I've been doing some DIY around the house and I've come into contact with what might be asbestos insulation, as well as an asbestos cement water tank. I have work to do in that room, as I want to renovate. How can I be sure it is asbestos, and if it is, what precautions do I need to take in order to keep myself and my family safe from the dust? My house is mid-1970s and I live in the UK.
Most asbestos-related diseases arise only after many years of regular exposure.
An extremely intense short-term exposure also heightens the risk of disease later in life.

Search for "asbestos inspection" online to find a licensed expert in your area. It is not always possible to tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it.

It is best for this to be done at an accredited laboratory.

Short-term asbestos exposure involves incidents that last less than a few days.
• Asbestos exposure is cumulative, so short-term exposures can add up
• Disasters may cause extreme asbestos-exposure events

Asbestos exposure happens when someone inhales or swallows asbestos dust. When asbestos-related diseases develop, it is usually because microscopic mineral fibers have accumulated in a person’s lung tissue or a membrane lining in the body.

No amount of asbestos exposure is considered safe, and people should always take precaution to avoid inhaling toxic dust.