The Health and Safety Executive says that:
“Asbestos is not a risk if it is in good condition and not disturbed. Asbestos only poses a risk if it becomes damaged and its fibres are released into the air and breathed in.”
Most people are exposed to the low amounts of asbestos present in the atmosphere, with no ill effects. Asbestos fibres and dust are however potentially dangerous if inhaled in higher concentrations over time, and they can cause serious lung diseases, including cancer. The symptoms of these diseases often may not appear for a considerable amount of it, typically between 15 – 30 years after the asbestos exposure occurred.