Asbestos & Lead Content in Ceramic Floor Tile or Ceramic Wall Tile - FAQs

Will I release dangerous asbestos if I clean these black and white ceramic floor tiles from a 1948 home in Georgia?

I’m wondering if you are able tell/may know if these floors contain asbestos just by looking at them?

My husband and I just purchased this house built in 1948 in Georgia. And I hadn’t thought much about asbestos in floors until finding this website and now I’m concerned. (See attached pic).

Do you think scrubbing the floors/grout should be safe ? Brittney

Reply:

It appears to me you're asking about a ceramic tile floor.

If That's the case, even if the style contained asbestos, which would be quite uncommon, the asbestos risk is beneath the limits of detection unless you're grinding chopping or sawing the material.

Cleaning the floor in your photos is not going to produce a measurable hazard even if there was asbestos in the tile or its grout - a situation that would be quite uncommon - as the materials are very hard and not at all friable.

Typically we need to use a liquid cleaner that includes mild bleaching agent to whiten the floor tile grout.

Reader follow-up: I don't want the Chinese ceramic tile in my home: plans to remove Chinese Ceramic Tile

Well the flooring says made in PRC.....that means People's Republic of China.

Ii realize where the "measurable risk" comes from but since my now deceased husband died of mesothelioma, from supposed MINIMAL exposure to asbestos I don't want ANYTHING containing asbestos in my home.

Unfortunately the ceramic tile has already been installed and that involved lots of cutting. The flooring has not so I will be returning it. I have contacted the company from which I purchased the material but have not yet heard back from them.

Reply: minimize the risk of installed Chinese asbestos-suspect ceramic tile

I don't blame you for taking these things seriously, and I'm cautious too about products from China - there have been enough disasters already.

What I meant by measurable risk is that installed ceramic tile is not going to release asbestos at detectable levels in a building unless it's disturbed.

While it's a different product (flooring) the US EPA advice on minimizing asbestos hazards in the home emphasizes that unless the asbestos-containing but non-friable material is damaged or being disturbed, the lowest risk to occupants is to leave it alone, or perhaps cover it over.

Removing it will expose you and the building and its occupants to a much greater risk, even if you hired a professional remediator who used negative air, containment, etc. (you're looking also at a very big cost).

OPINION: My advice is to leave the tile in place, or if it's going to make you worry - which is itself bad for us - you could consider laminating over the existing tile with a second layer of new material in which you have confidence.

That may at most require some adjustments at the tub/shower controls to bring them forward.

Asbestos & Other Dust hazards of bathroom, shower or tub tile wall demolition

I have a question we removed ceramic tile from 2 bathrooms in our 1967 home. So obviously

Too late for us to prevent exposure we may have had. But how common was asbestos in mortar beds with metal lath and ceramic tile on top? This is a photo of some of the debris - by F, 2021/05/20

Moderator reply:

Watch out: plaster and tile and grout dust is hazardous regardless of whether or not it contains asbestos, as it contains respiratory abrasives and irritants and contaminants such as fine silica partiulates.

In the U.S., asbestos in ceramic tile itself not really very common; no one can say for certain what's in tiles or mortar from a photo - you'd at least want to know the age of the materials and their origin.

What you can do now, if it would ease your worry, would be to look for some settled dust that missed getting cleaned-up after your bath renovation.

You might find that atop horizontal trim such as over a window or door.

If you can find that old dust you can send a sample of it to an asbestos test lab or to any forensic lab who an identify the particles. IF there is a high level of asbestos in that dust that'd be diagnostic.

See TEST KIT for DUST, MOLD, PARTICLES: INSTRUCTIONS https://inspectapedia.com/sickhouse/Adhesive_Tape_Particle_Test.php

for an easy, low-cost way to collect settled dust samples.

Don't send them to us - send your sample to a certified asbestos test lab.

Asbestos in a 1983 ceramic tile bath floor or wall tile?

Hi! I’m doing a facelift project on some bathrooms in a building built in 1983.

I plan to paint the tile and this will necessitate sanding the tile, grout, and any exposed adhesive. I’ll attach some photos.

Do you think there’s a chance I’m dealing with asbestos ingredients? - Rebekah 2021/06/17

Moderator reply:

I'm not sure you're correct that you need to sand the tile and grout, and in fact I think you're going to find that that's practically impossible to do so in any useful way.

If you clean the soap film and scum off of the surface using any household cleaner, you will find that there are paints that are designed by the manufacturer to burn it to a ceramic surface.

About the asbestos part of the question, even though asbestos would be uncommon in ceramic tiles of that age in many countries we don't know where your building is located nor where the tile was made.

So we can't rule out the possibility of asbestos.

Sanding if you attempted to do that and were able to actually grind off the ceramic surface of the tile, would create a terrific dust hazard. I don't recommend trying it.

Followup by Rebekah

Thanks for your response to my question about sanding tile in the 1983 building. Yes! I have discovered the no-sand paint products!!

Now my remaining question is: If I remove a bathroom vanity that has tile grouted around it, do I run a significant risk of potential asbestos in the grout/adhesive being an issue? The building is in Minnesota.

Reply by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Rebekah,

We don't have an answer to the risk regarding grout around a cabinet installed in 1983 except to say that the data, which is quite limited, suggest that asbestos in that product would not be usual.

What would make sense would be to do your demolition and removal using wetting and other methods to minimize dust and dust exposure.

 

Does natural marble contain any asbestos? From China, Pakistan, Spain, Turkey or the U.S. ?

Greetings. I'm looking to install a new back splash and floor tile. Does natural marble contain any asbestos?

Does it matter what country it is from? I'm looking at marble from Turkey and Spain. I don't trust anything from China. I'll be doing all the install and cutting myself and have little children around. Thank you in advance for any information. Does natural marble contain any asbestos? - On 2020-08-10 by Tiiu Roiser

...

I have a Spain made gres monococcion single fired tile by azulejera alcorense [photo below]. Do you think it might has asbestos? Thanks! - On 2020-09-12 by Alex

Reply by (mod) - Some marble contains asbestos - depending on where it was mined.

Tilu

Some marble contains asbestos - depending on where it was mined.

Here are a couple of examples of research confirming asbestos in some marble

• Germine, Mark, and John H. Puffer. "Distribution of asbestos in the bedrock of the northern New Jersey area." Environmental Geology 3, no. 6 (1981): 337.
• Jehan, Noor, and Irshad Ahmad. "Occurrence of tremolitic asbestos in Nowshera Formation Ghundai Tarako, district Swabi, North Pakistan." Journal of Himalayan Earth Sciences 40 (2007).

Asbestos in VitrA Marble/Stone?

Thank you so much, as for the product that I used, here is the link for the company products:

VITRA-FIX & VITRA-THERM CERAMIC TILE ADHESIVES [PDF] retrieved 2020/01/12 original source: http://www.morentrade.com/docs/Building%20Chemicals01.pdf

and I attaching an image of the product that I used. As you can see, it says cement base Adhesive.

As I mentioned this was almost 10 years ago.

Appreciate your help. On 2020-01-07 by Ahmad -

Reply by (mod) -

Asbestos is unlikely,

See if you can find the MSDS for the product

Asbestos hazard in U.S. ceramic tile floor or wall from the 1960's?

Found this shattered stone or "broken tile" ceramic floor installed in square segments, a 1960s tile underneath a floating floor in the bathroom.

It appears to be mosaic tile laid in mud with no visible seams unless you "zoom out".

Home was built in 1961 and we have original ceramic tile in other parts of the house so I assume it is tile that was laid with a square-ish template.

Just want to be sure that I am not missing something On 2020-11-02 by Maura

...

We just took down a backsplash in our house built in 1962 (America). The tiles just say Malaysia on the back. I believe they are porcelain. They measure 2.5 inches. The behind them looks like peanut butter. Are these a possible risk? - On 2020-05-30 by Nicole F

Reply by (mod) -

Maura and Nicole:

A ceamic or ceramic mosaic floor or wall tile pattern set in mud (tile cement for other readers not familiar with that term) would not, in the U.S. be likely to contain asbestos and in any event is not friable.

There were similar looking asphalt or vinyl-asbestos floor tiles by Armstrong in a Shattered Stone pattern.

Yes it was and remains common to install ceramic tile that is sold in rectangular or square segments pre-adhered to a mesh backer.

That lets the tile setter install the flooring in a rather uniform pattern far more rapidly than if she had to set every one of those small ceramic tile bits individually.

Nicole:

Some of those tan tile adhesive mastics contained asbestos - not particularly friable unless you're doing demolition.

Some of those in turn can be dissolved with water.

Ceramic tiles might contain asbestos themselves, but if you're not sawing or breaking-up the tiles, they're the personification of a "non friable" material that is therefore low-risk.

Do these Italian ceramic tiles contain asbestos?

I recently rented a house in center of a city in Italy and I’m concerned that these tiles contain asbestos.. would you tell me if these look like they have it? And if they do, given that some of the tiles are very loose is it safe to live here?

Thank you - Anonymous by private email - 2020/05/06

Moderator reply:

Are we looking at ceramic glaze on terra cotta-based tiles?

Reader follow-up:

I think so. The entire floor is covered with these 15*7.5 cm tiles. They have a greenish color and the part that's broken looks like clay.

I asked the owner if they have one Icould see but they didn't.And like a lot of houses in italy this one was also built the ban of using asbestos and not renovated ever since. thank you for taking the time to see

Moderator reply:

Yep that's a ceramic on clay tile.

No one can tell you from looking alone if that tile contains asbestos - though usually it won't.

And if the floor is basically intact it's not shedding material at any measurable level.

Details of what we know about this question are at

CERAMIC TILE, ASBESTOS / LEAD?

please take a look there and of course I welcome follow-up questions or comments.

I'll post your photos, keeping you anonymous unless you want otherwise, at that page to see if any of our readers has seen your specific tile. The more we know about the location (country, city) and age of the building the better the guess.

Reader folllow-up:

Thank you for checking it . This is a really nice house ( except for the really old floor)and it would be a shame to leave it for asbestos..

Moderator comment:

Certainly you could cover the flooring with just about anything - perhaps a resilient floor - IF the tile is damaged and shedding - to eliminate your worry. Not as nice, perhaps, as ceramic but if the flooring is in bad shape (doesn't look so in your photos) you could avoid further damage as well as prevent any dust and debris from the floor.

Asbestos found in materials from Iraq dating 1950-1988

I tested some material in Iraq in 2003 are various locations dated from 1950 to 1988 that showed 35% asbestos.

All of the material was from Mediterranean, communist and other businesses in the middle east.

How can I find out what company actually performed the test and what the material actually was? I took so many field sample and slept, drank and ate in al of these areas for 18 months at a time. On 2019-09-04 by Nomad Construction -

Reply by (mod) - U.S. Army Asbestos Testing Program contact information

Nomad

Thank you for the important comment; I'm not suprised as I've already found and cited some ceramic tiles that contained asbestos, though it's uncommon in North America. But your report is particularly helpful; if you have reports or even photos that'd be even more useful.

But if all you've got is the memory, I'm a bit stuck; we don't know who might have performed testing: a european asbestos lab or a lab in another country, even the U.S. that was contracted with the US military.

Keep in mind that worrying about this may be worse for your health than the tiles themselves. The hazard from an asbestos-containing ceramic tile would in my OPINION occur if the tiles were ground, chopped, sawn etc. so as to create a dusty mess. Othewise the particle release is likely to be below the limits of detection. Ceramic tile isn't friable.

One source occurs to me: you could contact the Army Asbestos Testing Program to ask if they were the people handling tests of materials from Iraq.

Army Public Health Center

8252 Blackhawk Road
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5403 USA

OR possibly one of these two sub-programs

Environmental Health Risk Assessment Division
Email Address: usarmy.apg.medcom-aphc.list.ehrad@mail.mil
Telephone Number: 410-436-2953
DSN: 584-2953
Mailing Address: U.S. Army Public Health Center Env. Health Risk Assessment Division 8252 Blackhawk Road (Bldg E1675) ATTN: MCHB-PH-HRA Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5403

Environmental Health Sciences and Engineering
Email Address: usarmy.apg.medcom-aphc.list.org-ehe-ofcdir@mail.mil
Telephone Number: 410-436-2306
DSN: 584-2306
Mailing Address: Army Public Health Center ATTN: MCHB-PH-EHE 8252 Blackhawk Road Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5403

APHC Phone Numbers
Toll-Free Number: 1-(800) 222-9698
Staff Duty Officer: (410) 436-4375
DSN: Dialing from within CONUS 584-4375
DSN: Dialing from OCONUS (312) 584-4375
Secure Fax: (410) 436-7301
Public Affairs Officer: (410) 417-2937

Media inquiries: usarmy.apg.medcom-aphc.mbx.pao@mail.mil
Website: https://phc.amedd.army.mil/topics/workplacehealth/ih/Pages/Army-Asbestos-and-Lead-Programs.aspx

Drilling through ceramic wall tile - hazards?

Re-posting from private email:

Anonymous asked:

Nice website. Very helpful. But before I start drilling, can you comment on whether or not I should take any precautions above and beyond what I would typically do for drilling?

I have to drill into a 4x4 tile in an old shower and am modestly concerned.

Moderator reply:

What are you drilling? Ceramic tile? In the U.S. asbestos is unlikely but breathing silica dust still isn't great for the lungs; I suggest just keeping the drill hole wet and drilling slowly with an appropriate bit that will cut the tile

Reader follow-up:

Yes, I have a P100 mask. Was going to do as you say. Keep wet. Vacuum as I go. Thank you.

Moderator reply:

I'm assuming you're drilling small holes to mount a shower door - not much worry; just use damp wipe to clean up not a household vacuum

Would ceramic tiles in the UK from late 1970's or early 80's contain asbestos?

A few years ago I removed an area of ceramic tiles from the floor of my house. They were about 6inches square and 0.5 inches deep and were ceramic or possibly concrete.

I am unsure of there age but estimate late 70s early 80s Would it have been likely that these tiles contained asbestos or were asbestos containing tiles restricted to the vinyl type? If it makes any difference our location is England.

Any information you could give would be gratefully received Thanks - A.H. PS - your website is great and really useful

Reply: asbestos-ceramic tile risks, history in the UK, recommendations

From the age you give, and considering that the ceramic tiles could have been in stock for some time before they were installed, having been thus made in the 1970's, they indeed could have contained asbestos, particularly depending on the country of origin.

We have some lab reports confirming asbestos in certain ceramic tiles from the Mediterranean and asbestos in some other floor tiles such as some terrazzos, but we have not yet located an authoritative source that documents that asbestos was ever used as a component of ceramic floor tiles or wall tiles.

Watch out: A more likely asbestos hazard one might encounter when removing ceramic floor or wall tiles would be an asbestos-containing tile mastic - the glue that was used to secure ceramic tiles on walls and floors in a thin-set installation methods.

You would not expect to find asbestos below ceramic tiles at an older installation at which the tiles were bedded directly into cement - the "thick set" method for tile installation.

The history of asbestos use and regulation in the UK could have permitted your ceramic tiles, installed in the 1980's, to contain asbestos.

A brief-history of asbestos usage and asbestos regulation in the UK

A documented asbestos-related death in the UK occurred as early as 1906. Asbestos regulation began in the UK in 1931, and in 1965 mesothelioma had been documented there. Imports of asbestos into the U. K. peaked in 1967.

By 1970 the UK had banned the import of raw crocidolite and amosite asbestos was banned (voluntary ban) in 1980.

More strict licensing regarding asbestos handling and remediation did not begin in the UK until 1980s. The first UK Asbestos- material licensing regulations date from 1983, while in the U. K. asbestos-containing product prohibitions date from 1985 with UK asbestos material regulation amendments in 1988, 1992, 1994 and onwards to a final "comprehensive ban" in 1999. Silverdell, [7]

The actual hazard of their removal would have depended on their condition, how they were removed, and the quantity. Generally the asbestos released from ceramic tiles removed relatively intact should be quite low.

Please take a look at CERAMIC TILE, ASBESTOS / LEAD? , where we discuss ceramic floor tiles that may contain asbestos, the hazards and some recommendations.

At References at the end of CERAMIC TILE, ASBESTOS / LEAD? we cite authoritative sources for that information.

by Paul Roscoe - Asbestos found in some thin set tile mortars sold in the U.K.

If It’s old it’s gold as we say in our industry . If you research enough it is clear that thin set mortars did contain asbestos.

They are not found in all but some, you can find manufacturers who made/sold it in the U.S but in the U.K not so easy but we do indeed find it here aswell we get several positive results every year.

It all depends on the age (1950s-late 1970s) and as we know most old tiles have been replaced during renovations so you’ve got to get lucky so to speak to find it but I believe it will have been more common than first thought.

Also one of the large asbestos manufacturers in the U.K. Turner and Newall also sold small ‘poilte’ asbestos cement tiles coated with a enamel / ceramic coating to look like ceramic tiles, I have one in a display cabinet. - On 2020-04-22

Reply by (mod) -

Thanks for the helpful comments, Paul. I agree. We have confirmed asbestos use in thin set mortars and tile mastics including the tan coloured water-solvent-based latex adesives used with some ceramict tile and slate tile setting, and incidentally, also in black asphalt-based mastic adhesives used in vinul floor tiles.

See MASTIC, CUTBACK ADHESIVE, FLASHING CEMENT ASBESTOS

When did stop using asbestos in ceramic tile grout in the United States

When did stop using asbestos in ceramic tile grout in the United States and what year did they stop using asbestos in bathroom tub caulk in United states? - On 2019-01-02 by joe

Reply by (mod) - By 1985 / 1986 manufacturers had stopped using asbestos in ceramic tile grout in the U.S.

Varying by manufacturer, by 1985 manufacturers had stopped using asbestos in ceramic tile grout in the U.S. regardless of "ban" status.

On 2019-03-2 by Philip - but the asbestos ban was overturned

Officially/technically we did not stop, the ban and phaseout of asbestos was overturned by the 5th circuit court of appeals.

The EPA did ban several cardboard and paper products along with new uses of asbestos.

And under the air pollution standards the EPA banned certain applications that could release fibers asbestos fibers when applied or after drying such as sprayed on acoustical ceilings.

Worse yet we have no, I repeat no, governmental organization that screens or tests products for asbestos, rather you are required, by law, to test building suspect building materials prior to renovation, remodeling, or demolition activities that would disturb them regardless of the date of manufacture and installation.

The EPA does have a proposed new use rule, which is important because it may if passed provide some funding to test new materials for asbestos and their likelihood of releasing hazardous fibers.

On 2019-03-23 by (mod) - Clarifying status of "ban" on use of asbestos in many products vs actual use of asbestos in those items - asbestos regulation murky in the U.S.

Thanks for the comment, Philip, we agree with one another.

Keep in mind that public resistance to friable asbestos in consumer products and many others has, however, meant that manufacturers switched to alternative materials and stopped using asbestos in most goods. A typical example among construction products is the fiber cement siding industry (nee asbestos cement siding).

In the case of ceramic tile, asbestos content in ceramic tile in North America would be rare.

Asbestos risk in black tile adhesive

We have a post war home built late 40s or early 50s. Tiles have been falling off the wall of our ensuite shower for some time. The adhesive originally used looks black. Not sure if this is original shower but should we be concerned? - On 2016-09-01 by Karen & Michael -

Reply by (mod) - Some black mastic adhesives contained asbestos.

Some black mastic adhesives contained asbestos. On the other hand it'd be a surprise if the material were friable - that is, crumbly by hand pressure and thus able to make dust.

See FLOORING ADHESIVE MASTIC SEALANTS

and ASBESTOS-CONTAINING ADHESIVES

Chance of asbestos adhesive/grout under and in ceramic tiles in a home built as early as 1985?

Our house was built between1985 & 1990 & has ceramic tiles in kitchen. Is there a chance they or the adhesive/grout could contain asbestos? - On 2015-08-11 by Cheryl -

Reply by (mod) - Is there a chance they or the adhesive/grout could contain asbestos?

I'm never going to say no to "a chance" but probably? No.

It would be unlikely (though not impossible) that someone installing ceramic tile in 1985 would have got a hold of some older tile mastic (adhesive) or grout that contained asbestos.

It's not something that I'd worry about, and if I were doing demolition I'd want to use dust control regardless of an asbestos worry as there are plenty of other hazards in dust, such as silica.

In 2013, that the tile I just bought that is made in the USA and the thinset mortar that is made in the USA does not contain any asbestos

So, is it safe to say now in 2013, that the tile I just bought that is made in the USA and the thinset mortar that is made in the USA does not contain any asbestos. - On 2013-01-19 by Steve

Thanks Steve

...

We have small ceramic tiles in a bathroom in a home built in 1984. These have cracked and come loose. Is there likely to be asbestos in them and/or in the glue, mastic, or whatever was used to adhere the tiles down? We just purchased 13" ceramic floor tiles made in China, PEI rating at 3.

These were purchased at Lowe's for $.57/tile. What are the chances these may have asbestos or other ingredients that might be harmful?

Are materials sold for adhering tiles now, harmful, containing asbestos or other harmful ingredients? I greatly appreciate this site. Thank you very much. On 2013-01-19 by j

Reply by mod:

Tile, tile adhesive, and grout manufactured and purchased in the U.S. after the end of the 1980's is not likely to contain asbestos. That's right.