Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that was widely used in industrial products and materials for its resistance to heat, electricity and chemical damage from the early 1900s through the 1980s, when the substance was banned by numerous countries. As of 1991, the United States banned asbestos in specific products, including flooring felt, rollboard, and corrugated, commercial or specialty paper, as well as products that have not historically contained asbestos fibers.

Inhaling asbestos fibers is associated with numerous types of cancer, including mesothelioma, as well as chronic and deadly fibrotic diseases of the lung. In addition to being indestructible, asbestos fibers are invisible, tasteless and odorless. Consequently, people are unknowingly exposed to this deadly mineral.

Outside of occupational and industrial exposure, asbestos is most commonly found in older homes, furnace and pipe insulation materials, asbestos shingles, millboard, textured paints and other coating materials, and floor tiles. Elevated concentrations of airborne asbestos can occur after asbestos-containing materials are disturbed by cutting, sanding or other remodeling activities. Improper attempts to remove these materials can release asbestos into the air. When inhaled, these fibers are strongly associated with numerous types of cancer and illness, including mesothelioma.