What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral that was widely used in many industries before research confirmed that it causes mesothelioma and other types of cancer. It occurs in rock and soil and is made up of long, thin and fibrous crystals. 

Inhaling or ingesting asbestos causes fibers to become trapped in the body. After decades, trapped asbestos fibers can cause inflammation and scarring. This can lead to benign and cancerous conditions.

    Key Facts About Asbestos
    1. It is linked to mesothelioma, lung, laryngeal and ovarian cancers.
    2. More than 60 other countries have banned the use of asbestos. The U.S. announced a plan in 2024 to ban chrysotile asbestos.
    3. More than 60 other countries have banned the use of asbestos. A plan to ban chrysotile asbestos was announced in 2024.
    4. CDC data shows mesothelioma killed 2,236 people in 2022.
    5. Asbestos-related lung cancer causes an estimated 6,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.

    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.

    Six Types of Asbestos

    Raw tremolite asbestos
    Actinolite (Green Asbestos)

    This form of asbestos has a harsh texture and is not as flexible as the others. Mining companies did not seek to mine this type of asbestos. Actinolite occurs near other commercial asbestos types. That’s how it ends up in asbestos products.

    Raw amosite asbestos
    Amosite (Brown Asbestos)

    It was most used in cement sheets and pipe insulation. Amosite is also in insulating board, ceiling tiles and thermal insulation products. It’s reportedly more carcinogenic than chrysotile. But it’s not as dangerous as crocidolite.

    Raw anthophyllite asbestos
    Anthophyllite (Yellow Asbestos)

    It was used in small amounts for insulation and construction. It also occurs as a contaminant in chrysotile asbestos, vermiculite and talc. It may have a grey, dull green or white color.

    Raw chrysotile asbestos
    Chrysotile (White Asbestos)

    The most used form of asbestos. It was used in roofs, ceilings, walls and floors. Manufacturers used chrysotile asbestos in brake linings, gaskets and boiler seals. It was used as insulation for pipes, ducts and appliances.

    Tremolite Asbestos
    Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos)

    It was used to insulate steam engines. Blue asbestos was also used in some spray-on coatings and pipe insulation. It was also used in plastics and cement products. It’s the most carcinogenic type of asbestos. It is linked to a higher risk of mesothelioma.

    Tremolite Asbestos
    Tremolite (Color Varies)

    It is in deposits of chrysotile asbestos, vermiculite and talc. Some insulation products, paints, sealants, and roofing materials contain it. Tremolite can be white, green, gray and transparent. It’s more carcinogenic than other types but less so than crocidolite.

    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.

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    Types of Asbestos

    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.

    Common asbestos uses
    Asbestos was in thousands of consumer, industrial and commercial products.

    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. 

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    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.

    Asbestos-Related Diseases
    • Asbestosis
    • Diffuse Pleural Thickening
    • Laryngeal Cancer
    • Lung Cancer
    • Mesothelioma
    • Ovarian Cancer
    • Pleural Effusion
    • Pleural Plaques
    • Pleurisy

    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.

    Historically High Risk Still High Risk
    Mining Automotive Repair
    Construction Chloralkali Production
    Manufacturing Building Materials and Equipment Maintenance
    Shipbuilding Renovation and Demolition
    Electricity Generation Firefighting
    Heavy Industry Sheet Gasket Use
    Military Service Oilfield Brake Block Repair

    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.

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    At-Risk Occupations

    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.

    Discontinued Asbestos Building Materials
    • Vinyl asbestos floor tiles
    • Asbestos cement
    • Asbestos roofing felt
    • Asbestos adhesives, sealants and coatings
    • Asbestos-reinforced plastics

    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.

    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 Manufacturers
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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.

    Prevention is the only cure to asbestos-caused illnesses. By banning asbestos, we limit exposure. Asbestos causes 40,000 deaths each year.

    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.

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    Asbestos Ban in the US

    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.

    • 1973
      An asbestos insulator won the first major asbestos lawsuit.
    • 1960s
      Medical studies confirmed asbestos causes mesothelioma.
    • 1933
      Johns Manville settled 11 asbestosis lawsuits.
    • 1930s
      Asbestos companies researched health effects in secret and kept results hidden.
    • 1927
      A worker filed the first known workers’ compensation claim for asbestos-related disease.
    • Late 1800s
      Asbestos mining became a big industry. It supplied raw and pure asbestos for industrial products.

    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.

    Once you’re diagnosed with mesothelioma, you’re probably going to get different lawyers contacting you. Choose a lawyer who specializes in mesothelioma cases and is the best one for you. Filing a claim is a way for us to seek justice.

    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.

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    Asbestos Abatement

    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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