What Is Asbestos?

Types of Asbestos

Asbestos includes six naturally occurring silicate minerals, each with different properties and risk levels. Scientists classify them into two main groups: serpentine and amphibole. Chrysotile is the only serpentine asbestos. Amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite are amphibole asbestos.

Chrysotile’s fibers are curly and layered and it accounts for roughly 95% of all commercial asbestos use globally. The fibers of the amphibole minerals are straight and needle-like, which makes them harder for the body to clear and generally more dangerous.

All six types share key properties that made them so widely used such as heat resistance and tensile strength. Because asbestos is also non-conductive, it was seen as ideal for electrical insulation. These qualities and its affordability led to more than 80 years of industrial use across construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding.

Asbestos-containing products are generally described as either friable or non-friable. Friable products crumble easily and release fibers into the air. Non-friable products keep asbestos bound in a solid matrix and pose less immediate risk. However, age, deterioration or damage from cutting or drilling can cause non-friable products to become friable over time.

Source: NCBI Bookshelf

Where Is Asbestos Found?

Builders and manufacturers used asbestos so widely through the mid-20th century that it still turns up in millions of buildings, products and job sites across the U.S. today. Most structures built before 1980 contain asbestos-containing construction materials. Asbestos-containing materials were used in everything from attic insulation and floor tiles to roofing and brake pads.

Asbestos in Residential Buildings

Homes built before 1980 are the most likely to contain asbestos. Contractors used it in attic and pipe insulation, vinyl floor tiles, ceiling tiles, textured or popcorn ceilings, drywall and joint compound, roof shingles, siding panels and around boilers and furnaces. The nine-inch-by-nine-inch vinyl floor tiles common in mid-century homes are also a well-known source, as is the black adhesive mastic underneath them. Window glazing and some older appliances also contained asbestos.

Asbestos in Commercial and Industrial Buildings

Commercial buildings relied heavily on asbestos for fireproofing and insulation. Workers sprayed it directly onto structural steel beams, wrapped it around pipes and boilers and mixed it into acoustical plaster and floor and ceiling tiles. Elevator components in older high-rises often contain it too.

In New York City, pre-1980 skyscrapers, school buildings and subway infrastructure are among the most documented exposure sites. New York state has identified more than 400 job sites where asbestos exposure remains a concern. The New York City Asbestos Litigation exists specifically because of the density of asbestos exposure sites across the five boroughs.

Asbestos in Products and Consumer Goods

Asbestos was integrated into far more consumer goods than many people knew. Automotive brake pads, clutch facings and gaskets contained it for decades. Pre-1980 appliances like toasters and hair dryers used it as insulation.

The mineral was also detected in some widely-used consumer products as a result of contamination. Vermiculite insulation sold under the brand name Zonolite that was popular for home insulation came from a mine in Libby, Montana that the EPA confirmed contained asbestos. Talc-based consumer products like baby powder and brands of children’s makeup tested positive for asbestos because the talc was contaminated during mining. This has led to a growing number of talc lawsuits.

Asbestos in the Natural Environment

Naturally occurring asbestos deposits exist across the U.S., with documented sites in at least 34 states. In undisturbed soil and rock, these deposits pose little risk. The danger increases when deposits are disturbed through mining, construction or natural weathering, which can release fibers into the air, water and soil.

Commercial asbestos mining in the U.S. dates to 1894, beginning in Georgia and eventually expanding to California, Vermont and other states. The Atlas Asbestos Mine in California’s Clear Creek Management Area is now a designated EPA Superfund site. When companies exposed workers and surrounding communities to asbestos through mining operations, legal liability may apply.

What Does Asbestos Look Like?

Asbestos fibers are microscopic. You can’t see them in the air and you can’t smell or feel them during exposure. Recognizing the materials that commonly contain asbestos is the most reliable way to identify potential risk.

How to Recognize Asbestos

• Floor tiles: Older nine-inch-by-nine-inch vinyl tiles in cream, tan or speckled patterns often contain asbestos. The black adhesive mastic underneath them is also a common source.
• Insulation board: Gray or brown rigid panels found around boilers, furnaces and fireplaces in older buildings commonly contain asbestos.
• Pipe insulation: Gray or white corrugated wrap, often with a canvas outer layer, is a frequent source of asbestos in older structures. It may look chalky or crumbly with age.
• Popcorn ceilings: The rough, bumpy spray-on texture common in homes built before 1985 frequently contained asbestos as a key ingredient.
• Roof shingles: Flat or corrugated gray cement panels on older structures were routinely manufactured with asbestos.
• Spray fireproofing: The soft, fluffy gray or white coating on exposed steel beams in older commercial buildings is one of the most common sources of asbestos in those structures.

Appearance alone isn’t a reliable test. If you suspect asbestos in a pre-1980 building, contact a licensed inspector before disturbing any material. Certification requirements vary by state, so check with your state or local environmental agency to find a qualified professional in your area.

Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure

When someone cuts, drills, sands or damages asbestos-containing materials, toxic microscopic fibers release into the air. Once a person inhales them, the body can’t expel them. Over decades, those fibers cause inflammation, scarring and DNA damage that can lead to cancer. The World Health Organization classifies all forms of asbestos as a Group 1 carcinogen.

Non-malignant conditions like pleural plaques, pleural effusions and diffuse pleural thickening don’t cause cancer but can signal significant past exposure. They’re often discovered incidentally and often require monitoring with a specialist.

Mesothelioma

Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. This rare cancer develops on the mesothelium, the thin lining surrounding the lungs, abdomen and heart. The National Cancer Institute estimates roughly 3,000 new cases occur in the U.S. each year. Symptoms typically don’t appear until 20 to 60 years after first exposure, which is why people who worked with asbestos in the 1950s through 1970s are receiving diagnoses today.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis develops when inhaled asbestos fibers scar lung tissue progressively over time. It isn’t cancer, but it’s a serious chronic condition that can be disabling and fatal. Symptoms include shortness of breath, a persistent cough and chest tightness. The condition can take 10 to 40 years to develop and there’s no cure. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms. The CDC/ATSDR and the American Lung Association both recognize it as a serious occupational disease.

Lung Cancer

Asbestos exposure is a direct cause of lung cancer, independent of smoking. For people exposed to asbestos, smoking compounds their risk significantly. According to the CDC/ATSDR, people with both exposures face 50 to 90 times the lung cancer risk of someone with neither. Symptoms often appear late, when the disease is harder to treat. Latency typically runs 15 to 35 years after first exposure.

Ovarian and Laryngeal Cancers

The International Agency for Research on Cancer links asbestos to ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer as well. A 2024 National Institutes of Health study of more than 50,000 women found that frequent or long-term use of talc-based powder increases ovarian cancer risk, a finding tied to asbestos contamination in some talc products. Laryngeal cancer develops in the voice box. Studies show asbestos exposure increases laryngeal cancer risk roughly 40%.

How Much Asbestos Exposure Is Dangerous?

The WHO and NCI agree: no safe level of asbestos exposure exists. Higher and longer exposure increases risk, but disease can develop from brief or low-level contact too. OSHA sets a permissible exposure limit of 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air as an eight-hour average, but that’s a regulatory threshold, not a guarantee of safety. Occupational exposure in construction, shipbuilding and mining carries the highest documented risk.

This information is for educational purposes only and doesn’t constitute legal or medical advice. If you’ve been exposed to asbestos, consult a physician for medical guidance and an attorney for legal guidance.

History of Asbestos Use and Regulation

In 2024, the EPA banned ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos. It was the only type still being imported and used commercially in the U.S. The rule covers its use in industries like chlor-alkali (chlorine) and in vehicle friction products and gaskets. It allowed for up to 12 years to phase it out for some industries. It doesn’t cover other asbestos types. Additional legislation has been introduced in Congress that would close loopholes, ban all six types and make the prohibition permanent legislation rather than a regulatory rule.

• 2024: EPA’s final rule banned ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only type still in commercial use in the U.S.
• 2016: EPA began a formal risk evaluation of asbestos under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act
• 1991: The Fifth Circuit Court overturned most of the 1989 ban; asbestos remained legal for many uses
• 1989: EPA issued a comprehensive Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule
• 1986: AHERA required asbestos inspection and management plans in all U.S. schools
• 1978: EPA banned most remaining spray applications
• 1973: EPA banned spray-applied asbestos fireproofing products
• 1971: OSHA established its first federal asbestos exposure standards

Asbestos saw commercial use in the U.S. for more than a century. Scientists began documenting its health effects in the 1960s and federal regulation started in the early 1970s. Millions of pre-1980 buildings across the country still contain legacy asbestos in insulation, tiles and construction materials.

In New York City, for example, any building that went up before 1974 legally requires a professional asbestos survey before renovation work begins. In Texas, a licensed asbestos survey is required before any permit can be issued for renovation or demolition of a public or commercial building, regardless of age. In Chicago, the city requires a certified inspector to survey for asbestos before any demolition or renovation that could disturb building materials.

Sources: EPA Asbestos Regulatory History, OSHA Asbestos Standards and EPA 2024 Chrysotile Final Rule

What to Do If You Find Asbestos

Undisturbed asbestos poses less immediate risk than asbestos that someone has cut, drilled, sanded or damaged. The priority is to leave it alone until a professional can assess it.

1. Don’t disturb it. Don’t touch, drill, cut, sand, scrape or attempt to remove the material yourself. Keep the area clear and limit access until testing is complete.
2. Get a professional inspection. A licensed asbestos inspector will collect a material sample for lab testing, visual identification alone isn’t reliable. In New York City, inspectors must hold certification from the NYC DEP and any renovation of a building that went up before 1974 legally requires a professional asbestos survey before work begins.
3. Understand your options. A licensed contractor will recommend one of three approaches based on the inspection findings: encapsulation, enclosure or removal.

Encapsulation involves sealing the material so it can’t release fibers. This costs less than other options and works well when the material is still intact. Enclosure means building a barrier around the asbestos-containing material. Removal or abatement is complete removal and requires a licensed abatement specialist. Licensed contractors typically require abatement before major renovation or demolition.

If someone exposed you to asbestos at a job site, during renovation work or in a building where proper precautions weren’t taken, you may have a legal claim. Contact our team for a free case evaluation.

Asbestos Exposure and Your Legal Rights

Anyone who has received a diagnosis of a mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer or other asbestos cancers may have a legal claim for compensation. In addition to personal injury lawsuits patients file, family members can file wrongful death lawsuits if they’ve lost a loved one. Asbestos trust fund payouts can also provide financial assistance for medical bills and lost wages.

Types of Asbestos Claims

• Asbestos trust fund claims: 60+ bankruptcy trusts hold more than $30 billion for people whose illnesses asbestos manufacturers caused.
• Personal injury: The person with a diagnosis files this claim directly.
• Workers’ compensation: This option has limited scope and generally doesn’t prevent a separate asbestos lawsuit.
• Wrongful death: The estate or family files this claim after a loved one dies.

Asbestos trust funds operate separately from lawsuits and attorneys can often pursue more than one trust fund claim at the same time. An experienced asbestos attorney can also handle multiple claim types simultaneously. Many clients pursue more than one at the same time such as trust fund claims against bankrupt companies and a lawsuit against solvent defendants.

Act Quickly: Statutes of Limitations Apply

Most states set statutes of limitations for asbestos claims within one to five years from the date of diagnosis, or from the date someone knew or reasonably should have known their illness connected to asbestos exposure. Wrongful death statutes of limitations are typically shorter. Waiting too long can put your ability to file at risk, regardless of your claim’s merits.

Statutes of limitations vary by state and claim type. Consult an asbestos attorney as soon as possible after diagnosis.

Why Choose Meirowitz & Wasserberg?

Meirowitz & Wasserberg has spent decades fighting for people with asbestos-related illnesses and their families. We’ve recovered more than $500 million for clients across the country and rank among the top 10 asbestos firms in the U.S. for case volume, giving us extensive experience. Daniel Wasserberg leads our national asbestos practice with licenses in New York, New Jersey, Texas and Illinois.

We’ve earned recognition from Super Lawyers Rising Stars and a Top 10 Mesothelioma Lawyers designation nationally. Meirowitz & Wasserberg has taken on cases that other firms declined and the team serves clients in more than 15 languages including Spanish, Ukrainian and Russian.

There’s no fee unless you win. We work on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing unless your case results in compensation.

Prior results don’t guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact us online for a free case review. We’re available 24/7.

Frequently Asked Questions About Asbestos

This information is for educational purposes only and doesn’t constitute legal or medical advice. If you’ve been exposed to asbestos, consult a physician for medical guidance and an attorney for legal guidance.

About The Author

Daniel Wasserberg

Founding Partner

Daniel Wasserberg, a founding partner of Meirowitz & Wasserberg, is a Best Lawyers-recognized and Super Lawyers-rated mesothelioma attorney with over 20 years of experience. Named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and Top 10 Asbestos-Mesothelioma Lawyer, he leads the firm's national asbestos practice.