Asbestos in external concrete?

is it likely to contain asbestos? 

I can't imagine why a garden path would contain any asbestos, you have found something on the internet which suggests that it might be?

Anyway if it did contain traces of asbestos it would no doubt be tiny amounts and you broke it up outside so I really wouldn't worry about it. 

You are right to take the health risks concerning asbestos very seriously but I wouldn't overthink it, although that is easily done!

Hmm. Doubtful. What purpose would it serve?

In a concrete structure it might be used to improve fire resistance and stuff but in a garden path it would be pointless 

There is always the odd idiot. But its really doubtful.

Hmm, I must admit it doesn’t seem an obvious thing to do but Google says it’s a possibility.

My main concern is that I was planning to use the rubble to fill gabions for a retaining wall. 
With sprogs playing in the garden etc I obviously don’t want them near it if there’s a chance it has Evil in it.. 

I agree that the stuff pops up in all sorts of unexpected places but doubtful in your path, you may well have created clouds of silica dust however  hope you used good mask?. HSE and thereby main contractors etc on constant watch for  this. Bag a bit up and get it tested, there must be plenty of companies in sheff that will test it . then use it in your gabions 

I didn’t use a mask :/  but did wave the hosepipe around a bit (not a lot of obvious dust but take your point). 

Whilst it's lapsed now, I did my P402 some time ago and worked on contaminated land for most of my career to date.

It's theoretically possible to be in any man made mix, but it was either added as a toughener, strengthener or bulking agent. I can't see a reason it would be added to a garden path, and I've never seen it in ground borne concrete.

Pretty low odds IMO.

My main concern is that I was planning to use the rubble to fill gabions for a retaining wall. 

With sprogs playing in the garden etc I obviously don’t want them near it if ...

Getting a sample tested really isn't expensive if it puts your mind at ease

See if your council tests before you start paying over the odds for specail testing.

(Edinburgh council does, as does glasgow.) 

Thanks for the responses guys.

Re testing - our local council doesn’t do it.

tbh a lot of the online places look a bit iffy - I’m not sure how you know who’s reputable?!

Ask the site manager at a local school. They probably contract out

I took a small soffit sample in to acorn analytics in cleckheaton  a few yrs ago cost £15  and about a week for a positive result 😩  might be worth a call? 

I've never heard of asbestos in concrete. Is it (or was it once) a thing?

Hello, just in case anyone else stumbles across this and has a similar query. 

I got a sample tested by Acorn Analytical services (as suggested by jag61, thanks!). It cost me £36 including VAT.
The result was emailed within 5 days of receipt (negative for asbestos, woot).

 Now.. which gabions for (non asbestosy) concrete rubble… 

Good to close the loop.

It does crop up in bloody odd places though.

Floor tiles and toilet cisterns are two real oddballs that I'm aware of.

and you know that little black patch on the bottom of the kitchen sink ....guess what?

Also found in bakelite and artex.

And there was a rawplug type powder you mixed up and put in the drilled hole. Often tipped oit onto the hand and spat on before kneading.