What Are the Blue Particles Above My Drop Ceiling?

Identification

• If you have blue particles above your drop ceiling, there's a good chance that your building or home contains asbestos. Asbestos is a fire- and sound-resistant material used in all types of buildings manufactured with materials that were used prior to 1981. Blue asbestos, or crocidolite, is a naturally occurring rock found in Australia and Africa. It was often used in building materials, along with other forms of asbestos, including brown and white. Asbestos was often used in floor tiles, but also in insulation and other types of building materials.

Dangers

• If you find that your ceiling has blue asbestos, it's best to not try to remove it yourself. Asbestos debris, when airborne, can get into the lungs and cause diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a scar tissue that continues to build up in the lungs and can eventually result in death.

Removal

• Removal of asbestos from any premises requires specialized experience and training. The attempt to remove asbestos from your home or building can increase your exposure if the tiles are disturbed. To have asbestos materials removed from your home or office, the best practice is to hire qualified, licensed asbestos removal technicians.

Other Options

• Removal of asbestos is only one of your options. Other options tend to not disturb the asbestos or cause the particulates to become airborne. If the asbestos is part of some tile that's been covered up, for example, it can be enclosed and sealed off with an acrylic substance that will ensure that it remains embedded and cannot be inhaled into the lungs. Any type of sawing, scraping, dusting or sweeping can cause the asbestos to dislodge.