Asbestos

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of fine, durable fibers mined from deposits in rock and soil. Its durability and heat resistance make asbestos a useful material for insulation, construction and automotive products. 

Inhaling or ingesting asbestos traps fibers in the body. After decades, trapped asbestos fibers can cause inflammation and scarring. The damage they cause can lead to benign and cancerous conditions, such as asbestos, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

The toxic mineral was once mined throughout North America, but now it mainly comes from Russia, Kazakhstan and China. Asbestos was used in ancient cultures and its industrial use began in the 19th century. Widespread use in construction and manufacturing lasted through the 1970s when growing health concerns led to regulations.

Types of Asbestos

The six types of commercial asbestos are chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite, amosite and actinolite. Other types of asbestos are called asbestiform minerals. All types of asbestos cause mesothelioma.

The six main types of asbestos fall into two categories: amphibole and serpentine. Only chrysotile falls into the serpentine category. The rest are amphiboles.

Serpentine asbestos fibers are long and curly, and chrysotile is often white in color. Amphibole asbestos fibers are brittle, needle-like and range in color from green to blue to brown.

Common Uses of Asbestos

Asbestos products were widely used in industry and construction. Its heyday spanned from the late 1800s to the 1980s. Companies added asbestos to building materials, insulation, fireproofing materials, brakes, and more. The tough asbestos fibers could handle heat, electricity and corrosion.

Building materials contained asbestos because it was an effective insulator. Asbestos in cloth, paper, cement, plastic and other materials made them heat-resistant and stronger. Some consumer products, such as appliances, talc-based cosmetics, textiles and children’s toys, also contained asbestos.

These past uses have led to asbestos exposure in occupational settings, public buildings and homes throughout the U.S. While the U.S. is no longer mining asbestos or using it in products, the risk of asbestos exposure remains for blue-collar workers. 

What Are the Health Effects of Asbestos Exposure?

Asbestos causes several types of cancer and a range of benign pulmonary conditions. Mesothelioma is a cancer caused mainly by long-term asbestos exposure. The mineral also causes laryngeal, lung and ovarian cancers.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry explains that exposure to asbestos does not guarantee a person will develop health problems. How much asbestos a person inhales and how long exposure occurs impact the disease risk.

Most people with a related disease were exposed to asbestos for years. For some, it was only months or weeks. We talked to Chuck Gast, a pleural mesothelioma survivor, about his exposure. He developed mesothelioma six weeks after working with asbestos at a furnace factory. “I was 27 years old and never thought something like this would come back to haunt me,” Gast said. “That’s one job I should have never taken.”

How Can People Be Exposed to Asbestos?

Most cases of asbestos exposure happen at work. Common job sites where exposure occurs include power and chemical plants. Steel and textile mills, factories, shipyards, and automotive repair shops are other job sites at high risk. When workers bring asbestos fibers home on their clothes, their families risk secondary exposure.

Asbestos exposure can also happen in homes, public buildings and the environment. People who live near natural deposits or contaminated job sites may encounter asbestos. Consumers who use cosmetics containing asbestos-contaminated talc are also at risk.

Occupations With High Asbestos Use

Asbestos was widely used in manufacturing, construction, power generation and the military. Workers in diverse fields encountered asbestos. They unknowingly brought home fibers. This caused secondhand exposure among their families.

The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry detailed exposure between 1940 and 1979. Its records showed about 27 million workers were exposed to aerosolized asbestos products. Now, about 1.3 million construction and industry workers remain at risk.

Regulations have reduced the risk of exposure in the workplace. A degree of risk remains for many occupations. Some jobs, like those in the chlor-alkali industry, still risk asbestos exposure today.

Asbestos-Containing Products

U.S. companies produced thousands of products containing asbestos until the 1980s. Today, products found in renovation or demolition work cause the most exposure. Old buildings that contain legacy asbestos products pose the largest risk.

Long-term exposure to asbestos products occurs in occupational settings. These include factories, plants, construction sites and schools. Short-term exposure often happens at home during DIY renovations or auto brake work. 

Asbestos products for consumers are no longer made. But they once included toasters, ovens, ironing pads, and hair dryers. Cosmetics and toys have also exposed people to asbestos-contaminated talc.

Asbestos Suppliers and Manufacturers

Hundreds of manufacturers used asbestos insulation in steam engines, piping and locomotives. Thousands of other uses emerged later. Asbestos became common in boilers, gaskets, cement, roofing shingles and automotive brake pads.

Top asbestos companies include Johns Manville and W.R. Grace & Co. Other leading asbestos companies include Pittsburgh Coming and Armstrong Industries. These companies often made and sold asbestos products. They knew the risks to workers and consumers.

A 2019 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule states manufacturers must seek government approval before selling discontinued uses of asbestos. Discontinued products include vinyl floor tiles, cement, roofing felt, adhesives, sealants and coatings. The EPA now has the right to review the risks of these materials before anyone can sell them.

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Asbestos Laws & Regulations

Asbestos regulation includes standards for using, handling, and removing legacy asbestos. They safeguard public health. Local, state, and federal laws aim to reduce asbestos exposure risks. They protect workers, consumers and the environment.

Procedures for dealing with asbestos cover many approaches. Some of these include testing, workplace safety and disposal. Other laws focus on continuous monitoring and enforcement. These asbestos rules minimize hazards. They ensure the safety of workers and communities.

American companies no longer manufacture asbestos-containing building materials. However, other countries add asbestos to building materials. Imported roofing materials, joint compounds and gaskets may still contain asbestos.

Is Asbestos Banned?

The Biden administration in March 2024 announced a plan to ban chrysotile asbestos in the nation. The ban doesn’t apply to other types of asbestos. Chrysotile is the only asbestos imported to the U.S. The ban allows companies 12 years to phase it out.

U.S. manufacturers have phased out the use of asbestos. They now rely on several safer substitutes. Examples include polyurethane foam, amorphous silica fabric, cellulose fiber and thermoset plastic flour. These materials provide low-cost solutions to asbestos. Manufacturers use these to replace asbestos products like insulation, cloth, and paper.

Phasing Out Asbestos

The phase-out of asbestos began when significant medical evidence linked asbestos to cancer. Labor unions began to fight back. American companies phased out most uses of asbestos in the 1980s. By then, it was too late for the workers who had been already handling asbestos products for decades.

Most of the asbestos that remains in buildings today is legacy asbestos. Asbestos is safe if undisturbed. But disasters can release its fibers.

Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits

Hundreds of thousands of patients and families have filed asbestos lawsuits. These claims provide vital compensation for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. They cover medical bills and lost wages. Settlements average $1 million to $2 million in compensation for lawsuits.

Loved ones who develop mesothelioma through secondhand exposure may file a legal claim. People with mesothelioma may also file a claim against an asbestos trust fund. You can hire mesothelioma lawyers who specialize in asbestos litigation. They can help you file a claim. 

These claims hold the asbestos industry liable for the harm they’ve caused. They covered up evidence of the mineral’s health hazards. For years, they continued exposing workers and consumers.

How to Protect Yourself From Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure usually occurs in blue-collar jobs. Employers must keep work environments safe to prevent it. Exposure is less common in homes, military bases, offices, schools, and public buildings built before the 1980s.

It is not safe for nonprofessionals to remove asbestos-containing materials. Federal law allows single-family homeowners to remove asbestos on their own. But the EPA strongly advises against it. The EPA recommends hiring licensed asbestos professionals to protect your family from exposure. 

These experts receive training and certification on how to prevent asbestos exposure. In some cases, it may be safer to leave the materials alone or seal them with a sealant. For the best advice, consult a certified local asbestos abatement professional.

Asbestos Resources and Support

Several federal and international agencies provide information on regulations, safety and statistics.

These agencies frequently update their websites with new information on upcoming bills, initiatives and other asbestos-related news.

Common Questions About Asbestos

When did asbestos first start being used?

Archeologists estimate people began using asbestos as early as 4000 B.C. Large-scale mining and manufacturing of asbestos boomed during the Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s. By the mid-1900s, people knew asbestos was harmful. The U.S. government began regulating it in the 1970s.

How can you identify asbestos products?

The only way to identify asbestos is through lab testing or professional inspection. Microscopic asbestos fibers have no smell or taste. They are not easily identified by sight. Homeowners should hire a licensed asbestos professional to collect samples for testing.

Friable asbestos materials are easy to break or crumble by hand. When damaged, they can release toxic dust into the air. Nonfriable materials keep asbestos fibers trapped as long as they remain undisturbed. Sawing, scraping or smashing the product may release fibers.

What are the first signs of asbestos exposure?

Exposure to asbestos fibers has no initial signs or symptoms. The first signs of asbestos poisoning include the beginning symptoms of related diseases. Asbestos-related diseases first show as shortness of breath, a dry cough, and chest or abdominal pain.

How can you be tested for asbestos exposure?

Tests can detect asbestos fibers in lung tissue, lung fluid, urine, stool and mucus. The best way to confirm asbestos exposure is to examine a biopsy of lung tissue. But these tests cannot determine how much asbestos is trapped in lung tissue. They also can’t predict whether a disease will develop.

Should I see a doctor if I have been exposed to asbestos?

You should see a doctor if you start to develop any symptoms. Tell your doctor about your history of asbestos exposure. Ask them to screen you for related diseases. After a mesothelioma diagnosis, get a second opinion from a mesothelioma medical specialist.

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