Not sure, but better to be safe than sorry, I'd carefully remove the old one and replace with a new one just in case.
Thanks @Scott M I agree, especially since the unit may actually be older. I have a couple spares, though they look more compact and less expanded than the original.
Yep, @Fireexit1 agreed. I'm sure it was very widely used. I know in 1961 in the UK it had exposure levels reduced in the workplace. Maybe these things were still imported. Our ban in Australia came into effect late 2003. I guess why I was wondering was because I have a couple new ones that I bought in the last decade and I was curious when these little round rolled wicks became, (presumably!), asbestos free. I do presume it was used in my Bialaddin 305, which I had previously thought may be a Vapalux M1.
I remember my father - who worked in large civil projects such as oil refineries telling me that blue (Crocidolite) and brown (Amosite) asbestos was dangerous, but white( Chrysotile) was OK. which of course was then found to be not so. I know it was still used in building products up to 2000 in the UK. In school we had asbestos mats for the bunsen burners. The stuff was everywhere! It was possible to fit asbestos containng brake pads to pre-1973 cars until 2004 here, but now technically even posession of them can get you into hot water. This is an interesting site : Chronology of Asbestos Bans and Restrictions
Asbestos was and still is widely used in the water supply industry. We laid miles of asbestos cement water pipe. It was a common material in the 1950s and ‘60s. I know I supervised installation of around 5 miles or so of 18inch pumping main AC in Epping and it is the principle pipe serving the local villages where I live from 9inch pumping mains to 6, 4 and 3inch distribution pipe. It only becomes a problem when fixing leaks or making connections though. In the ground and carrying water it’s quite safe. Damn good pipe because it doesn’t corrode and as I understand it not a health hazard unless you breathe the water. I suspect replacing it all will be a much bigger problem than leaving it all in service. ::Neil::
