How dangerous is asbestos insulation?

Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause cancer and other diseases, such as:

• asbestosis
  
  • a scarring of the lungs, which makes it difficult to breathe
• mesothelioma
  
  • a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity
• lung cancer
  
  • smoking can greatly increase this risk

There are no significant health risks if materials containing asbestos in your home are:

• tightly bound in products and are in good condition
• sealed behind walls and floorboards
• isolated in an attic
• left undisturbed