Asbestos Products

Asbestos use increased in many industries and household products through the 20th century. It was favored because of its fire/heat resistance, insulating properties and durability., Researchers started exploring the connection between asbestos and certain medical conditions.

Exposure to asbestos fibers has been shown to lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Research has linked asbestos exposure to larynx, ovary, stomach and colon cancers as well. Occupational asbestos exposure may also increase the risk of developing serious medical conditions. If you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos disease, you may be eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit.

Asbestos may still be present in some older products and materials. This includes:

Building products and materials manufactured before the 1980s may have been made with asbestos. Its presence potentially put industrial workers, contractors and homeowners at risk of exposure.

Ceiling products

Ceiling products were commonly produced with asbestos from the late 1950s to around 1980. Asbestos was included in ceiling products because it resisted heat and had strong fibers.

Ceiling panels, tiles, texture, tile mastic adhesive and acoustic plaster usually contained asbestos. Asbestos may also be found in old popcorn ceilings that used vermiculite, which used to contain asbestos. These ceilings are often found in old government and commercial buildings. If a ceiling is damaged, old or looks textured in some way, it may contain asbestos. An asbestos professional should test the ceiling to confirm the presence of asbestos.

Ducts and pipes

Older duct and pipe products in buildings and homes may contain asbestos. The mineral could be in the tape used on HVAC ducts and other pipe products (pipe insulation, pipe covering and pipe wrap). HVAC ducts and pipes need to be properly sealed and insulated to function properly. Asbestos was commonly used to insulate and maintain fire-resistance in ducts and pipes.

Insulation

In the past, many different types of insulation were made with asbestos. This includes insulation for boilers, ducts, furnaces, pipes, tanks, walls and attics. Asbestos insulation was low-cost and repelled heat, which helped prevent fires.

Asbestos-contaminated vermiculite was commonly used in insulation products from 1919 to 1990. This contaminated mineral came from a mine in Montana and was sold under the brand name “Zonolite”. Since most of the United States used this vermiculite insulation in attic and wall insulation, it was all considered contaminated with asbestos.

Plaster

Asbestos was also in certain ceiling and wall plasters because it resisted heat and insulated well. It was also included in acoustic plaster and decorative plaster.

Asbestos-contaminated plaster is more common in older homes. It may be a risk to anyone who renovates the home or removes the plaster. Disturbing or damaging the contaminated plaster during their work could release asbestos fibers. That release could expose people who are in contact with it to asbestos.

Shingles and siding

Certain types of shingles and siding on homes and buildings used to contain asbestos to strengthen the products and provide insulation. This includes roofing shingles and exterior siding. If the shingles and siding aren’t damaged, the asbestos fibers aren’t exposed and are not a threat. If shingles and siding are damaged in some way, it might be worth it to replace them. This is true, especially if the products are old and may have been manufactured with asbestos.

Tile products

Older ceiling and floor tile products may have been made or installed with asbestos. Products include ceiling tile adhesive, asphalt floor tiles, floor tile adhesive and vinyl floor tiles. These products contained asbestos because of its durability and heat resistance.

Any floor tile that was installed before 1981 most likely contains asbestos, unless a professional test has proven that false. This statistic is from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Floor tiles aren’t considered a hazard because they are non-friable and can’t be hand-crushed into a fine powder. Individuals are more at risk of exposure to asbestos if the tile is considered friable. When a friable substance is dry, it can be ground into a powder. In powdered form, the substance can release asbestos fibers into the air where people can inhale them.

Vinyl products

Asbestos was commonly added to various vinyl-based products, including vinyl floor tiles, vinyl wall coverings and vinyl sheet flooring. These products used asbestos because it’s durable and heat/fire resistant. It was often part of the backing and adhesive of vinyl products. Damaging the contaminated vinyl backing or adhesive in these products is the only way to release the asbestos fibers.

Asbestos may be in various automotive products in vehicles made before the 1980s.

Adhesives

Asbestos was included in adhesives used in certain automotive products. Its presence made adhesives more durable and heat-resistant. The adhesives were used to adhere certain products to the vehicle or other car parts. Older cars may still contain an asbestos adhesive. But as long as the product isn’t damaged, the toxic fibers cannot be inhaled and cause harm.

Brake linings and pads

Older vehicles may have asbestos-containing brake linings and pads. Asbestos brake parts were often purchased from China and India to save money. But most cars haven’t used asbestos brake pads since the 1990s. It’s hard to know if a brake lining or pad contains asbestos. For that reason, it’s important to be cautious when working with or replacing these materials.

Clutch linings

Clutch linings in older vehicles were often made with asbestos because of its heat-resistant properties and durability. Limiting the dust released when repairing or replacing old clutch linings is important. If the clutch linings are intact and not damaged in any way, the asbestos fibers shouldn’t be a hazard.

Heat shields

Heat shields help insulate different parts of a car. This helps avoid overheating and prevents heat damage to other parts of the vehicle. Asbestos was used in car heat shields to maintain heat resistance and durability. But asbestos was phased out of the automotive products industry, and new cars are no longer made with heat shields that contain asbestos.

Gaskets

Gaskets in cars seal two parts together to protect them from potential damage and keep them sealed together. They are often made with different materials depending on where they are in the vehicle. Asbestos was commonly used in these car parts to give them strength and heat resistance.

Asbestos has historically been found in various beauty products, consumer goods and household products.

Talcum powder

Since natural asbestos deposits often occur near talc, talcum powder may contain asbestos. Talcum powder can be found in baby powder, body powder and cosmetics because it absorbs moisture. Inhaling asbestos-containing talcum powder may lead to serious medical conditions like mesothelioma. Using it on the genitals may lead to ovarian cancer. In 2024, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared talc as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

Cigarette filters

In the mid-1950s, the P. Lorillard Tobacco Company started advertising a Micronite filter on its KENT cigarette. This filter was made of crocidolite asbestos, which may cause respiratory cancers when inhaled. In 1957, the Lorillard Company changed the cigarette filter to cellulose acetate. This is a synthetic fiber derived from cotton or tree pulp.

Hair tools

Historically, asbestos was used to insulate hairdryers because of its fire-resistant properties. Hairdressers were most at risk for inhaling asbestos fibers daily over long periods of time. This exposure potentially led to serious medical conditions like mesothelioma. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled one-half million asbestos-contaminated hairdryers and styling combs in 1980. Hairdryers no longer contain asbestos.

Home appliances

In the past, asbestos was often used in many different home appliances such as toasters, ovens, stoves, crockpots, refrigerators and other home appliances made before 1980. Asbestos was built into these household products because it has effective insulating properties. Appliances are no longer made with toxic asbestos insulation.

Makeup products

Talc often develops naturally in rock alongside asbestos. For that reason, makeup products that contain talc may also contain traces of asbestos. Cosmetic-grade talc is required to be asbestos-free in the U.S., but the industry hasn’t made sure these products are actually asbestos-free. Products like blush, bronzer, eyeshadow and face powder all have a history of asbestos contamination.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extensively tested cosmetics to detect asbestos. It has also warned consumers about this potential exposure. Claire’s Stores Inc. and Beauty Plus Global Inc. have both had beauty products test positive for asbestos. They both recalled the products in 2019. The popular teen store Justice sold makeup that tested positive for asbestos fibers and soon pulled it from their shelves.

Because it resists heat, asbestos has been used in fireproofing and fire-resistant products.

Asbestos garments

In the past, asbestos was used in various types of protective gear and clothing to protect working individuals from extreme heat. This included products like clothing, fire blankets and gloves. Heat-resistant fabrics were commonly made with asbestos before the public knew of its potential dangers. Garments that repel heat are no longer manufactured with asbestos, thanks to EPA regulations.

Asbestos gloves

Certain protective gloves were once made with asbestos to shield the skin from dangerously high heat. Now, heat-resistant gloves are made with materials not considered carcinogenic to humans. Gloves today may be made with materials like silicone, leather, Kevlar and aluminized fabric.

Asbestos fibers are microscopic and are usually combined with other materials. This makes identifying asbestos-containing materials and products challenging. But you can take a couple of important steps to figure out if a product or material may contain asbestos.

• Find out how old the product is and when it was installed or manufactured. You can then determine if asbestos was commonly used in that product during that specific time period.
• If the product has any manual or documentation, it may have information about what’s actually in the product, like asbestos. You may also be able to contact the manufacturer to gather more information on the specific product.
• Contact a certified asbestos professional to test the product or material to see if asbestos is present.

What products still have asbestos today?

While the use of chrysotile asbestos has been prohibited in the United States, older products may still contain asbestos. Construction and building materials, car parts and some consumer products may still have asbestos in them. Use of these products could lead to asbestos-related diseases as a result of exposure.

What products contain asbestos?

Products that may have contained asbestos in the past include building and construction materials, automotive products, beauty products, household items, consumer goods and fireproofing and fire-resistant products.

Are asbestos products banned?

Asbestos use is restricted in the United States, but it isn’t completely banned. In 2024, the EPA prohibited the ongoing use of chrysotile asbestos, which is the only form of asbestos currently being used in the United States.

Can I remove asbestos products on my own?

No. It’s not recommended to ever remove asbestos products or materials on your own. You should always contact a professional for your own safety and for legal reasons. An asbestos-removal professional can perform tests to see how to best remediate the situation.

Motley Rice attorneys have been involved in asbestos litigation for decades, representing thousands of people harmed by various types of asbestos diseases. Our legal team has uncovered corporate knowledge of asbestos exposure dangers and continues to hold companies accountable for related diagnoses.

We have litigated in complex asbestos cases such as:

• Product liability and secondhand exposure cases involving asbestos-containing materials
• Handling claims from 9/11 responders and volunteers exposed to asbestos and toxins at Ground Zero through the Victim Compensation Fund.
• Negotiating structured settlements with bankrupt asbestos manufacturers
• Filing bankruptcy trust claims for clients harmed by asbestos companies

Read more on our asbestos disease litigation experience.