Asbestos

The majority of health impacts may occur many years after initial exposure. The most common are:

• Asbestosis: a lung disease in which tissue scarring makes breathing difficult⁵
• Mesothelioma: cancer of the lining of the lungs, which is almost exclusively associated with asbestos exposure⁶

Symptoms, which may not appear for 10 to 20 years after initial exposure, can include:⁷

• Shortness of breath
• A persistent and productive cough
• Tightness in chest
• Chest pain

Evidence links asbestos to the following diseases. Unless noted otherwise, information is from CHE's Toxicant and Disease Database. Though the database was last updated in 2016, it remains a valuable resource:⁸

A 2018 study found that asbestos caused an estimated 255,000 deaths per year. There is a direct correlation between the amount of asbestos produced and deaths: “Every 20 tons of asbestos produced and consumed kills a person somewhere in the world.” Despite decreased use in recent years, the deaths from asbestos were still increasing at the time of the study. Asbestos will continue to cause negative outcomes 30-50 years after exposures occur.⁹

Children exposed to asbestos are at a higher risk of developing asbestos-related diseases due primarily to their longer expected lifespan after exposure.

Individuals with existing lung disease and cigarette smokers are at increased risk from asbestos exposure. Exposure to cigarette smoke combined with exposure to asbestos leads to a greatly increased risk of lung cancer.¹⁰

Workers in many occupations are at risk of asbestos exposure. According to the latest WHO estimates, occupational exposure to asbestos is responsible for over 200,000 global deaths annually. This represents over 70% of work-related cancer deaths.¹¹ Occupations that can lead to exposure include construction, the mining and processing of asbestos, and the production and use of asbestos-containing products, including brake shoes, brake pads, vehicle clutches, and building materials such as roof tiles. 

Workers can also be exposed during building maintenance and demolition. Damage to buildings because of natural disasters is also a source of exposure because of the historical use of asbestos-containing building materials. In addition, because cosmetic talcum powder can be a source of asbestos exposure, occupations such as hairdressing, nursing, or day care (diapering) can be a risk.¹²

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 15th Report on Carcinogens:¹³ “Asbestos is released to the environment from both natural and anthropogenic (human-caused) sources and has been detected in indoor and outdoor air, soil, drinking water, food, and medicines. Because asbestos products were used so widely, the entire US population potentially is exposed to some degree; however, the potential for exposure continues to decline because asbestos mining has stopped and because asbestos products are being eliminated from the market.” 

Typical sources of exposure include:

• Building materials¹⁴
• Work environments such as:¹⁵
  • Asbestos product manufacturing
  • Mining
  • Automotive repair
  • Building construction
  • Power plants
  • Steel mills
  • Maritime operations
  • Offshore rust removals
  • Sand or abrasive manufacturing
  • Occupations involving the use of cosmetic talcum powder, potentially including hairdressing, nursing, or day care (diapering).

Inhalation is the primary route of exposure to asbestos. There is some evidence that ingested asbestos could increase the risk of GI cancers. Absorption through skin is minimal, but residues on skin can be ingested or inhaled.¹⁶

Asbestos fibers can be carried home to family members by people who are exposed at work. Unless asbestos fibers are carefully cleaned from skin, clothes, and hair before leaving the workplace, family members may be exposed through contact with the worker. Family members can also be exposed through contact with furniture, automobile interiors, and other items shared with workers.

Cosmetic talcum powder (talc) has been shown to be an important and under-recognized source of asbestos exposure. Mineral deposits of talc often contain veins of asbestos. As a result, asbestos is often a component of cosmetic talcum powder. Some studies have identified individuals with confirmed diagnoses of malignant mesothelioma following repeated exposure to talc.¹⁷ There are also concerns that talc use could be associated with ovarian cancer.¹⁸

Banning asbestos production and use is the best way to prevent and reduce exposures. As of 2024, asbestos has been banned in 72 countries.²⁰ Safer products are replacing those made with asbestos.²¹

Unfortunately, asbestos has been so widely used that its effects will still be a concern for decades. In the United States, between 1990 and 2019, the number of deaths attributable to occupational exposure to asbestos increased from 33,927 to 40,764.²²

Safe work practices are critical to reducing exposure to asbestos for both workers and their families. EPA outlines proper cleaning procedures which explicitly explain the safest way to clean the work environment after working with asbestos. Proper training of all those working with asbestos is critical, as being educated on safe practices helps reduce the risk of accidental exposure.²³

Proper protective clothing and equipment are critical to reducing the inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure to asbestos. Disposable coveralls and head and foot covers made of a special synthetic fabric stop asbestos from passing through.²⁴

Because smoking cigarettes multiples the risk of harm from asbestos exposure, those who are exposed can stop smoking.²⁵

Tampering with products containing asbestos, such as remodeling a home, can lead to exposure to harmful fibers. Home and building remodelers should consult trained professionals who can determine if asbestos is present before work begins and can then safely remove it if needed.²⁶