I just received confirmation from the lab that they do not contain any asbestos. It feels good to have that information in my back pocket.

For those suggesting that I lay gyp. board over them in lieu of taking them down; at the base of the sloped ceiling in the above picture contains the entry to my studio (a 4’ ht. 3 panel door with detailed casings that mimic the full size units in the house). Since the tile adds about 1.5” to the depth of the ceiling, it’s covering up the detail of the top casing. Adding gyp over the tiles would only compound the problem. Plus, like a couple have said, it should be a piece of cake to take down.