Shingle siding is only dangerous when broken up and the fibers are disturbed and sent into the air and inhaled.
Asbestos shingle siding dangerous.
Asbestos cement can be dangerous if pulverized by sawing sanding breaking etc.
Even a single airborne fiber of the most dangerous types of asbestos can eventually cause a particular form of lung cancer if inhaled.
Identifying siding shingles with asbestos.
Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and can be easily chipped cracked or broken.
Intact siding that is still in place poses no health risk as mesothelioma and other lung diseases only occur when a large amount of fibers are inhaled.
If it is a problem there are two types of corrections.
Past usage of asbestos.
The use of a pressure washer for maintenance can crack the siding and lead to moisture intrusion if the pressure setting is high enough.
Care and proper procedures should always be taken during removal and disposal but in general asbestos siding ranks very low on the list of materials that contain asbestos as far as danger.
Repair and removal.
And make no mistake asbestos is dangerous.
Before that asbestos products were used in the construction of homes in many ways including in shingles siding insulation floor tiles and cement.
Since 1989 the epa environmental protection agency has prohibited the use of asbestos in the united states.
Asbestos siding is far less dangerous due to the fact that it installed outside and very few fibers are released even when siding shingles crack and break.
The issue here is asbestos and the risks of serious lung diseases it can cause.