the floor and stair tiles may be vinyl-asphalt or vinyl-asbestos floor tiles but they are not a ceramic product. For information about asbestos-containing vinyl or asphalt-based floor tiles,
see ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION.
Certainly as we see in Rosato [23], the asbestos industry was constantly looking for uses of asbestos mining waste products that included granular asbestos dust and short asbestos fibers.
Although we cite field and lab reports and research in this article, we have not yet located an authoritative reference source (text, journal article, government document) that documents the deliberate or accidental inclusion of asbestos material added to modern (20th century and later) ceramic floor or wall tiles made in North America. Please contact us if you have such information.
In contrast, it is certain asbestos was used in those forms in vinyl-asbestos flooring (a different material from ceramic tiles). And as we document below, asbestos was used in mixture with ceramic fibers (for certain products such as filters) and in ancient pottery applications.
Our photo above illustrates a floor tile installation in Barcelona, Spain. These floor tiles are estimated at more than 50 years old.
I’m wondering if you are able tell/may know if these floors contain asbestos just by looking at them?
My husband and I just purchased this house built in 1948 in Georgia. And I hadn’t thought much about asbestos in floors until finding this website and now I’m concerned. (See attached pic).
Do you think scrubbing the floors/grout should be safe ?
This question and reply were posted originally
at ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION
It appears to me you're asking about a ceramic tile floor.
If That's the case, even if the style contained asbestos, which would be quite uncommon, the asbestos risk is beneath the limits of detection unless you're grinding chopping or sawing the material.
Cleaning the floor in your photos is not going to produce a measurable hazard even if there was asbestos in the tile or its grout - a situation that would be quite uncommon - as the materials are very hard and not at all friable.
Typically we need to use a liquid cleaner that includes mild bleaching agent to whiten the floor tile grout.
The ceramic tile that we purchased for our bathroom wall was made in China. What are the chances that it would contain asbestos? - Anon by private email 2017/03/24
A quick search for "Asbestos in Tile from China" intended to collect results on asbestos in ceramic tile made in China found these interesting and suggestive results, giving a definite possibility that your Chinese-made ceramic tiles could contain asbestos.
The most strongly-worded material comes from news reports, after which I cite some more-scholarly research on asbestos in Chinese ceramic tiles used on walls and floors.
Ceramic tile is not friable - if your particular tile contains asbestos, the measurable asbestos risk would come with cutting, grinding, chopping, demolishing the building material to create an asbestos-containing dust hazard.
Well the flooring says made in PRC.....that means People's Republic of China.
Ii realize where the "measurable risk" comes from but since my now deceased husband died of mesothelioma, from supposed MINIMAL exposure to asbestos I don't want ANYTHING containing asbestos in my home.
Unfortunately the ceramic tile has already been installed and that involved lots of cutting. The flooring has not so I will be returning it. I have contacted the company from which I purchased the material but have not yet heard back from them.
I don't blame you for taking these things seriously, and I'm cautious too about products from China - there have been enough disasters already.
What I meant by measurable risk is that installed ceramic tile is not going to release asbestos at detectable levels in a building unless it's disturbed.
While it's a different product (flooring) the US EPA advice on minimizing asbestos hazards in the home emphasizes that unless the asbestos-containing but non-friable material is damaged or being disturbed, the lowest risk to occupants is to leave it alone, or perhaps cover it over.
Removing it will expose you and the building and its occupants to a much greater risk, even if you hired a professional remediator who used negative air, containment, etc. (you're looking also at a very big cost).
OPINION: My advice is to leave the tile in place, or if it's going to make you worry - which is itself bad for us - you could consider laminating over the existing tile with a second layer of new material in which you have confidence. That may at most require some adjustments at the tub/shower controls to bring them forward.
Is there Accidental Inclusion of Asbestos in Clays Mined for Use in Producing Traditional Ceramic Tiles?
The term "clay" refers to both a particle size (smaller than 2-4mm) and a type of rock or mineral comprised of fine-grained sheet silicates.[48] The fine-grained clays used to manufacture ceramic tiles include basically compounds of silica, alumina, and varying amounts of metallic oxides and other impurities. [32]
Ceramic tiles are made from natural clay [such as Cretaceous clays [30] (not asbestos)] or porcelain, and are glazed or un-glazed.
Typical ceramic tile composition (in more detail) includes 33% refractory clay, 20% quartz, 45% sodium feldspar. Other sources list common tile ingredients including aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, and quartz (silicon dioxide). Other ceramics have more complex formulas.
Ceramic tiles are made of clay (predominantly feldspar), water, and some mineral additives, processed with high heat to solidify the product and whose top or exposed surface is sealed with a glaze.
Porcelain tiles are a harder ceramic tile made of kaolin mixed with china stone, or in other sources, by using ground sand. Porcelain is heated to a higher temperature than other ceramics (more than 2000 degF) and is more dense than ceramic materials made of clay.
Many other materials have been included in clays used in making various ceramic products since the Stone Age (pottery) and continue to be added to give special properties or colors to modern ceramic tiles, including perlite, fly ash, granite stone grinding and cutting waste, etc. Indeed expert sources date the oldest known ceramics date to 27,000 BCE.
The oldest known ceramics made by humans are figurines found in the former Czechoslovakia that are thought to date from around 27,000 B.C.E.
It was determined that the figurines were made by mixing clay with bone, animal fat, earth, and bone ash (the ash that results when animal bones are heated to a high temperature), molding the mixture into a desired shape, and heating it in a domed pit. T
he manufacture of functional objects such as pots, dishes, and storage vessels, was developed in ancient Greece and Egypt during the period 9000 to 6000 B.C.E. [33]
We have not found a citation that includes asbestos among these. Contact us if you have related information.
Ceramic floor or wall tiles of any formula, if in good condition have a low, most likely negligible risk of releasing harmful particles or fibers into indoor air. And a ceramic tile that comes loose intact or with a single break is also unlikely to release a measurable amount of dust or particulates into the building.
Watch out: Phillip A. Peterson
Vice President
Fibertec Industrial Hygiene Services, Inc.[49] advises that Although the tile themselves are unlikely to contain asbestos, the grout and bedding may well contain asbestos and the demolition of the tile will likely create an exposure hazard when the grout and/or bedding are disturbed.
Ceramic floor tiles that are being demolished, ground, sanded, or cut with a tile saw, if they are old enough to have been installed when asbestos was in common use in grout, tile bedding, or (in newer homes) thin set or tile mastic, could be hazardous and should be handled appropriately.
If you are considering demolition of old ceramic floor tiles or similar materials, or are using a sander, grinder or tile saw on such materials, there could indeed be an asbestos hazard and you should follow appropriate handling, dust control, personal protection, and cleanup procedures.
If you have a segment of floor tile (or any material) tested for asbestos the test should be performed by a certified asbestos testing laboratory.
As with known or suspected asbestos-containing floor tiles (such as asphalt or vinyl-asphalt asbestos floor tiles), when it's feasible expert sources recommend leaving the original floor tile material in place and covering it over with new flooring.
Leaving asbestos-suspect flooring in place, even if you need to level the floor before it is covered with new material, is not only less costly than a professional asbestos abatement project, it also is likely to be the course with the lowest risk of asbestos dust or fiber release and contamination in the building. According to the US EPA {discussing asbestos abatement in schools] :
... In addition, abatement activities may create more of a hazard than would normally exist if the ACM were simply protected and maintained in good condition as is the case for ceramic floor tiles. ...[3]
Similar sources indicate that simple deconstruction of a building with appropriately careful disassembly of its parts may not require asbestos abatement. [4]
Details about covering-over asbestos-containing floor tiles or other ACM flooring such as resilient sheet flooring are
at ASBESTOS FLOORING HAZARD REDUCTION
Special thank-you to reader A.H. who suggested clarification about the risk that ceramic wall tiles or ceramic floor tiles might contain asbestos. - Ed.
For potential health hazards associated with exposure to artists materials for those working with ceramics, such as clays, glazing compounds, and pigments, see
our "ARTS & CRAFTS MATERIAL HAZARDS & TOXICITY entry included
at ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY and references at the end of this article. [51][52][53]
Also, as ingredients used in the manufacture of some ceramic tiles or in tile glazing may contain surprising contaminants of a wide variety, including heavy metals, lead, possibly arsenic, and radioactive materials, see
Beginning in March 2012, and using the U.S. NIST directory of accredited laboratories certified for asbestos fiber analysis, [42] we polled at least one laboratory in each U.S. state, Puerto Rico, two Canadian Provinces, and laboratories in Japan and Korea, asking each if their laboratory had ever received ceramic tiles for asbestos testing and whether or not their lab had ever detected asbestos in ceramic tiles used on walls, floors, or other building services. Results will be included here.
We asked: "Can you tell us if your laboratory has ever received samples of ceramic wall or floor tile to test for asbestos, tell us if you have encountered asbestos in ceramic tiles used on walls or floors, and/or can you provide a reference to a paper, study, book, or expert who can tell us whether or not asbestos in any form was used in the production of ceramic wall tile or floor tile, or in terra-cotta or similar tile products." and we invited technical review of this article.
Table of Asbestos Test Labs Reporting Finding Asbestos in Ceramic Materials or Tiles |
||||||
Survey (n=55) (r=6) |
Estimated Avg. Exper- ience Tile Testing3 (R = 5 - 40) |
Asbestos Detected in Ceramic Floor/Wall Tiles |
Estimated Total Tile Samples Tested3 |
Estimated Avg. Exper- ience Years Grout Testing3 (R = 4 - 40) |
Asbestos Detected in Tile Grout, Bedding Mastic |
Estimated 3 Total Grout Samples Tested 3 |
Date: 4/23/12(1) |
||||||
6 |
15 | Never - 84% Common - 16% (2) |
540 | 10 | Never - 25 % |
15004 |
(1) Survey initiated 3/8/2012
(2) Asbestos reported as extensive in ceramic tiles made out of North America, particularly in the Mediterranean area[44]
(3) Our calculated estimate of total number of actual lab samples processed by laboratories responding to the survey. Based on correspondence, e.g. P. P. to D.F. 3/14/12[49] estimated less than 150" tile samples over 20 years of ceramic tile, & 200 grout & bedding samples over 8 years of testing.
We estimated 6 tile samples per year or 25 grout samples per year per responding lab, and and multiplied that by known or estimated number of years of lab testing of tiles or grout. [E.g. 200 samples/8 yrs = 25 grout samples/year. 25 x 6(labs) x 10 yrs) =1500]
(4) In every case the asbestos mineral has been chrysotile asbestos and the concentration of asbestos has exceeded 2 percent (making them asbestos containing materials by definition). [49]
Watch out: while asbestos may be absent from your ceramic tile found on walls or floors, it may be present in joint compound used on drywall behind the tile or in some tile adhesive mastics. Also some ceramic tiles may contain lead.
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
On 2023-09-01 by InspectApedia Publisher
@Brian,
PLEASE HELP US manage InspectApedia to keep it most useful and helpful to our readers by telling us if you meant to post this question here on our Contact Us page rather than on one of the topic pages that address your question such as the one I cite again just below.
We don't know if your ceramic tile, grout, and adhesive mastic contain asbestos or not. Even if not, silica dust is hazardous, so if you're chopping grinding sawing the hazard is increased. Beyond that, as I can't see the job and have no specifics, any answer is - sorry - just too speculative to be accurate.
Please continue this discussion using the Comment Box at the end of this article.
On 2023-09-01 by Brian
@InspectApedia DF, so it should be safe to remove the tile, grout and thin set so long as we are careful not to damage it too much?
Thank you.
On 2023-08-29 by InspectApedia DF (mod)
@Brian,
It is unlikely if the tile was produced in the US. Although you may find asbestos in some tile grouts and thinset tile mastics.
Also keep in mind that even if the tiles did contain asbestos, if in good condition, they are nevertheless a non-friable material that would not normally be a hazardous source of asbestos in buildings
Please read more above on this page.
Now PLEASE HELP US manage InspectApedia to keep it most useful and helpful to our readers by telling us if you meant to post this question here on our Contact Us page rather than on one of the topic pages that address your question such as the one I cite above.
On 2023-08-29 by Brian
My house was built in 1964 in Florida. I have 6x6 tiles that I believe are ceramic. What are the chances they contain asbestos? (I know I have asbestos in the popcorn ceiling already).
This reader's Q&A were originally posted at HOW TO CONTACT InspectApedia.com
On 2022-01-19 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator
@Ryan,
Keep in mind that ceramic tile is anything BUT friable: it's hard as the dickens. You can't make hazardous dust from such material unless you're doing a demolition. Any mastic would have been behind the tile.
On 2022-01-19 by Ryan
@moderator
On 2022-01-19 by Ryan
Just having to reno a bathroom. Boss didn't check tiles and mastic for asbestos. Nor did he check the multiple layers of vinyl tilea/sheet vinyl.
These tiles look old enough to be a concern for at least grout/mastic exposure. They have been painted white.. which also makes me wonder if someone else kniw they contain asbestos. Thoughts?
On 2021-11-17 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator
@ Asbestos grout in kitchen...?,
Not without more specific details or actual testing
On 2021-11-17 by Asbestos grout in kitchen...?
@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, i understood that there is now low asbestos in the kitchen since not zero, what is not the worst but also not the best and safest, but was also wondering if most of the grout was with asbestos, or only little percentage, if someone would know that. Thank you.
On 2021-11-17 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator
@ Asbestos grout in kitchen...?,
How did we get from low probability high worry?
On 2021-11-17 by Asbestos grout in kitchen...?
@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, Thank you very much! Whats the percentage/chance that the grout would contain asbestos in kitchen counter and bahtroom please in California? High chance?
Now I feel worried to use the counter as mugs and pots are coming with contact with the kitchen tiles/grout every day. Is it even safe to live in these possible asbestos houses? And is the garage and window safe in your opinion?
And when they cutting walls on that neighbours house without protections and just throwing in a truck without putting in bags, is that something to worry about, or is that normal procedure and the possible asbestos would not really affect house next to it or air while walking around the house.
Wondering also how safe it is to visit them. Thank you!
On 2021-11-17 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator
@Asbestos grout in kitchen counter/shower, window, garage?,
The probability of the Airborne asbestos at detectable levels from bathroom or other undisturbed, intact ceramic tile and tile grout is quite low but of course not zero as you can read in the article above on this page.
On 2021-11-16 by Asbestos grout in kitchen...?,
A few more photos...
On 2021-11-16 by Asbestos grout in kitchen counter/shower, window, garage?
Hi, just rented a 1920 house for few months and want to make sure I am safe here. Is any asbestos danger possible from using these things and spaces?
Grout/caulk in kitchen counter tiles and sink and in shower tiles?
The kitchen counter worries me since its used daily. (photo #1) Window cracked paint/caulk? (photo#2) Garage floor, there are some dropping? (#3) Garage ceiling with parts of plaster/mud? (#4) Garage walls? (#5)
Also neigbour 1970 house is changing big windows and I could see piece of wall on the floor there and they just tearing and cutting the wall then dry sweeping it, and without bagging just throwing into open truck, while wind blows right from their house to our house while the windows are open here and I am worried to walked around, should I be?
They asked me to visit them. Thank you very much!
On 2021-06-19 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator
@Rebekah,
We don't have an answer to the risk regarding grout around a cabinet installed in 1983 except to say that the data, which is quite limited, suggest that asbestos in that product would not be usual.
What would make sense would be to do your demolition and removal using wetting and other methods to minimize dust and dust exposure.
On 2021-06-19 by Rebekah
Thanks for your response to my question about sanding tile in the 1983 building. Yes! I have discovered the no-sand paint products!!
Now my remaining question is: If I remove a bathroom vanity that has tile grouted around it, do I run a significant risk of potential asbestos in the grout/adhesive being an issue? The building is in Minnesota.
Rebekah 2021/06/17
Hi! I’m doing a facelift project on some bathrooms in a building built in 1983. I plan to paint the tile and this will necessitate sanding the tile, grout, and any exposed adhesive. I’ll attach some photos. Do you think there’s a chance I’m dealing with asbestos ingredients?
I'm not sure you're correct that you need to send the tile and grout, and in fact I think you're going to find that that's practically impossible to do so in any useful way.
If you clean the soap film and scum off of the surface using any household cleaner, you will find that there are paints that are designed by the manufacturer to burn it to a ceramic surface.
About the asbestos part of the question, even though asbestos would be uncommon in ceramic tiles of that age in many countries we don't know where your building is located nor where the tile was made.
So we can't rule out the possibility of asbestos.
Sanding if you attempted to do that and were able to actually grind off the ceramic surface of the tile, would create a terrific dust hazard. I don't recommend trying it.
Matthew Ferguson 2021/06/10
Would this hex tile flooring be suspected of having asbestos? The house resides in Baltimore Maryland. Thank you in advance for
any feedback .
Matthew
No one can say with certainty that your floor does or doesn't contain asbestos without testing, but please read the article above where you'll see that the chances are slim;
When we are discussing asbestos hazards in a hard - non-friable material like ceramic tile and grout, even if there was asbestos in the material there is no reasonable chance of measurable release of airborne asbestos from such a material unless it is being disturbed by demolition or similar conditions.
I have a question we removed ceramic tile from 2 bathrooms in our 1967 home. So obviously
Too late for us to prevent exposure we may have had. But how common was asbestos in mortar beds with metal lath and ceramic tile on top? This is a photo of some of the debris - by F, 2021/05/20
Watch out: plaster and tile and grout dust is hazardous regardless of whether or not it contains asbestos, as it contains respiratory abrasives and irritants and contaminants such as fine silica partiulates.
In the U.S., asbestos in ceramic tile itself not really very common; no one can say for certain what's in tiles or mortar from a photo - you'd at least want to know the age of the materials and their origin.
What you can do now, if it would ease your worry, would be to look for some settled dust that missed getting cleaned-up after your bath renovation.
You might find that atop horizontal trim such as over a window or door.
If you can find that old dust you can send a sample of it to an asbestos test lab or to any forensic lab who an identify the particles. IF there is a high level of asbestos in that dust that'd be diagnostic.
See TEST KIT for DUST, MOLD, PARTICLES: INSTRUCTIONS https://inspectapedia.com/sickhouse/Adhesive_Tape_Particle_Test.php
for an easy, low-cost way to collect settled dust samples.
Don't send them to us - send your sample to a certified asbestos test lab.
On 2021-05-14 - by (mod) -
@Zulu,
Asbestos is possible, though not so likely, in ceramic tile and its mastic; unfortunately nobody can say from the photo alone;
If your work is going without creating dust and debris it's not likely that even if the mastic-adhesive does contain asbestos, that there's a detectable airborne asbestos hazard from that source.
On 2021-05-13 by Zulu
Hi I have posted an image below. 1st pot on the forum please be kind. Am I dealing with Asbestos mastic here? Ceramic mosaic tiles have come of clean, there isn’t a glue texture attached to it. Age 1980 maybe.
On 2020-09-12 - by (mod) -
It's not so likely but still possible especially if the product is old stock, though a search has not found reports specifically pointing to asbestos in Spanish ceramic tile.
IN any event it's not friable;
On 2020-09-12 by Alex
i have a spain made gres monococcion single fired tile by azulejera alcorense. Do you think it might has asbestos? Thanks!
On 2020-08-11 - by (mod) -
Tilu
Some marble contains asbestos - depending on where it was mined.
Here are a couple of examples
Germine, Mark, and John H. Puffer. "Distribution of asbestos in the bedrock of the northern New Jersey area." Environmental Geology 3, no. 6 (1981): 337.
Jehan, Noor, and Irshad Ahmad. "Occurrence of tremolitic asbestos in Nowshera Formation Ghundai Tarako, district Swabi, North Pakistan." Journal of Himalayan Earth Sciences 40 (2007).
On 2020-08-10 by Tiiu Roiser
Greetings. I'm looking to install a new back splash and floor tile. Does natural marble contain any asbestos? Does it matter what country it is from? I'm looking at marble from Turkey and Spain. I don't trust anything from China. I'll be doing all the install and cutting myself and have little children around. Thank you in advance for any information.
On 2020-05-30 - by (mod) -
Nicole,
Some of those tan tile adhesive mastics contained asbestos - not particularly friable unless you're doing demolition.
Some of those in turn can be dissolved with water.
Ceramic tiles might contain asbestos themselves, but if you're not sawing or breaking-up the tiles, they're the personification of a "non friable" material that is therefore low-risk.
On 2020-05-30 by Nicole F
We just took down a backsplash in our house built in 1962 (America). The tiles just say Malaysia on the back. I believe they are porcelain. They measure 2.5 inches. The behind them looks like peanut butter. Are these a possible risk?
On 2020-11-02 by (mod) - shattered stone or "broken tile" ceramic floor installed in square segments, 1960s
Maura
Than you for the question and floor photo
A ceamic mosaic floor tile pattern set in mud (tile cement for other readers not familiar with that term) would not, in the U.S. be likely to contain asbestos and in any event is not friable.
There were similar looking asphalt or vinyl-asbestos floor tiles by Armstrong in a Shattered Stone pattern.
Yes it was and remains common to install ceramic tile that is sold in rectangular or square segments pre-adhered to a mesh backer.
That lets the tile setter install the flooring in a rather uniform pattern far more rapidly than if she had to set every one of those small ceramic tile bits individually.
This Q&A were posted originally at ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION
On 2020-11-02 by Maura
Hi!-
Found this tile underneath a floating floor in the bathroom. It appears to be mosaic tile laid in mud with no visible seams unless you "zoom out".
Home was built in 1961 and we have original ceramic tile in other parts of the house so I assume it is tile that was laid with a square-ish template. Just want to be sure that I am not missing something
2020/05/06
Hi.. I recently rented a house in center of a city in Italy and I’m concerned that these tiles contain asbestos.. would you tell me if these look like they have it? And if they do, given that some of the tiles are very loose is it safe to live here?
Thank you - Anonymous by private email
Are we looking at ceramic glaze on terra cotta-based tiles?
I think so. The entire floor is covered with these 15*7.5 cm tiles. They have a greenish color and the part that's broken looks like clay.
I asked the owner if they have one Icould see but they didn't.And like a lot of houses in italy this one was also built the ban of using asbestos and not renovated ever since. thank you for taking the time to see
Yep that's a ceramic on clay tile.
No one can tell you from looking alone if that tile contains asbestos - though usually it won't.
And if the floor is basically intact it's not shedding material at any measurable level.
Details of what we know about this question are at
CERAMIC TILE, ASBESTOS / LEAD?
please take a look there and of course I welcome follow-up questions or comments.
I'll post your photos, keeping you anonymous unless you want otherwise, at that page to see if any of our readers has seen your specific tile. The more we know about the location (country, city) and age of the building the better the guess.
Reader folllow-up:
Thank you for checking it . This is a really nice house ( except for the really old floor)and it would be a shame to leave it for asbestos..
Moderator comment:
Certainly you could cover the flooring with just about anything - perhaps a resilient floor - IF the tile is damaged and shedding - to eliminate your worry. Not as nice, perhaps, as ceramic but if the flooring is in bad shape (doesn't look so in your photos) you could avoid further damage as well as prevent any dust and debris from the floor.
On 2020-04-23 - by (mod) -
Thanks for the helpful comments, Paul. I agree. We have confirmed asbestos use in thin set mortars and tile mastics including the tan coloured water-solvent-based latex adesives used with some ceramict tile and slate tile setting, and incidentally, also in black asphalt-based mastic adhesives used in vinul floor tiles.
See MASTIC, CUTBACK ADHESIVE, FLASHING CEMENT ASBESTOS
On 2020-04-22 by Paul Roscoe - Asbestos found in some thin set tile mortars
If It’s old it’s gold as we say in our industry . If you research enough it is clear that thin set mortars did contain asbestos. They are not found in all but some, you can find manufacturers who made/sold it in the U.S but in the U.K not so easy but we do indeed find it here aswell we get several positive results every year. It all depends on the age (1950s-late 1970s) and as we know most old tiles have been replaced during renovations so you’ve got to get lucky so to speak to find it but I believe it will have been more common than first thought.
Also one of the large asbestos manufacturers in the U.K. Turner and Newall also sold small ‘poilte’ asbestos cement tiles coated with a enamel / ceramic coating to look like ceramic tiles, I have one in a display cabinet.
On 2020-01-07 by Anonymous
Thank you so much, that is very helpful
On 2020-01-07 by (mod) -
Asbestos is unlikely,
See if you can find the MSDS for the product
On 2020-01-07 by Ahmad
Thank you so much, as for the product that I used, here is the link for the company products:
VITRA-FIX & VITRA-THERM CERAMIC TILE ADHESIVES [PDF] retrieved 2020/01/12 original source:
http://www.morentrade.com/docs/Building%20Chemicals01.pdf
and I attaching an image of the product that I used. As you can see, it says cement base Adhesive.
As I mentioned this was almost 10 years ago.
Appreciate your help.
On 2020-01-07 by (mod) -
Ahmad
By now, in most places in the world, I would expect manufacturers to have all stopped including asbestos in tile mastic.
However I can't say that I know that for a fact about the specific product that you have bought.
On 2020-01-07 by Ahmad
Hello,
I have installed Travertine floor tile back in 2010, and I used tile cement/glue that was made in Turkey at that time
. I am planning to remove it now and I am wondering if the glue has any asbestos in it.
I did lot of research but all i can find is that Turkey has complete ban in Dec 2010, but there was a partial ban before that, however, i couldn't find if construction material was included in the partial ban,
is there a way to tell other than testing?
Thanks.
On 2019-10-15 by (mod) -
Ashley
As the materials of concern are now gone all that's left might be a test of representative samples of settled dust to ask the forensic lab if there are high levels of hazardous mateirals (such as asbestos or silica) or even low levels of particles that for other reasons raise an IAQ concern.
That will not (nothing can) assess your prior exposure to unknown dust hazards but it'll tell you if further cleaning is warranted..
On 2019-10-15 by Ashley
Hi, I am kind of concerned about a small project that I undertook about a year ago. I know it's too late now to do too much although I know there is still some lingering dust on things. My home was built in 1980-1981 and there was a small area of tile in front of my fireplace.
I don't know when the tile was actually placed, if it was at the time of building or later.
I'm not super concerned about the ceramic tiles themselves but I am worried about the grout that was used.
I used a variety of things to remove the tiles including a grinding saw and there was a lot of dust as the material was very hard. It seemed more like cement than anything (gray and hard), if memory serves, although I think there may have been some reddish clay-colored material as well.
There were two styles of ceramic tile (possibly two installations with different grouts). I am kicking myself for not collecting samples at the time but now am worried that I may have lingering dust in the house and am concerned that I may have exposed myself while removing the material. Any thoughts or whether there are ways to do any type of swab testing of the room at this point? Thanks.
On 2019-09-04 by (mod) - Army Asbestos Testing Program contact information
Nomad
Thank you for the important comment; I'm not suprised as I've already found and cited some ceramic tiles that contained asbestos, though it's uncommon in North America. But your report is particularly helpful; if you have reports or even photos that'd be even more useful.
But if all you've got is the memory, I'm a bit stuck; we don't know who might have performed testing: a european asbestos lab or a lab in another country, even the U.S. that was contracted with the US military.
Keep in mind that worrying about this may be worse for your health than the tiles themselves. The hazard from an asbestos-containing ceramic tile would in my OPINION occur if the tiles were ground, chopped, sawn etc. so as to create a dusty mess. Othewise the particle release is likely to be below the limits of detection. Ceramic tile isn't friable.
One source occurs to me: you could contact the Army Asbestos Testing Program to ask if they were the people handling tests of materials from Iraq.
Army Public Health Center
8252 Blackhawk Road
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5403 USA
OR possibly one of these two sub-programs
Environmental Health Risk Assessment Division
Email Address: usarmy.apg.medcom-aphc.list.ehrad@mail.mil
Telephone Number: 410-436-2953
DSN: 584-2953
Mailing Address: U.S. Army Public Health Center Env. Health Risk Assessment Division 8252 Blackhawk Road (Bldg E1675) ATTN: MCHB-PH-HRA Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5403
Environmental Health Sciences and Engineering
Email Address: usarmy.apg.medcom-aphc.list.org-ehe-ofcdir@mail.mil
Telephone Number: 410-436-2306
DSN: 584-2306
Mailing Address: Army Public Health Center ATTN: MCHB-PH-EHE 8252 Blackhawk Road Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5403
APHC Phone Numbers
Toll-Free Number: 1-(800) 222-9698
Staff Duty Officer: (410) 436-4375
DSN: Dialing from within CONUS 584-4375
DSN: Dialing from OCONUS (312) 584-4375
Secure Fax: (410) 436-7301
Public Affairs Officer: (410) 417-2937
Media inquiries: usarmy.apg.medcom-aphc.mbx.pao@mail.mil
Website: https://phc.amedd.army.mil/topics/workplacehealth/ih/Pages/Army-Asbestos-and-Lead-Programs.aspx
On 2019-09-04 by Nomad Construction
I tested some material in Iraq in 2003 are various locations dated from 1950 to 1988 that showed 35% asbestos.
All of the material was from Mediterranean, communist and other businesses in the middle east.
How can I find out what company actually performed the test and what the material actually was? I took so many field sample and slept, drank and ate in al of these areas for 18 months at a time.
On 2019-08-24 by (mod) - drilling through ceramic wall tile - hazards?
Re-posting from private email:
Anonymous asked:
Nice website. Very helpful. But before I start drilling, can you comment on whether or not I should take any precautions above and beyond what I would typically do for drilling?
I have to drill into a 4x4 tile in an old shower and am modestly concerned.
Moderator reply:
What are you drilling? Ceramic tile? In the U.S. asbestos is unlikely but breathing silica dust still isn't great for the lungs; I suggest just keeping the drill hole wet and drilling slowly with an appropriate bit that will cut the tile
Reader follow-up:
Yes, I have a P100 mask. Was going to do as you say. Keep wet. Vacuum as I go. Thank you.
Moderator reply:
I'm assuming you're drilling small holes to mount a shower door - not much worry; just use damp wipe to clean up not a household vacuum
On 2019-05-01 by (mod) -
Gabrielle
What kind of floor are you showing: concrete with embedded stone chips (asbestos not likely), ceramic tile (see the article above on this page), or a vinyl sheet flooring (possible);
For some easy questions that actually answer the question better than a wild guess, see DOES THIS FLOOR CONTAIN ASBESTOS? https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/DIY-Asbestos-Floor-Test.php
On 2019-05-01 by gabrielleines25
We are planning on redoing kitchen floor can you tell me what type it is how likely it may have abesitos?
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s useful Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2019-03-24 by (mod) -
Reader query - do these "Crystal" bath tiles from H&R Johnson LTD in the UK contain asbestos - anonymous by private email.
Reply:
I'm assuming you're in the U.K. (good luck with the Brexit fiasco) since that's the home of the manufacturer of their tile.
You might drop them an email to ask if they ever used asbestos in their tile or tile grout
https://www.johnson-tiles.com/company/
Johnson Tiles
Customer Service Enquiries ales@johnson-tiles.com?01782 524000
General Enquiries nfo@johnson-tiles.com 1782 575575
Sample Ordering
Samples@johnson-tiles.com 1782 524043
London Studio and Showroom
Material Lab
10Great Titchfield Street,
London W1W 8BB?020 7436 8629
info@material-lab.co.uk
Please keep me posted on what the company replies, What we both learn may help me help someone else.
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s useful Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2019-03-23 by (mod) - asbestos regulation murky in the U.S.
Thanks for the comment, Philip, we agree with one another.
Keep in mind that public resistance to friable asbestos in consumer products and many others has, however, meant that manufacturers switched to alternative materials and stopped using asbestos in most goods.
A typical example among construction products is the fiber cement siding industry (nee asbestos cement siding).
In the case of ceramic tile, asbestos content in ceramic tile in North America would be rare.
On 2019-03-23 by Philip
Officially/technically we did not stop, the ban and phaseout of asbestos was overturned by the 5th circuit court of appeals.
The EPA did ban several cardboard and paper products along with new uses of asbestos. And under the air pollution standards the EPA banned certain applications that could release fibers asbestos fibers when applied or after drying such as sprayed on acoustical ceilings.
Worse yet we have no, I repeat no, governmental organization that screens or tests products for asbestos, rather you are required, by law, to test building suspect building materials prior to renovation, remodeling, or demolition activities that would disturb them regardless of the date of manufacture and installation.
The EPA does have a proposed new use rule, which is important because it may if passed provide some funding to test new materials for asbestos and their likelihood of releasing hazardous fibers.
...
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