Asbestos education
Asbestos myths & safety tips
Straightforward, fact-based guidance to help Minnesota property owners and contractors understand asbestos, separate common myths from reality, and stay safe around suspect materials.
Common asbestos myths, busted
Misinformation about asbestos leads to unsafe decisions. Here are the myths we hear most often — and the facts behind them.
You can identify asbestos just by looking at it.
Only laboratory analysis of a sampled material can confirm whether it contains asbestos. Visual inspection alone is not reliable.
Asbestos is completely banned in the United States.
Asbestos is not fully banned. Its use is heavily restricted, but it can still be found in some imported building materials and older products.
If asbestos is in my home, my family is in immediate danger.
Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not release fibers. The risk comes from damage, renovation, or deterioration that makes fibers airborne.
Only old attic insulation contains asbestos.
Asbestos was used in many materials — vinyl flooring, mastic, siding, popcorn ceilings, joint compound, and pipe insulation, among others.
A standard dust mask is enough protection for asbestos work.
Proper abatement requires specialized respirators, training, and containment. A simple paper or cloth mask does not filter asbestos fibers safely.
Removing asbestos yourself is a good way to save money.
Improper removal can contaminate your home and is regulated by state and federal rules. Licensed abatement is safer and often legally required.
Practical safety tips
If you suspect a material in your home or job site may contain asbestos, these steps help reduce exposure risk.
1. Leave it alone if intact
Undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not release fibers. If a material is in good condition and you are not renovating, the safest choice is often to leave it in place.
2. Never cut, sand, or drill suspect materials
Mechanical work on suspect materials can release large amounts of fibers. Have a professional sample and assess before any remodeling near them.
3. Use wet methods to suppress dust
If you must clean up small debris near a suspect material, keep it wet — damp materials release far fewer airborne fibers than dry ones.
4. Turn off HVAC during disturbance
Shut down forced-air heating and cooling and seal registers before any work near suspect materials so fibers are not pulled through the home.
5. Never dry-sweep or vacuum dry dust
Dry sweeping and standard vacuums resuspend fibers. Use wet wiping and HEPA-filtered equipment only, and dispose of waste properly.
6. Hire licensed professionals
Sampling, removal, and disposal are regulated in Minnesota. Use a licensed asbestos contractor and inspector for anything beyond visual awareness.
Downloadable guides
Take these myth and safety guides with you as printable PDFs.
Myth and safety PDFs are coming soon. Browse the full resource library in the meantime.
Resource library