Popcorn ceiling with asbestos

I know there are other threads about this issue, but none have answered the specific questions that I'd like to ask.

Just some background...my wife and I are in the process of buying a house (built in 1938) with popcorn ceiling that may or may not have asbestos (we are getting it tested). It is on every ceiling (1700 sq. ft.).

If it does have asbestos, my wife is concerned that it'll get into the air one way or another (changing light fixtures, bumping the ceiling, etc.) and she wants to remove it if it has asbestos. Would leaving it alone really be the best option?

After reading several articles online, there seems to be 2 camps on the matter of general asbestos removal:

1. Some think that it is absolutely NOT a diy project and that you should call a certified asbestos removal company. This includes special vacuums, sealing off the house, wearing disposable suits, etc. They even say that it is illegal to remove/dispose of it yourself in some cases. I checked local TN laws, and couldn't find anything.

2. Other information I've read indicates that it's possible to do it yourself and as long as it's not prolonged exposure, then it's ok (assuming you take necessary cautions like wetting the ceiling and wearing a respirator). A lot of popcorn removal diy videos don't even mention asbestos.

What is the right thing to do? OLD houses in my neighborhood are being flipped like crazy. I can't believe that I've never heard of professional asbestos removal, if removing asbestos was so dangerous and illegal.

Thanks for any advice.

Where I've gotten a lot of this info: Asbestos, the dangers, the myths and the realities

 

IMO asbestos popcorn is a little different than the other types of asbestos. The danger with asbestos is breathing the dust. Normally when you remove popcorn you wet it and then scrape it off which means dust would be limited. Some locales are stricter than others when it comes to disposing of the asbestos debris.