Indoor air quality influences your health every single day, often without you noticing. Clean air helps you breathe easily, sleep better and stay well. Polluted air, on the other hand, quietly harms your lungs and increases your risk of long-term illness. In older Victorian homes and commercial buildings, asbestos remains one of the most serious yet overlooked threats to indoor air quality. Many buildings across regional Victoria still contain ageing asbestos materials that, when disturbed or deteriorating, release tiny fibres into the air.
Understanding the connection between asbestos and indoor air quality helps you keep your family, staff or tenants safe. It also helps you make informed decisions about inspections, maintenance and safe removal.
Why Asbestos Still Affects Indoor Air in Older Buildings
Before the late 1980s, asbestos filled thousands of building products across Australia. It appeared in walls, ceilings, floor tiles, insulation, roofing, pipes and even decorative panels. Builders used it because the material seemed durable, affordable and fire-resistant.
Today, the problem isn’t the asbestos being there—it’s the condition of the material. Asbestos becomes dangerous when fibres leave the product and enter the air. Age, weather, vibrations, renovations and structural movement all weaken older materials, especially in regional homes exposed to temperature fluctuations.
When asbestos materials break, crumble or age, they release microscopic fibres that float freely in indoor air. These fibres stay airborne for long periods and travel easily through vents, gaps, hallways and living spaces.
How Asbestos Fibres Move Through Indoor Environments
Asbestos fibres are extremely small. Once disturbed, they move in ways that make containment challenging without the right equipment. Homes and workplaces unknowingly spread fibres through:
- Air conditioning systems
- Heating ducts
- Open windows and drafts
- Foot traffic through contaminated rooms
- Vacuuming and sweeping activities
- Fans and air purifiers that lack specialised filters
Because fibres remain invisible, occupants often continue living or working in contaminated environments without realising the risk.
The Health Impact of Inhaling Asbestos Fibres Indoors
Asbestos affects indoor air quality in ways that create severe long-term health consequences. Once inhaled, fibres embed themselves deep within lung tissue. Over time, this can lead to:
1. Asbestosis
A chronic lung disease that causes scarring, restricted breathing and permanent lung damage. Symptoms may take decades to appear.
2. Mesothelioma
A rare but aggressive cancer linked almost exclusively to asbestos exposure. It affects the lining of the lungs or abdomen and has no known cure.
3. Lung Cancer
Long-term exposure raises the risk of lung cancer significantly, especially for individuals who smoke or previously worked around asbestos.
4. Chronic Respiratory Problems
Even low-level exposure can cause persistent coughing, wheezing and chest tightness.
The long latency period—often 20 to 40 years—means exposure today may not reveal consequences until much later in life.
Why Indoor Air Quality Declines as Asbestos Materials Age
Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) don’t last forever. Decades of wear create risks that grow slowly and silently.
1. Natural Deterioration
Heat, moisture and building movement weaken older cement sheets and insulation.
2. Water Damage
Roof leaks, bathroom moisture and plumbing issues deteriorate asbestos-based products faster.
3. Previous Poor Repairs
Older patch-up jobs sometimes used unsafe methods or incorrect materials.
4. Hidden Renovation Damage
Drilling, sanding, cutting or removing fixtures may disturb ACMs without anyone realising.
5. Pest and Wildlife Activity
Rodents, birds and insects can disturb old insulation or ceiling spaces, releasing fibres into circulating air.
These issues often go unnoticed because the materials sit behind walls, under floors or above ceiling cavities.
Common Indoor Locations Where Asbestos Affects Air Quality
Understanding where asbestos hides helps you identify risks early. The most common sources include:
- Ceiling insulation and ceiling tiles
- Wall sheeting in older kitchens and bathrooms
- Vinyl floor tiles and adhesives
- Pipe lagging and hot-water system insulation
- Roof spaces and eaves
- Fireproofing panels around heaters and stoves
Small cracks or openings in these areas allow fibres to enter living spaces.
How to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Buildings with Asbestos
Improving air quality isn’t possible without first addressing the asbestos itself. The safest approach involves a combination of inspection, monitoring and, when necessary, professional removal.
1. Book an Asbestos Inspection
A licensed asbestos assessor identifies ACMs (asbestos containing materials) and provides an asbestos register outlining their condition. This step forms the foundation of safe air management.
2. Avoid Disturbing Suspected Materials
Leave older sheets, panels or tiles untouched. Even minor work can create major contamination.
3. Use Air Monitoring When Needed
Air monitoring checks whether fibres are present in indoor environments. It’s especially helpful after storms, renovations or when dealing with deteriorating materials.
4. Replace Old Ventilation Systems
Older ducting may circulate fibres unknowingly if ACMs sit nearby or within the ceiling space.
5. Schedule Professional Removal
Removing ageing or damaged ACMs eliminates the source of fibre release entirely. Licensed removalists follow strict regulations that protect indoor environments from contamination.
How Myers Asbestos Removal Protects Indoor Air Quality
At Myers Asbestos Removal, we understand how asbestos affects everyday living and working conditions. Our trained specialists assess, remove and test asbestos safely, ensuring clean indoor air for homes and businesses throughout regional Victoria.
Our services include:
- Comprehensive asbestos inspections
- Detailed asbestos registers for compliance
- Safe, licensed removal of all ACM types
- Air monitoring during and after removal
- Clearance certificates for peace of mind
- Advice on repairs and replacement materials
We handle the entire process with care, professionalism and full compliance with Victorian regulations.
Clean Indoor Air Starts with Safe Asbestos Management
Asbestos might be out of sight, but its impact on indoor air quality is significant. Safe management protects your lungs, your long-term health and your home or workplace environment. Regular inspections, careful prevention and professional removal create the best possible chance of maintaining healthy indoor air.
If you suspect asbestos may be affecting your property’s air quality, the team at Myers Asbestos Removal is ready to help.