There were/are many contractors who failed/fail to assess the presence of certain materials before undertaking intrusive works and as a consequence did/do not implement what would be considered to be suitable controls.

Many domestic clients however only look at the cost of the task often neglecting the methods, material disposal and insurance status of the contractor.

So flipping your question was it the workman being negligent in not looking or the client failing to declare materials and not following appropriate due dilligence?

Despite the risks from asbestos it was likely the knowledge you are eluding to only surfaced many decades later asbestos legislation in construction banning the material from 2000 onwards.

There are sadly still trades people today oblivious to the effects of materials used in construction and how to recognise them - the HSE started a campaign as late as 2014 to try and address the situation

https://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/occupational-disease/cancer/asbestos.htm

Unfortunately if you don't know what to look for, or where to find the information, or what to ask.... many operations typically sole operators remain oblivious

You are asking us to speculate an exposure based upon very minimal information.

Your personal asbestos exposure could be from many sources not just this single event - insulation on old school pipes, a high street demolition you passed by, old car brake pads/gaskets (i.e. road dust when you were growing up) an old cement sheet garage.

If you have health concerns these should be raised with a medical practitioner.

You could look at survey reports (structural or home buyer not much use if valuation) for the property or talk with the current occupiers - if you only worked on the main bedroom then it would be fair to assume that in the remainder of the loft space original insulation may still be present for a proper identification.

As others have said asking about your likely exposure with the information given is impossible. However it’s worth noting that aertex is not an insulating material in the context of ACM (asbestos containing material) it’s a bonded asbestos – in other words the asbestos is contained by another material, and the amount of asbestos present is far less than an insulating material. Even today it is not a material that requires a licenced contractor to remove. I don’t believe asbestos insulation was that common in single occupancy private homes, as building regulations did not require the same fire resistance as commercial property, flats etc. Unfortunately asbestos was such a common material particularly in the 60’s and 70’s those of us around at that time have probably been exposed at some time or other. Fortunately most of us will not develop asbestos related disease. There is a certain level of exposure required we just don’t know what it is! Unfortunately people will often say 1 fibre is enough to cause asbestos related diseases – and while it might it’s not certain that exposure to 1 fibre will! Best advice I can give you is just get on with life, no point worrying about such an unknown situation.

Originally Posted by: Brian Hagyard

There is a certain level of exposure required we just don’t know what it is! Unfortunately people will often say 1 fibre is enough to cause asbestos related diseases – and while it might it’s not certain that exposure to 1 fibre will!

If it is helpful there are legal exposure values called the ‘Helsinki Criteria’ that are used in legal cases, see extract below.

‘Occupational exposure would need to be taken into account, as the symptoms of lung cancer are insufficient to determine whether asbestos is a cause. Around one year of “heavy” exposure (e.g. manufacture of asbestos products, asbestos spraying, insulation work, demolition of old buildings) or 5–10 years of moderate exposure (e.g. construction, shipbuilding) may increase lung cancer risk “2-fold or more”. A cumulative exposure of 25 fibre years was identified as doubling the risk of developing lung cancer.

For lung cancer — or indeed asbestosis — to develop, exposure to asbestos fibers greater than 25 fiber years per ml (f.yrs/ml) would be needed. Or, as Professor Willey identifies, to exceed this level, exposure would need to be 1.3 weeks at 1000 fibers per ml breathed in (f/ml), or 2.5 years at an exposure level of 10 f/ml.’

To add: Exposure to one asbestos fibre will not kill you, this is a myth.

https://www.expertwitnessjournal.co.uk/special-reports/642-asbestos-real-risk-and-perceived-risk

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit

Many domestic clients however only look at the cost of the task often neglecting the methods, material disposal and insurance status of the contractor.

So flipping your question was it the workman being negligent in not looking or the client failing to declare materials and not following appropriate due dilligence?

I think that's rather an unfair comment.  I would not expect a random non-building-trades householder to have any idea that artex might contain asbestos.  I know I was surprised when I first heard that.  I doubt that many such housholders know they might have asbestos in their lino, or their damp-proof-course either.

If someone has no inkling that getting artex taken down triggers asbestos exposure, and no-one mentions it to them, how can they be expected to exercise "appropriate due diligence"?

However, back to the OP - yes, you might have inhaled some asbestos dust.  It might kill you.  However, I'm not sure there's much you can do about it now.

Originally Posted by: Brian Hagyard

thanks Toe

Had not seen Professor Willey's work very interesting.

If anyone gets the opportunity to attend one of his conferences or presentations I would highly recommend it. He is an excellent speaker.

The HSE have an information page that may be of interest: https://www.hse.gov.uk/a...essentials/loosefill.htm

You seem to be worrying too much though. If you were exposed to a high quantity of fibres, you can do nothing about it anyway. Your risk of expiring from heart disease is much higher!!

Most of the dust you inhale is excreted from the lungs via the natural processes that do that.

https://rais.ornl.gov/tox/profiles/asbestos.html