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If you think you’ve touched asbestos, do not put on a mask. This is important because you may take the asbestos fibers on your hands on trap them in the mask. Make your way to a sink and wash your hands thoroughly. Remove any clothes and seal them in a bag, then take a shower. Call your doctor and let them know you’ve been exposed to asbestos, and make sure you see them as soon as possible. The reason you keep the clothes is in case anyone wants to confirm the presence of asbestos.

While asbestos can’t be directly absorbed through the skin—the fibers are too big—skin contact can still produce symptoms. Contact dermatitis can flare up in sensitive individuals but in most cases, the danger from asbestos comes from inhaling the fibers, or dust, that is produced when asbestos is disturbed. If you touch asbestos by accident, immediately wash yourself and your clothes.

Depending on the size of your home, the inspection process could take a few hours or a few days. While inspecting your home, the asbestos specialist will take small sections of the potentially contaminated material. They will then send the sample to an accredited laboratory or the local health department for testing. 

The cost of asbestos testing depends on your location, the home's size, and the testing area's complexity. Plan to spend between $230 and $800 for testing. During testing and while handling potential asbestos, the specialist may wear protective gear, including gloves, overalls, appropriate footwear, and respiratory equipment.

Asbestos siding can be dangerous, but it doesn't necessarily pose a health risk if it's in good condition and left undisturbed. The danger comes from inhaling asbestos fibers, which can be released if the siding is damaged, deteriorating, crumbling, or disturbed during remodeling or repairs. Exposure to these airborne fibers can cause serious, life-threatening diseases like asbestosis (lung scarring), mesothelioma (an aggressive cancer), and other lung cancers.

If your asbestos siding is intact, the general recommendation is to leave it alone. However, if it's damaged or you plan to renovate, it's crucial to handle it safely. Due to the significant health risks and the difficulty of containing the fibers, it is not recommended to perform any asbestos work yourself. Instead, you should hire a professional asbestos removal company to inspect, repair, encapsulate, or remove the material. The presence of asbestos can also negatively impact your property's value.