Also there is a patching compound made with asbestos and was used in wall and ceiling joints. The insulation and compounds were federally banned in 1977.

A painter in the mountain west, used to use corn meal in the paint also, which had no hazard of asbestos.

What these little grains of asbestos can make in the human lungs is a cancer. The grain is breathed in, lodges against the lung wall and a tumor grows around it. It is an unnecessary cancer that can be avoided.

Artificial ashes and embers, which were sold for use in a gas filled fireplace, may contain asbestos. Older stovetop pads were made with asbestos. Some walls and floors around wood burning stoves may be protected with asbestos. Other similar uses were asbestos paper, millboard and cement sheets containing asbestos.

Some asbestos is found in some vinyl floor tiles. The backing on vinyl sheet flooring and their adhesives may contain asbestos. The hot water and steam pipes in older houses may be covered with an asbestos tape or blanket. The pipes can be coated with asbestos material.

Oil and coal furnaces and their door gaskets may be insulated with asbestos insulation.

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that used to be included in insulation and fire resistant products used in home construction,

The diseases that have been linked to asbestos includes:

1. Lung cancer
2. Mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the lining of the chest and abdominal cavity
3. Asbestosis is a condition where the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue

Smokers have a much higher risk of complications from breathing in asbestos.

Some times it takes 20 years for these diseases to show up. If a ceiling with asbestos paint does not show the covering to be peeled off, then this does not constitute a health hazard. A homeowner's best action would to be carefully painting the surface 2 coats of a good oil based paint to seal it. Do this carefully to avoid chipping off any of the old asbestos paint.

If the old paint is scuffing off, the asbestos fibers can be in the lungs a long time, which greatly risks lung cancer chances.

Other places you could find asbestos includes:

Steam pipes, boilers and furnace ducts insulated with asbestos blanket or asbestos paper tape.
Floor tiles of vinyl asbestos or asphalt or rubber can contain asbestos. The backing on the vinyl sheets also the adhesive for this linoleum can be asbestos. When someone sands those floor tiles with asbestos cement, a group of fibers can be released. Also scraping or sanding the tile can release asbestos.

Cement sheet and millboard as well as some paper used in insulations can leek asbestos. This is insulation that is typically used around a furnace or wood-burning stove. Also cutting the sheet, and tearing and sanding, as well as drilling into the sheet or sawing the insulation. These also put asbestos fibers into the air.

Door gaskets on furnaces can contain asbestos. Worn seals can release the asbestos fibers when a fire is built. Also wood stove door gaskets and gas burning wood burning products can be a threat unless the gasket around the door is updated regularly.

Sound proofing or decorative material sprayed on ceilings, and walls often has asbestos. Loose or crumbly or water damaged painted surface may release fibers. Also sanding the material and drilling the decorative wall covering may release fibers. Scraping off the asbestos in the ceiling can be very threatening to the person doing the removal. The best safest choice is 2 coats of good oil based paint.

Automobile brake pads can be asbestos. Also clutch facings and gaskets are often asbestos. Persons using these kinds of products are cautioned to get good gloves for taking off or touching asbestos in the home or shop. It is critical to throw away used asbestos gloves and stovetop pads. Even some ironing board covers can have asbestos.

The best way to make sure your home does no have asbestos, is to have a professional home inspector come and test. Before testing, it is important that a professional take these safety steps:

1. Make sure no one else is in the room before taking a sample
2. Wear disposable gloves and wash hands when finished
3. Shut down heating or cooling systems first
4. Do not disturb the material any more than to do what I needed. Keep intact all the time.
5. Put a plastic sheet on the floor to protect toddlers and pets etc.
6. Wet the area where a sample is going to be taken. The mister should have water and a few drops of detergent. This misting will cut down the chances asbestos will be disturbed.

This is what asbestos might be in your home. Also, it is what you can do to help protect yourself and your family from the issues that can happen due to the dangerous levels of asbestos if you think you might have it.