Questions & answers about whether or not ceramic wall or floor tiles contains asbestos or lead.

This article series discusses the question: "Do or did tile grout, tile bedding compounds, thin-set mortars, or tile mastic used with ceramic tiles contain asbestos or lead ?"

Q&A: Does Ceramic Floor Tile or Ceramic Wall Tile Contain Asbestos?

These questions & answers about asbestos content and lead content in ceramic tile or tile grout were posted originally at CERAMIC TILE, ASBESTOS / LEAD? - be sure to see that article.

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Question: I removed some 6" ceramic tiles that I estimate were from the late 70's or early 80's - would these ceramic tiles 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 this article we cite authoritative sources for that information.

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

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.

On 2019-03-2 by Philip

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 2019-01-02 by (mod) - When did stop using asbestos in ceramic tile grout in the United states

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

On 2019-01-02 by joe

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 (mod) - asbestos in tile grout in 1996 would be unlikely

Joe

In most countries around the world (we don't know yours) asbestos in tile grout in 1996 would be unlikely, though in some such as the UK the asbestos ban was not at its peak until 1999.

On 2019-01-02 by joe

I had ceramic tile put down in my house 1996 in every room 6 it was imbedded in cement i think it is called thin set i was wondering if asbestos was used in the grout and if it is a health risk when mopping the floor.

I also have ceramic tile border around the room bet.floor and wall and the grout is loose could that release a dangerous level of asbestos. I also wanted to ask does ceramic grout fillers used today have asbestos. Thank you

On 2016-10-04 by Marcia K

As I am removing wall tiles from my 1983 house, I am seeing a light brown adhesive. Should I be concerned about asbestos?

We are removing ceramic tiles from our wall in our bathroom in Virginia, USA. Our house was built in 1983. The glue appears to be a light brown. Should we be concerned about asbestos?

On 2016-09-02 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.

On 2016-09-01 by Karen & Michael

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 2015-08-11 by (mod) - Is there a chance they or the adhesive/grout could contain asbestos?

Not to be too much of a smartypants, 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.

On 2015-08-11 by Cheryl

Our house was built between1985 & 1990 & has ceramic tiles in kitchen. Is there a chance they or the adhesive/grout could contain asbestos?

On 2013-01-28 by Luis Monfote

removeving non-friable tile and the mastic was noncontaining, is mastic consider to be exposes and a simple encapsulation is enoght.

On 2013-01-19 by j

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 Steve

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.

Thanks Steve

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