What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a natural mineral that can be mined and used as an insulating material. Asbestos was used in many industrial, commercial, and construction materials in the past. It is a known human carcinogen and causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other illnesses.

With more than $30 billion currently set aside in trust funds, you may qualify for substantial compensation if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in your area, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more. 

Facts About Asbestos

• Asbestos is a group of fibrous minerals found in deposits in the ground, especially in certain types of rocks, like serpentine.
• Asbestos minerals are made up of bundles of long, thin fibers that easily break apart.
• Asbestos is strong, lightweight, flexible, and an excellent insulator.
• It resists heat but also electricity, fire, and many chemical reactions.
• People have been using asbestos for these properties for thousands of years.
• Larger-scale asbestos mining and use began with the industrial age of the 1800s.
• Peak asbestos use in the U.S. occurred between the 1930s and 1970s.
• Asbestos exposure causes cancer and illness in some people.
• Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, and asbestos exposure is the only known cause.
• Asbestos has not been banned in the U.S., but its use is severely limited.
• The construction industry used asbestos more than almost any other industry.
• Although most industries no longer use asbestos, it lingers in older buildings.
• Asbestos was once mined in the U.S. and Canada but now mostly comes from Russia, China, and Kazakhstan.

Types of Asbestos

There are six types of asbestos minerals:

• Tremolite: Tremolite asbestos is generally found in certain talcum powders but usually wasn’t used commercially. Additionally, this type of asbestos was used in vermiculite as well as products containing vermiculite. Tremolite is in the family of amphibole asbestos; a mineral with long and thin fibers. Colors range from dark green to off-white.

• Amosite: Amosite asbestos is commonly known as “brown asbestos” because of its brownish-gray color. Amosite was the 2nd most frequently used asbestos commercially, and also one the deadliest, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It was widely used in thermal insulation products, ceiling tiles, spray coatings, and motor industry asbestos plastics.

• Chrysotile: The serpentine asbestos chrysotile was the most commonly used asbestos in the United States. It’s referred to as “white asbestos” because of its color, and according to the EPA, is another one of the deadliest types of asbestos. Per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, chrysotile was confirmed to be linked to malignant mesothelioma and other forms of asbestos cancer. Chrysotile was mainly used in sheets, pipes, and shingles. Other additional products that may contain chrysotile are textiles, rubber sealants, brake pads for motor vehicles, textiles, and asphalt.

• Crocidolite: Crocidolite, also referred to as “blue asbestos,” was used the least commercially. Crocidolite is the most harmful type of asbestos in the amphibole group. Crocidolite was mined by workers, usually in Australia and South Africa. According to the EPA, at least 18% of those miners have died from long-term exposure. This type of asbestos was used mainly for cement products due to its ability to add durability and strength. It was rarely used for fire resistance or insulation as this type of asbestos is not nearly as heat resistant as some of the more popular types.

• Anthophyllite: Anthophyllite is another type of asbestos in the amphibole family. It’s one of the lesser-known asbestos, yet it can be just as dangerous if inhaled. Anthophyllite’s long and sharp fibers are easily ingested and can get lodged in the chest area. This type of asbestos has been linked to lung cancer. It can be found in talc mines all across the world.

• Actinolite: Although actinolite was rarely used commercially, it has been found in certain paint products, sealants, drywall, and even toys. Part of the amphibole group, actinolite is dense and brittle and can be easily ingested and become stuck in the chest and abdominal area. Long-term exposure has been linked to both lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Asbestos can also be categorized as friable or non-friable. Friable is asbestos that crumbles easily and reduces fibers. This is more dangerous than non-friable asbestos, which stays intact and doesn’t readily release harmful fibers.

Friable asbestos products included spray-on insulation and fireproofing, drywall, plaster, and popcorn ceilings. Examples of non-friable asbestos include roofing and flooring materials, cement sheets, and transite panels.

Does All Asbestos Cause Cancer?

Asbestos is bad for human health. It is a carcinogen, meaning exposure to it can cause cancer. It can also cause non-cancerous health conditions, particularly respiratory conditions.

All of the types of asbestos can cause cancer. Non-friable asbestos that is well encapsulated and maintained is unlikely to cause exposure and put people at risk for cancer.

Asbestos-Related Illnesses

Asbestos exposure causes cancer, but it can also cause non-cancerous diseases. The illnesses associated with asbestos exposure include:

• Mesothelioma. Most often associated with asbestos, mesothelioma is a cancer of the tissue that lines organs in the body. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the chest cavity and is the most common form. Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal cavity. Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma.
• Lung cancer. Lung cancer is much more common than mesothelioma, but it can be caused by other things, such as smoking. Asbestos has been associated with the development of lung cancer in both smokers and non-smokers.
• Other cancers. Mesothelioma can also cause or contribute to pharynx, larynx, and ovarian cancers.
• Asbestosis. Asbestosis is a non-cancerous but progressive disease of the lungs. It causes scarring in lung tissue that cannot be reversed.
• Pleural plaques and thickening. Areas of thickened tissue around the lungs caused by asbestos are not malignant. However, these areas can become cancerous.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Like lung cancer, there are other causes of COPD, but asbestos exposure may contribute to it.

How Was Asbestos Used?

Asbestos was used most heavily in the construction industry but also in these types of workplaces:

• Manufacturing facilities
• Chemical plants
• Shipyards
• Power plants
• Oil refineries
• Automotive plants and mechanics shops
• Steel mills and ironworks

Asbestos was used primarily as an insulator. It was used in many industries that generated heat and in construction to insulate and fireproof buildings. Some of the many materials and products made with asbestos in the past include:

• Insulation
• Pipes and insulating pipe wrapping
• Cement
• Textiles
• Flooring tiles
• Roofing materials
• Adhesives
• Caulking
• Drywall
• Gaskets
• Valves
• Brakes
• Clutches
• Duct connectors

Who Is at Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

Workers in the past were at a much higher risk of asbestos exposure. Workers today might encounter asbestos, but it is less likely. They are also more likely to be aware of asbestos and to have training and safety gear.

Some of the occupations that put past workers at high risk of asbestos exposure include:

• Construction workers
• Pipefitters
• Boilermakers
• Shipyard workers
• U.S. Navy service members
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Steelworkers
• Auto mechanics
• Railroad workers
• Miners

These workers are still at risk of mesothelioma today. Asbestos illnesses take decades to develop. Workers who have long retired may be diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Some workers today are still at risk of asbestos exposure:

• Repair and renovation workers
• Demolition workers
• Plumbers
• Insulation workers
• HVAC workers
• Auto mechanics
• Firefighters

Is Asbestos Still Used Today?

Medical experts have long known that asbestos is dangerous for people, especially those exposed to it for an extended period. Many manufacturers stopped using it after the health risks and mesothelioma symptoms came to light.

In some instances, asbestos manufacturers continued to put workers in danger. They didn’t necessarily warn companies and their employees of the risks.

Today, asbestos is rarely used in any industry. One industry that still uses asbestos is the manufacturing of chlorine. Chlor-alkali plants use asbestos in a specific type of filter.

Another ongoing use of asbestos is in automotive brakes and clutches. New cars do not contain asbestos, but imported aftermarket parts often do.

Construction was the heaviest user of asbestos in the past. While new construction materials no longer contain asbestos, many older buildings still have asbestos components in them.

Where Is Asbestos Found Today?

Even though asbestos has been banned from being used in most places of employment in the U.S. and other countries, it can still be found in many homes, buildings, and industrial workplaces built before the law prevented its use.

The most common places where asbestos can be found are ceiling and floor tiles, pipe and boiler insulation, shingles, plasters, and joint compounds.

Public and government buildings also often contain asbestos. Older school buildings usually have asbestos. School districts are not required to remove it, but they must conduct regular inspections and create safety plans to protect staff and students.

How to Protect Yourself From Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is much less risky today than in the past, but it still causes harm. Far too much asbestos was used in the past to completely eliminate it from all homes, public buildings, and workplaces. Know where asbestos is and how to avoid exposure to stay safe.

Asbestos Safety Regulations in the Workplace

Employers at workplaces that contain asbestos must follow strict federally mandated requirements with no exceptions.

Workers cannot be exposed to more than 0.1 fibers of asbestos per cubic foot during a regular work shift, typically 8 hours.

Rotating different employees to meet this guideline is strictly prohibited. Additionally, all workers who can potentially come in contact with an even small amount of asbestos must be able to get a medical exam every 30 days, provided by their employers.

Further, protective clothing and hygiene products must be available at all times. If you work somewhere with asbestos, take all training available and use the safety gear your employer provides. Never go home in clothing contaminated with asbestos.

How to Stay Safe From Asbestos in the Home

Although it’s much rarer these days for workers to come into contact with asbestos, exposure still happens when older buildings, insulation, flooring, and other parts containing asbestos need to be repaired or replaced.

If any part of your home or a building that could potentially contain asbestos has been damaged, you should not clean up or repair the damages yourself. Contact your local Safety and Health Administration.

If you work or live in a building built before the 1980s, do not do anything that will disturb asbestos fibers, such as drilling, cutting, hammering, or sawing in areas where asbestos is located.

Contact a certified asbestos abatement professional if you need parts repaired or removed from these types of houses and buildings.

Employees who deal with asbestos have been professionally trained and are protected while working around the dangerous fibers.

What if I Was Exposed to Asbestos?

While no amount of asbestos exposure is considered safe, a one-time incident will not likely make you sick. If there is a chance you were repeatedly exposed, talk to your doctor. Regular medical screenings are essential for identifying and treating asbestos illnesses early.

Also, consider working with a lawyer to seek compensation. You could be entitled to compensation through a lawsuit or asbestos trust fund.

Asbestos companies are often considered liable for exposure in the past. They knew about the risks of asbestos long before they began warning workers and their employers.

A mesothelioma lawsuit can help you get compensation in the form of a settlement or a jury award. Most of the lawsuits end in settlements.

You cannot sue an asbestos company that went bankrupt. These companies are protected, but they set up asbestos trust funds to compensate victims. You may qualify to make a claim with a trust.

Contact an asbestos law firm if you have a mesothelioma diagnosis. They can help you determine how you encountered asbestos and explain your legal options.

Asbestos FAQs

What Does Asbestos Do to Humans?

Asbestos gets inside the body through inhalation or ingestion. It causes damage to tissue and cells. In some people, this damage leads to illnesses like mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.

Why Is Asbestos So Bad?

Mesothelioma is rare, but asbestos is the only known cause. No one should have to suffer from this aggressive cancer because asbestos exposure is preventable. Mesothelioma is most often terminal and causes a lot of painful symptoms.

Can I Get Compensation if I Was Exposed to Asbestos?

If you have a diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness, you may be entitled to compensation. You must be able to show where you were exposed and the companies responsible. An experienced mesothelioma or asbestos lawyer can help you do that.

Where Could I Be Exposed to Asbestos?

Asbestos exposure is less common today than in the past. You might be exposed to it in an older home or other building. You can also find asbestos in aftermarket car parts. Some industrial workplaces might still use asbestos.

Getting Legal Help

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, there is a good chance you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area.