more likely it was the dust from bird droppings that got to you.

I’ve done the exact same! There was an old abandoned psych hospital that had asbestos in it, and I went exploring in it, at least 2-3 different times, for about 5-6 hours at a time! When we went into the tunnels, or really musty areas we put our shirts over our noses & mouths, and we’re still ok. I’ve never had asthma, and still don’t….it probably wasn’t the GREATEST idea, but it was really fun, and we were as safe about it as possible.
Isn’t it so fun to explore places like that? I just love to take pictures & stuff, and it almost reminds me of being in a scary movie! Too bad the place I went exploring in is torn down now.
If you start to feel REAL awful for more than a week, go see a doctor, but you’re probably fine.
(Have the pics posted somewhere?)

No. Asbestos is a problem only as airborne particles that get inhaled. If you didn’t remove any insulation from pipes, bore holes in any walls or remove any ceiling tiles you shouldn’t have any problems. If this place was abandoned in the mid 1980′s, asbestos abatement already occurred. EPA made abatement mandatory in 1976. Schools and hospitals were on the top of the list.

You won’t even feel the effects until you are old anyway. You won’t be able to breathe or climb stairs. It will happen so gradually that you probably won’t even notice until you have COPD.

LOL. Scared ya didn’t I? Actually, so long as you didn’t disturb anything, you will probably be ok. I would seek medical assistance if you start feeling short of breath or having other distressful respriatory difficulties. The reaction your body has to asbestos actually takes a long time (unless of course you are exposed to a lot of it at once). Basically your immune cells cannot dispose of the material and form a hard bubble around it to protect the surrounding tissue from harm. The same thing happens with things like fiberglass. It’s best not to expose yourself to these things, but I wouldn’t worry too much over an hour. Your anxiety probably caused your feelings of asthma, psychosomatic because of the warnings amplified by the sympathetic nervous paranoia in the whole breaking the law thing.

Don’t worry, even if you inhaled it while in there. Asbestos is something that takes prolonged exposure to cause cancer. Your not going to get cancer from the one time.

if you didn’t disturb anything made of asbestos then you are most likely fine. You really have to break or cut the stuff up and inhale the dust to have anything to worry about. As for feeling a little asthmatic while in there – that was most likely due to mould spores or similar which would have been growing in the damp dark corners. Don’t stress.