and Answers About
1. What is asbestos?
is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong,
flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. These fibers are not
affected by heat or chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos
has been widely used in many industries. Four types of asbestos have been commonly used
white asbestos (curly, flexible white fibers), which accounts for about 90 percent of the
asbestos currently being used in the industry;
(straight, brittle fibers that are light gray to pale brown in color);
blue asbestos (straight blue fibers); and
(brittle white fibers).
asbestos, with its curly fibers, is in the serpentine family of minerals. The other types
of asbestos, which all have needle-like fibers, are known as amphiboles.
Asbestos fiber masses tend to break easily
into a dust composed of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick to clothes. The
fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems.
2. How is asbestos used?
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially
in North America since the late 1800s, but its use increased greatly during World War II.
Since then, it has been used in many industries. For example, the building and
construction industry uses it for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for
insulation, fireproofing, and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry has used
asbestos to insulate boilers, steam pipes, hot water pipes, and nuclear reactors in ships.
The automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brake shoes and clutch pads. More than
5,000 products contain or have contained asbestos, some of which are listed below
Asbestos cement sheet and pipe products used
for water supply and sewage piping, roofing and siding, casings for electrical wires, fire
protection material, chemical tanks, electrical switchboards and components, and
residential and industrial building materials;
Friction products, such as clutch facings;
brake linings for automobiles, railroad cars, and airplanes; and industrial friction
Products containing asbestos paper, such as
table pads and heat-protective mats, heat and electrical wire insulation, industrial
filters for beverages, small appliance components, and underlying material for sheet
Asbestos textile products, such as packing
components, roofing materials, heat and fire resistant clothing, and fireproof draperies;
Other products, including ceiling and floor
tile; gaskets and packings; paints, coatings and sealants; caulking and patching tape; and
late 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in
wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because these products released excessive
amounts of asbestos fibers into the environment. In addition, asbestos was voluntarily
withdrawn by manufacturers of electric hair dryers. These and other regulatory actions,
coupled with widespread public concern about the hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a
significant annual decline in U.S. use of asbestos Domestic use of asbestos amounted to
about 560,000 metric tons in 1979, but it had dropped to about 55,000 metric tons by 1989.
are the health hazards of exposure to asbestos?
asbestos may increase the risk of several serious diseases
Asbestosis is a
chronic lung ailment that can produce shortness of breath and permanent lung damage and
increase the risk of dangerous lung infections;
a rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen; and
such as those of the larynx and of the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Who is
Since the early
1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust, including many of
the 4.5 million men and women who worked in shipyards during the peak shipbuilding years
of World War II. Health hazards from asbestos dust have been recognized in workers exposed
in shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles
and other asbestos products, insulation work in the construction and building trades,
brake repair, and a variety of other trades. Demolition workers, drywall removers, and
firefighters also may be exposed to asbestos dust. As a result of Government regulations
and improved work practices, today's workers (those without previous exposure) are likely
to face smaller risks than did those exposed in the past.
Although it is known that the risk to workers
increases with heavier exposure and longer exposure time, investigators have found
asbestos-related diseases in some shipyard workers exposed to high levels of asbestos
fibers for only brief periods (as little as 1 or 2 months). Even workers who may not have
worked directly with asbestos but whose jobs were located near contaminated areas have
developed asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other cancers associated with asbestos exposure.
Generally, workers who develop
asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness until many years after first exposure.
For example, the time between first exposure to asbestos and the appearance of lung cancer
is generally 15 years or more; a lag of 30 to 35 years is not unusual. The lag period for
development of mesothelioma and asbestosis is even greater, often as long as 40 to 45
There is also some evidence that family
members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos face an increased risk of developing
mesothelioma and perhaps other asbestos-related diseases. This risk is thought to result
from exposure to asbestos dust brought into the home on the shoes, clothing, skin, and
hair of workers.
5. How great is the risk?
Not all workers exposed to asbestos will
develop diseases related to their exposure. In fact, many will experience no ill effects.
Asbestos that is bonded into finished
products such as walls, tiles, and pipes poses no risk to health as long as it is not
damaged or disturbed (for example, by sawing or drilling) in such a way as to release
fibers into the air. When asbestos particles are set free and inhaled, however, exposed
individuals are at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Once these nearly
indestructible fibers work their way into body tissues, they tend to stay there
The risk of developing asbestos-related
diseases varies with the type of industry in which the exposure occurred and with the
extent of the exposure. In addition, different types of asbestos fibers may be associated
with different health risks. For example, results of several studies suggest that
crocidolite and amosite are more likely than chrysotile to cause lung cancer, asbestosis,
and, in particular, mesothelioma. Even so, no fiber type can be considered harmless, and
proper safety precautions should always be taken by people working with asbestos.
6. How does smoking affect risk?
Many studies have shown that the combination
of smoking and asbestos exposure is particularly hazardous. Cigarette smokers, on the
average, are 10 times as likely to develop lung cancer as are nonsmokers. For nonsmokers
who work with asbestos, the risk is about five times greater than for those in the general
population. By contrast, smokers who also are heavily exposed to asbestos are as much as
90 times more likely to develop lung cancer than are non-exposed individuals who do not
smoke. Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma, however.
There is evidence that quitting smoking will
reduce the risk of lung cancer among asbestos-exposed workers, perhaps by as much as half
or more after at least 5 years without smoking. People who were exposed to asbestos on the
job at any time during their life or who suspect they may have been exposed should not
smoke. If they smoke, they should stop.
7. Who needs to be examined?
Individuals who have been exposed (or suspect
they have been exposed) to asbestos dust on the job or at home via a family contact should
inform their physician of their exposure history and any symptoms. A thorough physical
examination, including a chest x-ray and lung function tests, may be recommended.
Interpretation of the chest x-ray may require the help of a specialist who is experienced
in reading x-rays for asbestos-related diseases. Other tests also may be necessary.
earlier, the symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may not become apparent for many
decades after exposure. If any of the following symptoms develop, a physical examination
should be scheduled without delay
A cough or
change in cough pattern
Blood in the
sputum (fluid) coughed up from the lungs;
Pain in the
chest or abdomen
swallowing or prolonged hoarsness; and/or
are the treatments for asbestos-related diseases?
The key to successful treatment of
asbestos-related diseases lies in early detection. The health problems caused by
asbestosis are due mainly to lung infections, like pneumonia, that attack weakened lungs.
Early medical attention and prompt, aggressive treatment offer the best chance of success
in controlling such infections. Depending on the situation, doctors may give a vaccine
against influenza or pneumococcal pneumonia as a protective measure.
Treatment of cancer is tailored to the
individual patient and may include surgery, anticancer drugs, radiation, or combinations
of these therapies. Information about cancer treatment is available from the National
Cancer Institute-supported Cancer Information Service, whose toll-free telephone number is
9. How can workers protect
Employers are required to follow regulations
dealing with asbestos exposure on the job that have been issued by the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA), the Federal agency responsible for health and safety
regulations in the workplace. Regulations related to mine safety are enforced by the Mine
Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Workers should use all protective equipment
provided by their employers and follow recommended work practices and safety procedures.
Workers who are or who have been exposed to asbestos should not smoke cigarettes.
Workers who are concerned about asbestos
exposure in the workplace should discuss the situation with other employees, their union,
and their employers. If necessary, OSHA can provide more information or make an
inspection. Area offices of OSHA are listed in the "United States Government"
section of telephone directories' blue pages (under "Department of Labor"). If
no listing is found, workers may call or write to one of the OSHA regional offices listed
on page 9. Mine workers may contact MSHA's Office of Standards, Variances, and Regulation
at Room 627, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203; the telephone number is
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) is another Federal agency that is concerned with asbestos
exposure in the workplace. The Institute conducts asbestos-related research, evaluates
work sites for possible health hazards, and makes safety recommendations. In addition,
NIOSH distributes publications on the health effects of asbestos exposure and can suggest
additional sources of information. The address is Office of Information, National
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway/Mailstop C-19,
Cincinnati, OH 45226. The toll-free telephone number is 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674).
What should people who have been exposed to asbestos do? It is important for exposed
the Government provide examinations and treatment or pay for such services? What about
Medical services related to asbestos exposure
are available through the Government only for certain groups of eligible individuals. In
general, exposed individuals must pay for their own medical services unless they are
covered by private or Government health insurance. Medicare may reimburse people with
symptoms of asbestos-related diseases for the costs of diagnosis and treatment (following
review of medical procedures for appropriateness). General and specific information about
benefits is available from the Medicare office serving each state; for the telephone
number of the nearest office, call 1-800-772-1213 toll-free.
People with asbestos-related diseases also
may qualify for financial help, including medical payments, under state workers'
compensation laws. Because eligibility requirements vary from state to state, workers
should contact the workers' compensation program in the state where the last exposure
occurred. (The telephone number may be found in the blue pages of a local telephone
If exposure occurred during employment with a
Federal agency (military or civilian), medical expenses and other compensation may be
covered by the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. Workers who are or were employed in a
shipyard by a private employer may be covered under the Longshoremen and Harbor Workers'
Compensation Act. Information about eligibility or how to file a claim is available from
the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Room S-3229, 200
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; the telephone number is 202-219-7552.
Workers also may wish to contact their international union for information on other
sources of medical help and insurance matters.
Retired military personnel and their eligible
dependents may receive health care at any Department of Defense medical facility,
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, or Public Health Service hospital. Where no
Federal facility is available, civilian facilities may be used under the Civilian Health
and Medical Program for the Uniformed Services. Those over age 65 may be covered by
Medicare. Former members of the military who believe they may have a service-related
medical problem may inquire about care at a VA facility or telephone the local VA office.
12. Is there a danger of
nonoccupational exposure from products contaminated with asbestos particles?
Asbestos is so widely used that the entire
population has been exposed to some degree. Air, beverages, drinking water, food, drug and
dental preparations, and a variety of consumer products all may contain small amounts of
asbestos. In addition, asbestos fibers are released into the environment from natural
deposits in the earth and as a result of wear and deterioration of asbestos products.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) regulates the general public's exposure to asbestos in buildings, drinking water,
and the environment. The EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Assistance Office can
answer questions about toxic substances, including asbestos. Printed material is available
on a number of topics, particularly on controlling asbestos exposure in schools and other
buildings. The TSCA office can provide information about accredited laboratories for
asbestos testing and can refer inquirers to other resources on asbestos. Questions may be
directed to the TSCA Assistance Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street
SW/Mailcode 7408, Washington, DC 20024; the telephone number is 202-554-1404.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
is responsible for the regulation of asbestos in consumer products. The CPSC maintains a
toll-free information line on the potential hazards of commercial products; the telephone
number is 1-800-638-2772. In addition, CPSC provides information about laboratories for
asbestos testing, guidelines for repairing and removing asbestos, and general information
about asbestos in the home. Publications are available from the Office of Public Affairs,
Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20816; the
telephone number is 301-504-0580.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is
concerned with asbestos contamination of foods, drugs, and cosmetics and will answer
questions on these topics. The address is Office of Consumer Affairs, Food and Drug
Administration, HFE-88, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857; the telephone number is
What other organizations offer information related to asbestos exposure?
The American Lung
Association and the American Cancer Society can provide information about lung disease,
cancer, and smoking. Local chapters of these organizations are listed in telephone
Canada Contact the Canadian Cancer Society. Ministry or Department of Labour or Ministry
of Health in each Province.