Asbestos is a natural mineral fiber that works well in many manufactured goods. Manufacturers have used it for construction, automotive parts, and textiles for years. But is it dangerous? Is there a risk of poisoning? Today we’re going over asbestos, what it is, what it looks like, and how to reduce your exposure.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a natural fiber occurring in rocks and soil. These naturally occurring silicate minerals are made up of thin, microscopic fibers. The mineral fibers are resistant to chemicals, electricity, and heat, making them a popular addition to various products.
What does it look like?
In its natural ore state, unprocessed asbestos comes in various colors, including white, green, blue, and brown. It often has a silky or fibrous texture, resembling a bundle of fine, tightly packed threads or strands.
Manufacturers process the ore, which breaks it down into spongy fibers. These fibers are usually combined with materials like plastic and cement. When embedded in building materials, asbestos has no distinct smell and is virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding material to the untrained eye. They are not always easy to identify by eye, but if a material with asbestos is damaged, you can see the small fibers.
What products have asbestos?
Manufacturers use asbestos for household construction pieces and automotive parts. Some common places it’s found are:
- In attic and wall insulation
- Roofing and siding shingles
- Textured paint and patching compounds for walls and ceilings
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives
- Around hot water and steam pipes
- Car brakes and clutches
Is it still used in homes?
Asbestos was heavily used in building houses from the 1940s through the 1970s during the post-World War II housing boom, when the demand for fast, inexpensive construction was at an all-time high. Builders used it a lot because of its effective and inexpensive fire-retardant material, and its heat and sound-resistant qualities.
As research throughout the 1960s and 1970s began linking asbestos exposure to serious lung disease, public concern grew, and regulators took notice. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began restricting certain asbestos-containing products in the late 1970s, and in 1989 attempted a near-total ban. However, that ban was largely overturned in court in 1991, leaving many uses still legal. It wasn’t until 2024 that the EPA finalized a rule banning chrysotile asbestos — the last remaining form actively imported and used in the United States.
Despite decades of restrictions, asbestos was never fully eliminated from the marketplace. Older homes built before 1980 are most likely to contain asbestos-containing materials, and those materials can still be present and largely undisturbed today. New residential construction no longer uses asbestos, but some imported goods and legacy industrial products may still contain trace amounts. This is why older homes undergoing renovation or demolition carry a particular risk — materials that have been safely sealed away for decades can suddenly release fibers once disturbed.
Why is asbestos considered dangerous?
It can break down into microscopic thin fibers. After they are initially disturbed, these tiny fibers can remain airborne for days. This can be dangerous if someone inhales them into their lungs. Unlike many other airborne particles, asbestos fibers are sharp, rigid, and needle-like. When inhaled, they can penetrate into the lung tissue, where they become permanently lodged. The human body has no effective way to break them down or expel them.
Exposure is also cumulative, meaning the risk increases with the amount and frequency of exposure over time. There is no known “safe” level of asbestos exposure, and damage can occur gradually without any immediate warning signs. This makes it especially dangerous in occupational settings, such as construction, shipbuilding, or insulation work, where workers may be exposed repeatedly over many years.
That’s why working with the proper protective equipment is so important in these industries. Exposure without personal protection— like in the event of a damaged wall in a home or office— may be dangerous.
Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestosis is a condition that affects the lungs of someone who has breathed in asbestos fibers regularly. This condition doesn’t usually occur until years after inhaling this substance.
Symptoms include:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Permanent lung damage
- Crackling sounds when you inhale
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Fingernails and toenails that look oddly wide or round
What other health issues can asbestos cause?
Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause a series of health problems. It increases the risk of asbestosis, mesothelioma, and cancers such as lung cancer. Smokers are at a higher risk because cigarette smoke irritates the lung passages, making it harder for the lungs to remove these fibers. Limited research shows a possible risk that asbestos causes digestive system cancer, including colon cancer.
How do health professionals screen for asbestos-related diseases?
Symptoms are barely noticeable in the early stages of development. But if someone has a history of heavy asbestos exposure, visiting a health care professional to screen for asbestos-related diseases could be life-saving. Usually, doctors will use a combination of tests to help find potential problems before symptoms can occur.
Can you avoid exposure?
Asbestos is in the air, water, and soil and is so common that everyone has been around it at one point or another. Yet, exposure to low levels is unlikely to make you sick. The chances of forming a disease related to this substance are low unless you work directly with it on a regular basis.
Since the 1970s, the U.S. government has controlled the use of asbestos. We no longer mine or process it in this country, yet it is still in somevinyl floor tiles, clothes, cement pipes, and brake pads. So, demolishing or remodeling an older home or building can cause these fibers to fill the air.
What to Do if Asbestos Is in Your Home
In most cases, material containing asbestos in good condition will not release fibers into the air. Disturbing the material may cause a health hazard that didn’t exist before. So, the best thing to do is leave the material alone.
But what if you find damage to a piece of material that you believe contains asbestos? Reduce your exposure with the following list:
1. Isolate the Area
Keep yourself and others safe in the house by blocking off the entrance to the affected area. Even if you are not sure it’s asbestos material, it’s better to have it checked by a professional to be sure. Don’t go into the area without personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE includes gloves, goggles, protective clothing, and respiratory protection.
2. Call a Professional For An Inspection
Have a professional assess the area to find out if asbestos is present. An inspector will examine the area and carefully collect and analyze samples. They will create a written evaluation that will describe the location of the material, the extent of damage and give recommendations for prevention or correction. After the inspector creates the report, a homeowner can contact an asbestos abatement contractor to help form a clean-up plan.
3. Contact an Asbestos Abatement Contractor
An abatement contractor will help create a plan to clean up the damaged area according to your area’s federal, state, and local regulations. If you don’t know these regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s regional office will have more information about these regulations.
4. Cleaning Your House After
If there is asbestos exposure in your house, make sure to follow the instructions outlined by a professional before performing any cleanup. Do not carry contaminated clothing or other materials to other parts of the house where your family members are. Seal the area as best as you can to keep family members from entering. Do not dust, sweep, or vacuum material that may contain this substance. This can release the fibers into the air. Take steps outlined by the professional contractor or your state or local health department to reduce the risk of exposure to yourself and your family.
Call The Missouri Poison Center – We’re Here To Answer Poisoning Questions!
Do you have more questions about the risks and symptoms of asbestos exposure? Don’t hesitate to give us a call! At the Missouri Poison Center, registered nurses and pharmacists are here 24/7 to provide you with poison and toxicology advice.
Don’t wait. Call now at 1-800-222-1222. Or, get our app and have poison advice with you wherever you go, ready for any emergency poison exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Asbestos fibers can remain suspended in the air for hours to days after being disturbed, depending on airflow, ventilation, and the size of the particles. Because these fibers are extremely small and lightweight, they do not settle quickly and can be easily inhaled long after the initial disturbance. This is why even brief or indirect exposure in a contaminated area may still pose a risk.
It is generally not safe to remove asbestos yourself. Disturbing asbestos-containing materials without proper training and equipment can release dangerous fibers into the air, increasing the risk of inhalation. Professional abatement contractors are trained to handle these materials safely and follow strict regulations to minimize exposure, making them the safest option for removal.
Professionals use a process called asbestos abatement, which involves sealing off the work area, using specialized filtration systems, and wearing protective equipment to prevent fiber release and exposure. Materials containing asbestos are carefully removed, contained, and disposed of according to federal, state, and local regulations. This controlled approach helps protect both the workers and the occupants of the home.
Before starting any renovation in an older home, it’s important to have the area inspected for asbestos by a qualified professional. Testing can identify hidden materials that may release fibers if disturbed during construction.
Yes, drilling, sanding, cutting, or otherwise damaging materials that contain asbestos can release fibers into the air. These activities break apart the material and allow microscopic fibers to become airborne, where they may be inhaled. Even small or short-term projects can create a risk if asbestos is present and proper precautions are not taken.
In most cases, a single or low-level exposure does not require immediate medical treatment, especially if no symptoms are present. However, if you believe you’ve had significant or repeated exposure, or if you develop symptoms like a persistent cough or shortness of breath, it’s a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional.
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Missouri Poison Center Trending Topics Blog. (2022, March 30). What Is Asbestos? Signs of Exposure. Missouri Poison Center. https://missouripoisoncenter.org/asbestos-in-your-house-signs-symptoms-2/