Asbestos Electrical Insulation FAQs
Q&A on Identification of Asbestos Electrical Insulation Products

Asbestos electrical insulation Q&A:

FAQs about the history, manufacture, visual identification: how to recognize asbestos-based or asbestos containing electrical insulation materials in products & buildings - a visual guide to identifying asbestos in buildings.

Page top photograph: asbestos insulation on electrical wiring in a theater.

This articles series about the manufacture & use of asbestos-containing products includes detailed information on the production methods, asbestos content, and the identity and use of asbestos-containing materials. Page top photo shows asbestos used in an electrical motor.

Asbestos Electrical Wiring Insulation Q&A

These questions & answers were posted originally

at ASBESTOS ELECTRICAL WIRE INSULATION - be sure to review the information given there.

On 2020-12-13 - by (mod) -

I see some fabric covered wire there.

Whether or not asbestos was likely to have been used in The Wire insulation depends on what the wire was for.

For example wires used in heating equipment or theaters may have used asbestos insulation.

This could you expose your family to dust from that wire would depend on how much dust you made and stripping it and how carefully you cleaned yourself and your clothes before spending time in your home.

On 2020-12-13 by Keith

Hello I stripped about 50-100 feet of wire from this bucket and didn't know anything about asbestos until after.

The house was built in 1948 and finished in 1953. Does anyone know if the wire here looks to have asbestos? Im very concerned that I exposed myself and family to asbestos.

I believe it all came from a barn built around the same time as the house.

On 2020-08-06 - by (mod) -

Indeed, often it does.

On 2020-08-06 by Gil

Does the asphalt paper inside the old metal electricity pipe contains asbestos.

I an old house in Israel (1960's) the electicity pipes in which the wires are in is built from metal.


Inside the metal there is a black paper looks like asphalt paper. Does this paper contain asbestos?
In Israel this electricity pipe are called "Bergman"

On 2020-07-16 01:41:19.734061 - by (mod) -

I see why you ask - it' carries the word "THERMO"

Let's do some research.

Can you show me a photo of the actual wire insulation - inside the jacket?

On 2020-07-16 by Pat

Hi, I found a cable like this in a 80s house, do you think this contains asbestos ?

On 2019-03-24 - by (mod) -

Cindi

To have room for a detailed reply I repeat your question and answer it at the top of the article above on this page. You may need to clear your browser cache to see the updated page.

On 2019-03-24 by Cindi

Hi. I worked for Texas Instruments in the 70s in Texas. I solder computer, calculator boards. Was there ever asbestos in soldering wire. I know am waiting for diagnosis of cancer. Pleural Enffusion

On 2019-03-01 - by (mod) -

Not likely on common electrical wiring

See KNOB & TUBE WIRING at https://inspectapedia.com/electric/Knob_and_Tube_Wiring.php

Asbestos in wire insulation is more likely in high-heat applications such as described in the article above.

On 2019-03-01 by Kathe

The house we live in has knob and tube wiring. The wiring is coated with silver-colored painted on insulation. This coating is wearing off, flaking off in some places. Could this coating contain asbestos?

On 2020-02-01 by (mod) - is this wire insulation likely to contain asbestos?

I haven't yet, Tlit, found a copy of an older Southwire Alumiunum SEC cabling that is fabric covered, but you can see an older SOUTHWIRE SEC CATALOG [PDF] (2010) catalog

and a more-recent SOUTHWIRE ELECTRICAL WIRE CATALOG [PDF] (2014

According to a typical description of the modern product (Home Depot) Southwire's AlumaFlex SEU building wire is used for powering the service drop to the meter base and the meter base to the distribution panel board.

It is available with 2, 3 or 4 conductors. The conductors are made with AlumaFlex AA-8000 series aluminum and are compact stranded.

Your older coated fabric insulated SEC should be similar.

On 2020-01-30 by TLIT

Here is two additional pictures, I attempted to zoom them in.

On 2020-01-30 by (mod) -

Tlit

That looks like it may be an aluminum type SE service entry wire produced by Southwire. I have no record of the use of asbestos in that wire insulation.

If you can get a photograph of more of the text running along the surface of the wire that would be very helpful.

On 2020-01-30 by TLIT

I am curious if someone can help me identify this type of wire from my 1964 home.

It is the only one in the house left in this style. All others must have been updated along the way. Would it be an asbestos containing wire ?

On 2020-02-01 by (mod) - Reasearch citations of use of asbestos in electrial wire insulation

Dan,

Mostly, no, but in some uses yes some electrical wire insulation contained asbestos.

Labeled as 14/2 we know this is a 2-wire (without ground) non metallic insulated.

There was some fabric wire insulation made using asbestos, most often in special applications where heat and fire resistance were needed such as

- theatre wiring

- wiring inside of heated appliances like toasters, electric heaters, overs, stovetop igniter circuits

Independent tests of those electrical wires where asbestos was used find 20% - 50% Chrysotile asbestos fibres. (Williams 2007)

• Williams, Pamela RD, Amanda D. Phelka, and Dennis J. Paustenbach. "A review of historical exposures to asbestos among skilled craftsmen (1940–2006)." Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B 10, no. 5 (2007): 319-377.

also

• Obetz, Guy U., and Robison F. Walter. "Asbestos rope or wick package." U.S. Patent 1,640,368, issued August 30, 1927.

Asbestos was also used in some plastic NMC electrical wire insulation

• Kietzman, J., and M. Tocci. "Heat stability of asbestos-filled polypropylene." U.S. Patent 3,799,906, issued March 26, 1974.
  
  This invention relates to a method and a composition for inhibiting the heat degradation of polypropylene polymers filled with asbestos reinforcing fibers. More particularly, the invention relates to stabilized filler formulations, a method of incorporating asbestos fiber and stabilizer during plastication of polypropylene, and to polypropylene products possessing desirable physical characteristics.
  -
  Polypropylene is commonly exposed to elevated temperatures in making useful compositions and articles out of the resin form, and also in normal uses of some of these compositions and articles. Such customary processing procedures as roll compounding, injection love, extrusion and the like involve elevated temperatures. In such end uses as electrical insulation, protective coatings for electrical wire, and plastic pipes for hot water and steam, elevated temperatures are frequently and normally encountered.

Also

• Rosch, Samuel J. "Insulated conductor." U.S. Patent 2,045,103, issued June 23, 1936. Application filed by Anaconda Wire and Cable Co.
  
  ...This invention relates to electric conductors and more particularly to a; conductor having insulation in the form of asbestos carried by a relatively tough backing strip or tape.
  
  The use of asbestos is not broadly new. But, so far as I am aware it has not been possible heretofore to apply asbestos in the form of thin tape-like wrappings because it has very little tensile strength and is, therefore, incapable of withstanding the tension which is necessarily imposed when wrapping it about a conductor.

Also

• Stewart, Howard J. "Electrical cable." U.S. Patent 2,231,606, issued February 11, 1941.
  inspectapedia.com/electric/Asbestos-Wire-Insulation-Stewart-US2231606.pdf
  ...
  It is known that all-asbestos type cable, i. e., cable constructions wherein the conductors are insulated with asbestos and covered with treated asbestos braid, have good heat-resistance but are lacking in good dielectric strength, the breakdown voltage being relatively low in the presence of moisture and the insulation failing after a comparatively short period, particularly after aging at elevated temperature.
  
  The dielectric strength of asbestos covered cables has been improved by the use of layers of varnished cambric, suitably treated, between layers of felted asbestos.
  
  Such cables while useful and possessing an initially good dielectric strength show a marked decrease in breakdown voltage after immersion in water or in the presence of moisture after aging at elevated temperature.
  
  Cables of the latter type have employed felted asbestos rather than asbestos in tape form on the theory that the felted asbestos forms a cushioning layer for the varnished cambric, which is relatively stiff, thus permitting flexibility of the cable construction.
  
  It has in fact been thought not possible to construct flexible, high dielectric strength, heat-resisting cables with the use of asbestos tapes surrounding a high dielectric medium because of the relative inflexibility of the tapes and the tendency of the insulation to open up on sharp bends, such as right-angle bends, to which the cable is subjected in use.

Adding some earlier history of the use of asbestos in electrical wire insulation is the Owen/ GE patent from 1913:

• Owen, Harry Luke. "Means for applying coverings to wires." U.S. Patent 1,053,108, issued February 11, 1913.Application filed by General Electric Co.
  
  Excerpt:
  This invention relates to a means for facilitating the application of asbestos fibers to wires in forming insulated electric con ductors.
  
  According to my invention I am able to receive the asbestos fiberdirectly from the carding machine upon a suitable temporary backing of conveying material, upon which it is deposited in the same state as delivered by the dotfer rolls thus retaining its flocculent condition. This temporary backing is a flexible, ribbon-like sheet, which with the deposited flocculent asbestos is; wound up into a coil on a reel or bobbin, so that it may be stored for future use or inserted directly into the wire-covering machine for application of the asbestos upon the wire.

Asbestos fabric and asbestos electrical wire insulation also shows up in electric heating pads and electrically-heated mattresses.

• Skinner, Sherrod E. "Electrically-heated pad." U.S. Patent 1,758,177, issued May 13, 1930.
  
  Excerpt: The present invention relates to electrically heated pads of the sort having a resistance wire (or resistance wires) located within a flexible ad, blanket or the like, the resistance wire being preferably in the form of a coil with its convolutions distributed in the pad so as to uniformly heat the same throughout its area.
  
  It is customary to wrap the resistance wire, or wires, with a suitable insulating material, such as braided asbestos, in an en deavor to prevent the resistance wire, when heated, from setting fire to the material of which the pad is made. Heating pads of this sort have been manufactured and sold having automatically operated cut-offs or thermostats that will open the circuit through the resistance wire, or wires, when the temperature reaches a predetermined point.

On 2020-01-31 by Dan - is older type nm 14-2 White Romex likely to contain asbestos?

Does anyone know much about older type nm 14-2 White Romex.

The outlets that it is ran to are ungrounded, so I’m guessing it’s old enough to be the wires that did not contain a ground wire.

It was a vinyl or plastic coating on the outside. Has this type of cable been known to contain asbestos?

On 2019-08-31 by (mod) -

using the add image button to attach a photo to a comment and we'll be glad to take a look

Also take a look at the questions that I noted below for another reader that add information that help make a guess about the probability that electrical wire insulation includes asbestos

On 2019-08-30 by val

what do you guys think about this wires?

On 2019-08-29 by (mod) - Questions to Help Identify Asbestos Electrical Wire Insulation

Jack

That looks like cloth wiring insulation, BUT I expect that nobody (who actually knows) will venture to claim that your wire insulation probably does or does not contain asbestos without more information or, of course by an actual lab test (typically not cost-justified).

This looks like ordinary lamp wiring but I can't be sure from your photo.

Asbestos on electrical wiring is more likely to be found in residential applications where high heat resistance was needed such as under electric cooktops and in oven or stove wiring, and in non-residential applications where there was special fire-safety need such as theatre wiring.

So here are some Questions to Help Guess at Asbestos Use in Electrical Wiring

1. What is the use of the wire: what application, appliance, installation?

2. What is the age of the wire - when was it probably manufactured? Or if we don't know that,

3. What is the age of the appliance, fixture, or equipment where the wire is used? Or if we don't know that we can at least set an "oldest likely" floor by

4. What is the age of the building where the wiring or its wired appliance is found?

5. What are the country and city where the building or appliance is located or where the wired-appliance was manufactured?

Finally, while I'm obviously interested in the topic and appreciate your question and photo, I also remind readers that the probability that there is a detectable asbestos *hazard* of airborne asbestos fibers shed from wiring such as shown in your photo, unless the wiring is chopped, sawn, ground, or seriously disturbed, is likely to be nil.

On 2019-08-29 by Jack P

I was wondering if anyone (who actually knows) can say whether this [photo shown above] is likely an asbestos containing wire or not?
Thank you,
J

On 2019-07-01 1 by (mod) - Possible PCB oil in power cables

Mel

I don't know what the oil was in your power cables. PCB-containing oils were used in transformers.

Commonly, moisture-resistant oils and resins were used in paper wrapped power cables (Thue 2003). Oils were used in oil-filled cabling as early as 1917. The oils that expert cites were rosin, mineral oil, With and without rosin or polybutylene, and by 1940, Sun XX mineral oil. Polybutene introduced in 1966, was used on 138 kV cables. With some of those oils, particularly the polybutylene, a concern for PCBs has been raised.

PCBs or Polychlorinated Biphenyls are a known carcinogen and are dangerous. I cannot know your specific situation nor exposure but it would in my OPINION be reasonable to mention this as a *possible* exposure when discussing your health with your doctor.

References on PCB use in Electrical Power Cables

• Bobillier, Vincent, R. Frei, and J. Christiansen. Grounding, Shielding and Power Distribution in LHCb. No. CERN-LHCb-2004-039. 2004.
• Fofana, I. "50 years in the development of insulating liquids." IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine 29, no. 5 (2013): 13-25.
• Kojovic, Ljubomir. "PCB Rogowski coils benefit relay protection." IEEE computer applications in power 15, no. 3 (2002): 50-53.
• Thue, Willliam A., POWER CABLE INSULATION HISTORY [PDF] of power point presentation] ICC 2003, original source: www.pesicc.org/iccwebsite/subcommittees/E/E04/2003/ThuePaperHistory.pdf
  

On 2019-06-28 by mel berns - i removed about 6 million lbs of lead cable wrapped in a wax" paper

i removed about 6 million lbs of lead cable wrapped in a wax" paper for a 3 multi stranded powere cable in underground conduit,it contained a oil substance, it was for the aec at oakridge in the 70----do you know what this oil was, at the time i thought it was for cooling------thank you melberns@aol.com

On 2019-07-08 by Matt W.

Very late thank you for the additional info you posted. I see your reasoning. The project I referred to is finished now.

I did see wire in various states and conditions.

Ultimately the survey data gave precedence to visual assumption on the wire being "asbestos containing" or "non-asbestos containing" although as a surveyor they still asked for a friable or non-friable notation.

I did learn more about cable and wire wrap from your writing in conjunction with working with surveys of wire and cable. Thank you for the reading material. I also learned that visual clues can still give false positives and false negatives, so get a lab analysis done!

On 2019-04-10 1 by (mod) -

Matt:

To have space for an authoritative reply to your question on the definition of friable asbestos-insulated electrical wire I repeat your question and give a detailed answer now found in the article

ASBESTOS ELECTRICAL WIRE INSULATION.

please take a look there and comment or ask further - you may have to clear or refresh your browser page to see the updated article.

On 2019-04-10 by Matt W.

Hi,
I have been inspecting and creating an asbestos inventory for an electrical power company (producer, transmission and distribution). during inventory I am task with marking down the friability of inspected items.

when I can only visually identify asbestos containing wiring or cable I make the assumption it is "friable", with "non-friable being the only other option to record. Do you consider asbestos containing wire friable when you visually identify it? Under what conditions? I default to marking all asbestos wire as friable, regardless of its condition. Any insight is appreciated.

Thanks

On 2019-03-07 by (mod) - cancer risk from PCBs in power cabling?

Mel

Of course I'm sorry that you have to face cancer regardless of its root cause;

I have not yet found a source asserting that asbestos was used in combination with oil or wax on paper in large power cables used in the 1960s - nor refuting that possibility.

Are you referring to having worked at

the YK plant in the UK in Leicestershire?

http://www.ycplant.co.uk

On 2019-03-07 by mel berns

the wax paper in large lead power cable that has "oil" in it , is this oil asbestos coated, i removed 6 million lbs at oakridge tn at Y & K plant in the 60 s and now have cancer ,i am 76 and i have been advised it could be melberns@aol.com thank you

Reader Question: does this house wiring contain asbestos?

I was curious if I could post [this photo of old house wiring at an electric light fixture] in order to ID potential asbestos insulation.

The picture shown here is of a closet light fixture I was uninstalling. - M.C. 6 Feb 2016

Reply:

Most likely those are conventional fabric (non-asbestos) insulated wires.

Fabric covered (non-asbestos) electrical wire that was black or silver was often comprised of asphalt-impregnated cloth on both the wire jacket and the wires themselves, with the wire insulation made of fabric-covered rubber. Do you also have photos of the markings on the wire's outer jacket?

The asbestos-based electrical wire insulation I've seen appeared as white or gray fabric (theater wiring such as is shown at the top of this page) or in a harder asbestos-impregnated plastic or rubber insulation on wires used in high temperature appliances such as toasters, range tops, ovens, clothes dryers.

Watch out: however as you'll read in the article above there was asbestos-cloth insulated wire of several types, and more-difficult to distinguish by eye alone is asbestos-impregnated cotton fiber wire insulation.

The amount of debris removed by trimming the wire is probably trivial in any event.

Details are at FABRIC NMC WIRE INSULATION IDENTIFICATION

Also see OLD HOUSE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS for more examples of old wiring insulation types & photos.

Reader Question: did house wiring ever contain asbestos?

I was wondering if house wiring ever contained asbestos. The wiring in my home appears to have an asphalt impregnated type covering almost looks like a snake skin. Could this contain asbestos? - D.T., Canada 10/4/2013

Reply: yes

A competent onsite inspection by an expert usually finds additional clues that would permit a more accurate, complete, and authoritative answer about wiring (noting any markings, exact composition of its insulation, and perhaps data about its age) than we can give by email alone. You will find additional depth and detail in articles at our website.

That said I offer these comments:

Asbestos was indeed used in electrical wiring insulation, as discussed beginning

at ASBESTOS ELECTRICAL WIRE INSULATION

and appears in our lists of asbestos-containing materials found

at ASBESTOS LIST of PRODUCTS

and at ASBESTOS PHOTO GUIDE to MATERIALS

Asbestos was in particular, more widely used in a more pure form in certain electrical wires exposed to high risk (inside of heaters, toasters, electric stoves, theatre wiring).

I would like to see sharp photos of your wiring, its external jacket, cross section of the insulation, and if occasion permits, an actual sample - those details would permit further comment or even testing of the material.

Depending on the age and appearance of the wiring about which you ask, it may be appropriate to treat it as PACM - presumed asbestos containing material. But don't panic. Usually asbestos hazards are minimized by leaving PACM alone unless it is friable, already damaged and / or subject to damage and is in an occupied space.

I suspect that unless  there is a demolition project in progress, the asbestos exposure hazard from asbestos-containing residential electrical wiring is very low, perhaps below the limits of detection, both because of low friability of the typical (excluding my list above) application and insulation materials, and because wiring is normally enclosed in wall, floor, or ceiling cavities.

Question: was asbestos used in telephone cabling or wiring?

2016/01/04 Mike said:

Would asbestos ever had been utilized in the telephone cable that has hundreds of copper conductors wrapped in paper and covered with a lead sheathing? Trying to know if this cable can be easily recycled.

Reply: yes.

Mike,

I would not rule out asbestos on cable insulation, telephone or other wiring, depending on where it was intended to be used. Asbestos was used for fire protection in some telephone cabling as early as 1901 and continuing at least into the 1970's including as an alternative to the jute core wrap used on wiring that may have been then encased in lead or other metal piping.

I have found research describing asbestos exposure of telephone linemen, suggesting that asbestos was certainly used in some telephone cabling. And some patent disclosures concerning telephone cabling also included asbestos materials.

Research citing use of asbestos in telephone cabling, wiring, and core wraps

• Meguellati-Hakkas, Djamila, Diane Cyr, Isabelle Stücker, Joëlle Févotte, Corinne Pilorget, Danièle Luce, and Pascal Guénel. "Lung cancer mortality and occupational exposure to asbestos among telephone linemen: a historical cohort study in France." Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 48, no. 11 (2006): 1166-1172.
• Anderson, Robert W., and Robert E. Smith Jr. "Radiation resistant cable and method of making same." U.S. Patent 4,051,324, issued September 27, 1977.
• Brorein, William J. "Flame retardant inside wiring cable made with an annealed metal sheath." U.S. Patent 4,154,976, issued May 15, 1979.
• Joseph, Lemieux Roger. "Filled cable core with foraminous core wrap." U.S. Patent 3,681,510, issued August 1, 1972.
• Saylor, Frank D. "Fire-protector for telephone-cables." U.S. Patent 688,970, issued December 17, 1901.

Reader Question: asbestos used in vacuum cord SVT electrical cords?

(May 2, 2014) Frank d said:

Does vacuum cleaner cord SVT have abestos? Or has it ever contained abestos?

Svt cord is a type of UL cord that they use in vacuums it's probably highly unlikely that they use asbestos in this type of application. Ami I right?

Reply:

Asbestos was used in some electric wire insulation such as high temperature wiring in heating devices and stoves and in theater wiring.

Dillon (1942) and other of our citations given below describe widespread use of asbestos in electrical appliances, devices, and in their wiring and line cords.

So SVT electrical cords are basially a cord with a thinner insulating jacket, intended for use on vacuum cleaners - appliances that often want to use a spring-loaded spool to re-wind and store the cord when it's not in use. That thin-ness limits the use of the power cord to just certain applications.

Weber (1997) cites SVT components in older guitar amps that did contain asbestos but that asbestos use was in the amplifier's structure.

I don't know that that application speaks to being able to assert the use or non-use of asbestos whatsoever. My OPINION is that where heat is an extra concern (such as toasters) we might be more likely to find that asbestos was used in an appliance electrical cord. Heat may indeed be a concern, or rather heat tolerance, in a power cord that has also to use a thin insulating jacket for other reasons.

The specifications for electrical wire insulation have much to do with tolerating heat as well as other factors (flexing in power cords, moisture resistance, etc).

Asbestos was in fact mixed with rubber in some applications.

You might approach the question of whether a specific power cord contains asbestos more easily by stating the product's name, model, and date of manufacture, and if available the manufacturer could certainly answer the question. The alternative is to have a sample tested.

Possible Asbestos Insulation in Power Cable for Electric Welder

The damaged power cable shown above was used with a 1970's electric welder.

Beneath the heavy rubber exterior of the welder power cable we see a cloth fabric that might be an asbestos fabric needed for extra heat resistance. - reader anon by private email 2017/04/18

Reader follow-up:

I was curious as to what it was, and it's 90% cellulose insulation as tested by Western Analytical Laboratories. The test for asbestos cost $30. U.S.D.

Now the $150 worth of scrap copper is safe to scrap. - Anonymous by private email 2017/04/25

On 2019-03-24 by (mod) - use of asbestos in solder, soldering, welding & soldering / welding products

Hi Cindi.

Asbestos use in solder & soldering products & materials

Asbestos appeared as a filler in some solder products (probably as part of a flux or soldering paste) and asbestos was used in some soldering equipment such as heat shields, pads, soldering iron rests or holsters and asbestos braid solder wipers, as early as at least 1915 and as late as at least 1981.

Examples are found in these patent disclosures

Clay, William C. "Solder iron holster." U.S. Patent 3,637,120, issued January 25, 1972.

Shipman, Emanuel F. "Solder catch pan." U.S. Patent 1,844,872, issued February 9, 1932.

Noland, James S., and Miroslav Hajek. "Epoxy based synthetic solder." U.S. Patent 4,273,686, issued June 16, 1981.
Excerpt:

The fillers used herein to reinforce the solder may be any conventional filler which is compatible with the polyepoxide and suitable for use in solders. Examples of these fillers include aluminum powder, calcium carbonate, wood flour, metal oxides like iron oxides, gypsum, asbestos, talc, clays, and other silicates and the like. Asbestos is not preferred due to environmental problems. Optionally the filler may be treated with such as stearic acid to improve the thixotropic properties of the composition. Generally the fillers have particle sizes on the order of 1-30 microns.

Thayer, Jr Harry C. "Method of protecting solder-coated articles." U.S. Patent 2,933,412, issued April 19, 1960.
Excerpt:
After the solder is applied to the bottom edge portions of the strip 9, the strip is advanced between asbestos wipers consisting of pieces of graphited braided asbestos packing material 17 and 18 which are held into pressing engagement with the lower portion of the strip 9 by holders 19 and 20, respectively.

The asbestos wipers are impregnated with graphite and have applied to the portions thereof in contact with the strip 9 a preservative composed essentially of a carrier comprising polyalkylene glycol conditioning additive ice comprising a diester of a glycol and monocarboxylic fatty acid. The amount of graphite in the asbestos wiper is approximately 5% by weight, i.e., 5% of the weight of the wiper.

Graves, Lester S. "Self-fusing solder." U.S. Patent 1,151,679, issued August 31, 1915.

Sastry, G., T. Anagnostou, and N. Dixon. "Polymeric solder composition." U.S. Patent 3,842,023, issued October 15, 1974.
Excerpt:

Various fillers, tackifiers, antioxidants and similar additives may be employed in the composition such as carbon blacks, finely divided metals, asbestos, silica, quartz and metal oxides. Such materials should be thoroughly mixed with the liquid polymer during blending of the principal components. Upon blending, the compositions of this invention formulated for use as a body solder have the consistency of a grease or Vaseline-like material which can be readily handled and applied.

However my SUBJECTIVE OPINION is that if asbestos exposure was a factor in developing certain cancers there may be other sources of significantly-greater exposure. (Though one might look at the effects of breathing un-filtered air in an industrial soldering operation where fume hoods or fresh air control were not present).

There have been studies of asbestos exposure from breathing soldering fumes, but primarily focused on welding operations rather than electrical solder.

Lead exposure may also have been a hazard when soldering electrical components including lead fumes from heated solder.

Arab, Mohammad Reza, Ramezan Mirzaei, Mehrbod Karimi, and Rezvaneh Mashhadi. "The study of histological effects of solder fumes in rat lungs." Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences 13, no. 3 (2010): 63-68.

Stern, R. M., A. Berlin, A. Fletcher, K. Hemminki, J. Jarvisalo, and J. Peto. "International conference on health hazards and biological effects of welding fumes and gases." International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 57, no. 3 (1986): 237-246.

Sferlazza, Steven J., and William S. Beckett. "The Respiratory Health of Welders1-3." Am Rev Respir Dis 347 (1991): 143.

On 2019-03-24 by Cindi - asbestos exposure when worked for Texas Instruments in the 70s?

Hi. I worked for Texas Instruments in the 70s in Texas. I solder computer, calculator boards. Was there ever asbestos in soldering wire. I know am waiting for diagnosis of cancer. Pleural Enffusion

On 2019-03-01 by (mod) - Asbestos in wire insulation is more likely in high-heat applications

Not likely on common electrical wiring

See KNOB & TUBE WIRING at https://inspectapedia.com/electric/Knob_and_Tube_Wiring.php

Asbestos in wire insulation is more likely in high-heat applications such as described in the article above.

On 2019-03-01 by Kathe

The house we live in has knob and tube wiring. The wiring is coated with silver-colored painted on insulation. This coating is wearing off, flaking off in some places. Could this coating contain asbestos?

On 2019-01-17 by (mod) - Does ETTCO flex wire 600v from a 1966 house gray outter jacket contain asbestos

Caleb: please see my note to Aaron below, dated 19 March 2018.

More details are at FABRIC NMC WIRE INSULATION IDENTIFICATION

On 2018-12-18 by Caleb

Does ettco flex wire 600v from a 1966 house gray outter jacket contain asbestos

On 2018-10-15 by Stan Hodges

Looking for the specification for a cable identified with the following specification: ICEA S-82-552 (NEMA WC 55) - trying to figure out if this cable's insulation has asbestos. Supposedly in paragraph 3.1 of the specification.

On 2018-03-19 by (mod) -

Aaron

That looks like a paint-coated asphalt-impregnated-fabric sheathed electrical wire widely used from about 1949- 1975.
In researching ETCOFLEX use of asbestos in wire insulation I have not found confirmation that asbestos was used.

Details are at OLD ELECTRICAL WIRING TYPES

Also see OLD ELECTRICAL WIRING TYPES

On 2018-03-19 13:48:21.762663 by Aaron

Hello,
I found this old cloth wrapped wire in the basement of my house (built 1956). Label on the wire reads ETTCO WIRE & CABLE - 600V. It is 14 AWG.

The wire looks like it has some kind of white coating on the outside of the cloth and appears to be brittle.
Do you have any information on this brand of wire in regards to asbestos content?

Any help is appreciated, as I am planning to update much of the wiring in the house.

Aaron

On 2018-01-08 by (mod) - Anaconda Dutrax and Collyer Cablex

I can't say for sure, Anon, but usually asbestos was used in wire insulation for wires intended for use in high heat applications rather than for general house wiring.

Use the Picture frame icon next to the Comment button to show us some sharp photos of the wire insulation and labeling and I can research further.

On 2018-01-08 by Anonymous

My 1957 house has a lot of Anaconda Dutrax and Collyer Cablex, early non-grounded forms of NM. Do these types of wiring contain asbestos? If the sheath is in good shape, is replacement warranted other than for the lack of a ground? Thanks.

On 2017-12-23 by (mod) - CRESFLEX 12 AWG

It would be possible to find asbestos insulation on residential circuit wiring.

But more likely you're seeing a fabric, perhaps with an asphalt impregnation and silver top coat. Naturally nobody can promise you a firm answer about asbestos content in an un-seen, un-tested material in an unknown building. Still the risks are likely to be very low unless you're making a dusty mess.

On 2017-12-23 by Mike

My house contains Black and Silver braided cloth wiring with the markings CRESFLEX 12 AWG printed on them. The actual conductors are coated in rubber or PVC and there is no ground. Does this wiring contain Asbestos?

On 2017-11-01 by (mod) -

Mike,

I don't know what the clear, slushy material was. It doesn't sound like an asbestos product since those would not be clear. Perhaps the problem material was in an adhesive or varnish or glue

Any details you can provide might help those research the matter further.

On 2017-11-01 by Mike Murphy

As a young man I worked for the General Electric motor rewinding plant here is Spokane, One of the main clients was Boundary Dam and the Motor-generator repair. We would make large copper coils from rigid 1/4" x 5/16" (guess) copper wire, then wrap them in a paper tape, smearing a clear slushy material over the layers of paper tape.

This was all done by hand with no gloves or masks. All of us doing this got extremely sick, I had yellow mucus flowing from my ears and nose. Do you know what this was and what I might have been exposed too? Thahks

On 2017-10-24 by Matt

Great information on this site. I have been removing some old wire from a 3 " underground conduit, the individual conductors are insulated with a cloth exterior and looks like a rubber interior, the wire size is I think around a 4/0. They are black in color. Would these wires contain asbestos.

Wire has markings on it saying, collyer insulated wire co. ibew union made ---ooo---xIx---- R--- 600 volt

On 2017-10-23 by (mod) -

If the wire insulation was not friable (crumbles to dust if squashed between thumb and finger) and you didn't chop, sand, grind, saw, or otherwise make a dusty mess, probably the asbestos exposure was below the limits of detection.

On 2017-10-23 by Kid

What kind of exposure risks would I have made by removing 30-40 feet of wire that, after the fact my buddy said it was asbestos insulted

On 2017-10-23 by (mod) - exposure risks by removing 30-40 feet of asbestos-insulated wire

If the wire insulation was not friable (crumbles to dust if squashed between thumb and finger) and you didn't chop, sand, grind, saw, or otherwise make a dusty mess, probably the asbestos exposure was below the limits of detection.

On 2017-10-23 by Kid

What kind of exposure risks would I have made by removing 30-40 feet of wire that, after the fact my buddy said it was asbestos insulted

On 2017-07-06 by (mod) - asbestos used to insulate electric cookers in the UK

That's possible

On 2017-07-03 by Will

Was asbestos used to insulate electric cookers in the UK ? I have one that dates form about 1988 and was wondering whether the oven was insulated. It is a Belling.

On 2017-02-11 by (mod) - white powdery substance inside of wire insulation

Possibly there is asbestos, Lindsay, particularly if the wire was used in an application subject to heat, such as theatre wiring or in an appliance. I would not spend on testing the material unless there is some justification.

Do use our page bottom CONTACT link to send me some sharp photos of the wire and of any markings on it, and I may be able to comment further. Also search InspectApedia.com for OLD ELECTRICAL WIRING TYPES to see more examples.

On 2017-02-11 v by Lindsay Neale

I have some old fashioned copper electrical wire from a retired 90yr old electrician.
When i cut it, there Is a white powdery substance inside.
Do you think this could be asbestos? I can send a sample.

On 2016-08-27 by (mod) - 1940 and 1950 welders that contain asbestos

Seems likely; asbestos may have been used in insulating components.

On 2016-08-27 by sheila

are there 1940 and 1950 welders that contain asbestos

On 2016-06-24 by (mod) - asbestos hazard from L733 labelled material?

733 is an oil heater standard;

Stay safe. You're more likely to be hurt falling off of a ladder.

On 2016-06-24 by Pete

Thanks for your help. It could have been L733 but not sure. The number continued but the rest was cut off. It was an old underwriters laboratory sticker that said armored cable on it, etc. If the dust isn't a major problem I will go on with the project. Thanks for your time.

On 2016-06-24 by (mod) -

Pete:

I can't tell from just photos if that fabric insulation contains asbestos or not; usually asbestos was used on special-application high-heat -exposure wires such as in electrical appliances such as toasters and range tops, and in theatre wiring; I haven't found records of its use in general-purpose electrical wiring: in sum it's possible but we have no confirming data.

I suspect that unless you're doing something unusual, the amount of airborne asbestos generated by carefully disconnecting and reconnecting wires to terminals even if the insulation contains asbestos, would be below the limits of detection.

I cannot find a UL Standard exactly matching LC783 (double-check what you saw) but there is

UL 783 a standard for flashlights used in hazardous locations

On 2016-06-24 by (mod) - early version of BX armored cable that has cloth wiring inside it. Does it contain asbestos

RE-posting Pete's comment without links [for security]

Hi I have an early version of BX armored cable that has cloth wiring inside it. Does it contain asbestos

I would like to install new light switches and would not want to inhale any asbestos since I'm already exposed at work. This is what it looks like: ... [unpublished links]

On 2016-06-23 by Pete

It also says on the UL tag LC783...and then its cut off

On 2016-02-29 by (mod) - asbestos was used in the electrical wiring in cars

Howard, I don't have authoritative data about dates for the cessation of use of asbestos-wire insulation, but certainly it's possible that asbestos was used in wire insulation or in the wire loom or flexible conduit that covered the wire.

Unless you created or were exposed to a rather dusty mess, I am unclear about what might have been the source of a substantial exposure. If you are or were a smoker, of course, the risks are greater for you.

On 2016-02-28 by Anonymous

I installed car radios from 1965 - 1977 and have recent diagnosis of Mesothelioma. Trying to track down where I may have been exposed to asbestos. Do you know if asbestos was used in the electrical wiring in cars during that period? Thank you. Howard

On 2016-01-04 by (mod) -

Mike, yes asbestos was used in some telephone cabling & wiring. For space and to permit research citations I repeat your question and offer a detailed answer at the bottom of the article above.

Use the page bottom CONTACT link to send me some photos of the cross-section and outside view of your cabling and we can comment further.
Daniel

On 2016-01-04 by Mike

would asbestos ever had been utilized in the telephone cable that has hundreds of copper conductors wrapped in paper and covered with a lead sheathing? Trying to know if this cable can be easily recycled.

On 2015-10-08 by Md

How much asbestos I may inhale if I work with electric wire with asbestos for about a week. The fabric was torn and creating dust.

Question: asbestos hazards in arc welders? Yes.

(July 22, 2014) Mark Hunter said:
I have 2 old arc welders which I salvaged, one has copper windings and the other aluminium windings. I want the windings to use in our hobby of jewellery makeing. Both are wrapped in a type of paper tape as insulation... Could this also contain asbestos?

(July 22, 2014) Mark Hunter said:
Sorry, Just went out and had another look, the aluminium windings have a paper like tape as well as a laquer and the copper windings have a hessian string coating with a what is now a brittle black woven sheath. same question though

Reply:

Here is some research on asbestos used in arc welders as well as exposure of individuals using arc welders to asbestos

• Becker, Nikolaus. "Cancer mortality among arc welders exposed to fumes containing chromium and nickel: Results of a third follow-up: 1989-1995." Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 41, no. 4 (1999): 294-303.
• Becker, Nikolaus, Jenny Chang-Claude, and Rainer Frentzel-Beyme. "Risk of cancer for arc welders in the Federal Republic of Germany: results of a second follow up (1983-8)." British journal of industrial medicine 48, no. 10 (1991): 675-683.
• Clarke, E.J. "Electrode for electric arc welding or soldering." U.S. Patent 1,893,160, issued January 3, 1933. describes use of asbestos yarn
  Excerpt:
  
  Previously electrodes for the deposition of stainless steel have comprised a mild steel core wound with asbestos yarn or other suit able non-conducting composition or material in open spirals together with an extruded coating composed of the usual fluxing ingredients and a certain proportion of powdered ferro-chromium or chromium metal; when fusion takes place under the action of the electric arc the chromium or ferro-chromium alloys with the mild steel and a deposit of stainless steel results.
  
  Electrodes for depositing stainless steels containing nickel, chromium and iron have also been made by electrolytically depositing the nickel upon a mild steel core, winding the rod so prepared with asbestos and then coating it with a compound containing powdered metallic chromium in addition to the usual fluxing ingredients.
  
  -There is a limit however to the amount of metals which may be added to the coating of such electrodes. In those cases where the amount of added metals is relatively high, complete solution of the iron, nickel and chromium does not take place.
• Kennedy, H.E. et al, Gas, Electrode Carrier. "Electric arc welding." U.S. Patent 3,023,302, issued February 27, 1962. includes use of asbestos (and mica) in flux carriers
• Doig, A. T., and A. I. G. McLaughlin. "X ray appearances of the lungs of electric arc welders." The Lancet 227, no. 5875 (1936): 771-774.
• Sjögren, Bengt, Klaus Stagis Hansen, Helge Kjuus, and Per-Gunnar Persson. "Exposure to stainless steel welding fumes and lung cancer: a meta-analysis." Occupational and environmental medicine 51, no. 5 (1994): 335-336.

Question: Anaconda Dutrax C or G , type NM with 600v rating containing asbestos?

(Jan 5, 2015) Chuck said:
Old. Anaconda Dutrax C or G , type NM with 600v rating. This wire insulation sure looks like the pictures
of the asbestos wiring that you have. Is it?

Reply:

I'm sorry Chuck but just from your e-note I don't know the answer. If you face large possible costs you could have a sample of the wiring insulation tested by a certified asbestos lab (don't send it to me).

If the material is not damaged and is not in an area to be disturbed it might be left alone - lowest risk. Treat it as presumed to contain asbestos.

I would like to see some sharp photos of the wire and its insulation and markings - that may permit us to do some further research.

• Schleicher, Robert H. The R/C Car Bible. Voyageur Press, 2006. cites use of asbestos-insulated materials and Anaconda Durex wiring

Question: asbestos used in PCB's (printed circuit boards)?

(Jan 13, 2015) Anonymous said:
was asbestos ever used in PCB's (printed circuit boards)?

I'm concerned my sega genesis and its game cartridges might contain in. The sega genesis came out in 1988 in Japan and 1989 here in the usa.

Reply:

Anon,

By 1988 it's unlikely you'd find asbestos in printed circuit boards. In older electronic equipment where asbestos may have been used in non-friable components most likely any asbestos release from those undisturbed components would be below the limits of detection.

Keep in mind that many electronic circuit boards include other highly toxic components that may be released, particularly during burning and possibly during demolition, as is the case as well with plastics in general.

PCBs are of course a separate hazard.

Reply:

Thank you for the quick reply, i feel better about using my sega genesis now, thank you.

Question: asbestos report cites incandescent light bulb heat shields

29 January 2015 Renée said:
When reviewing our Asbestos report it is noted that the incandescent light bulb heat shield fixture may or may not contain asbestos. I can not for the life of me figure out what they are making reference to. Please explain

Reply:

Renee I can't of course see your report (you can send it to me by email found at our CONTACT US link at page top or bottom) but an incandescent light bulb is an older technology or "conventional" light bulb that uses a heated filament - unlike newer LED or florescent bulbs.

A heat shield fixture could be hidden away in any of many sorts of older light fixtures such as recessed ceiling lights or even a lamp socket.

I'd be interested to know if your inspector actually saw such a fixture or if rather you are seeing a generic "CYA" remark in a boilerplate section of a report. In any event only if asbestos material is soft, friable, damaged, or easily damaged and tracked into a living area is an individual light fixture asbestos material likely to be a measurable risk.

Question: asbestos in 1970's table lamps?

29 January 2015 Mary said

We took an old table lamp apart from the mid 1970's. Would there be the possibility of any asbestos in the wiring or the felt glued to the bottom. There were some fibers in the lamp on the felt bottom when we tore it off.
Also a few days later, it felt like something was stuck in my left nostril and was throbbing. It took about ten minutes of blowing and the use of saline solution to get any relief. Could this be because of asbestos spores in the air. The lamp was taken apart in the bedroom.

Reply: asbestos was used in some (not all) electric lighting lamps in lamp cords, sockets, insulators from at least as early as 1903

Mary

Asbestos was used in some (not all) electric lighting lamps in lamp cords, sockets, insulators from at least as early as 1903 (See Sylvania (1903) below. Its use in felt used to avoid scratching a table surface seems unlikely. However asbestos was used in a paper form in some lamp bases - See Vaughn (1950) in my citations and See Lewis (1935) in the citations below for an example.

I'll add that if the lamp bottom looks like white or white-gray paper that might be asbestos paper. If it looks like green felt, it probably is green felt.

• Des, Jardins Leonard A., and Fred R. Fleming. "Apparatus for disinfecting shoes and the like." U.S. Patent 2,070,858, issued February 16, 1937. this product used asbestos
• Heiser, Myron G., and Wheeler C. Gilbert. "Attachment plug." U.S. Patent 2,343,664, issued March 7, 1944. used asbestos in the cord plug and wiring
• ISAACS, M. "Seed germinator." U.S. Patent 1,648,309, issued November 8, 1927. used asbestos sheets and a duplex lamp cord
• Lewis, Edward H. "Lamp cord." U.S. Patent 1,989,483, issued January 29, 1935. cites use of asbestos in the lamp wiring.
• SPATIG, CHARLES W. "SYLVANIA." U.S. Patent 729,862, issued June 2, 1903. Excerpt: This receptacle is provided with interior partitions 2, which form a box to receive the iron core or heating-coil 3. This latter is insulated with asbestos 4 or other suitable material which prevents the wire or core from coming in contact with the metal and has the feed wire 5 connected thereto.
• Vaughan, Daniel J. "Lamp base." U.S. Patent 2,515,747, issued July 18, 1950. Used asbestos in the lamp base. Excerpt:
  
  The base I comprises a body portion 3 of insulating material, preferably porcelain. The said body portion 3 is secured to the end of the envelope 2 by means of a metal skirt or collar 4 which is secured to an enlarged shoulder 5 on said body portion 3. Before the skirt 4 is slipped over the end of the tube 2, a thin strip 6 of asbestos paper moistened with a. solution of sodium silicate is wrapped around the envelope 2.
  
  The skirt 4 is secured firmly in place on the envelope 2 by a suitable clamping strip 'i, the skirt 4 being provided with a multiplicity of slits 8 therein so as to be readily compressible by clamping strip 1 around the asbestos strip 6 and clamp the latter between the lamp envelope 2 and the clamp I.
  
  The outer end 9 oi the body portion 8 carries a spade-shaped nietal electrical contact prong it which extends outwardly therefrom and longitudinally of the lamp envelope 2. The said prong i0 is electrically connected by a flexible conductor ii to the end of a current lead-in wire I! which extends through a seal l3 and is electrically connected to the electrode or filament (not shown) in the envelope 2.

Mary said:

The paper glued to the bottom of the lamp was a white-gray paper. You said that it might be asbestos. We tore it off the lamp when we were repairing the lamp. We did this work in the bedroom. A few days later I had an irritation in my nose that lasted for about ten minutes. What should I do? Is there possibly asbestos in the air? What should I do with the lamp? What should I do about breathing asbestos in the air? Is there anyone I can contact?

Reply:

Mary,

If it was gray white paper it may have been just cardboard or it *might* have been an asbestos paper.

Some examples of asbestos paper are at ASBESTOS PAPER DUCT INSULATION

Unless you really shredded the paper, I would guess that the amount of airborne asbestos from pulling off and throwing away a say 6-inch diameter piece of paper on a lamp bottom would be beneath the limits of detection.

I would not be inclined to spend much on this but if you are very anxious it might help to collect a settled dust sample from the bedroom (using clear adhesive tape) and have that examined by a test lab. That cost is about $50. U.S.D.

At ASBESTOS TESTING LAB LIST you can find certified asbestos testing labs

At DUST SAMPLING PROCEDURE you can see how to collect dust samples to send to a lab.

...

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• ASBESTOS ELECTRICAL WIRE INSULATION - home
• OLD ELECTRICAL WIRING HISTORY
• OLD ELECTRICAL WIRING TYPES
• OLD HOUSE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

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