Asbestos Exposure
Nearly 250,000 people are killed worldwide every year due to asbestos-related illnesses. These include lung cancer and mesothelioma, which often take decades to develop and show symptoms. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, our attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve.
- Content Reviewed by:
- Darron E. Berquist
- Page Last Updated:
- December 1, 2025
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of six silicate minerals known for their strength, flexibility, and resistance to heat, fire, and electricity. These qualities made asbestos valuable for industrial and commercial use.
Asbestos fibers are odorless and invisible to the naked eye.
What Are the Types of Asbestos?
Asbestos types can be divided into two families, based on the type of rock formations from which they are mined: serpentine and amphibole.
What Is the Serpentine Family of Asbestos?
Chrysotile asbestos is the only type in the serpentine family. It is commonly used in the U.S. and accounts for 90-95% of asbestos found in buildings. Chrysotile has a curly structure and is used in products like:
- Asphalt
- Cement
- Gaskets
- Automobile brake components
- Roofing materials
- Rubber
What Is the Amphibole Family of Asbestos?
The amphibole family contains several types of asbestos, known for their needle-like structures. These types are easier to inhale and more hazardous than chrysotile. Key types in this family include:
- Amosite Asbestos: commonly found in cement, gaskets, and insulation
- Crocidolite Asbestos (blue asbestos): used in cement and insulation
- Actinolite Asbestos: a dark-colored asbestos used in some building materials
- Anthophyllite Asbestos: a rare form of asbestos that’s used mainly in cement and insulation materials
What Is Asbestos Exposure and How Does It Occur?
Exposure to asbestos happens when fibers become airborne. Asbestos itself is not harmful as long as it remains undisturbed. However, when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed—during renovations, demolitions, or wear and tear—microscopic fibers are released into the air, where they can be inhaled.
Asbestos exposure can occur from using certain materials and tools in the workplace, homes, and schools built with asbestos-laden products.
Which Occupations Are at Risk of Asbestos Exposure in the Workplace?
Certain occupations were historically at the highest risk of asbestos exposure. Workers in the following industries were most affected.
HVAC Industry Workers
HVAC industry workers can be exposed to asbestos in ductwork, insulation, machine gaskets, and other building components related to HVAC systems. These workers face an increased risk of mesothelioma compared to the general population due to asbestos exposure.
Automobile Mechanics
Automobile mechanics who previously worked on brakes, clutches or transmissions have experienced high-level exposure to asbestos and have since become ill with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.
Construction Workers
Construction workers historically experienced the highest risks during construction of older buildings, renovations and demolitions. These activities can disturb asbestos and release its deadly fibers into the air.
First Responders
Firefighters, police officers, and paramedics face elevated risks due to exposure in collapsed or burned buildings. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), firefighters experience twice the rate of mesothelioma as the general population.
More than 350 firefighters who responded during the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks have been diagnosed with asbestosis, and more than 400 have been diagnosed with other lung conditions that could be related to asbestos in the World Trade Center.
Asbestos on the Job and Secondary Exposure
Many workers who were unaware of their exposure to asbestos brought the hazardous fibers home from work, causing secondary asbestos exposure to their families, which may put even pregnant women at risk. The Lanier Law Firm has successfully represented spouses and children who developed mesothelioma through this type of exposure.
What Products Contain Asbestos?
Asbestos could be found in many everyday products, and its presence is often undetectable without testing. Before the dangers of asbestos were fully recognized, it was commonly used in household appliances, toys, and other consumer goods.
Household Products Containing Asbestos
Before 1980, several household appliances contained asbestos, including:
- Hair Dryers
- Small Kitchen Appliances
- Irons
- Portable Heaters
Important Note: While asbestos was often used in these appliances, it was usually encased within the product. The risk of exposure is low unless the product is disassembled.
Additionally, other products made before 1980 or imported during that time might contain friable asbestos—asbestos that can become airborne easily. These include:
- Chalkboards
- Toys
- Ironing Board Covers
- Duct Tape
- Vintage Fake Snow for Christmas Trees
- Crayons
- Yarn
- Electric Blankets
- Fireproof Products for Wood-Burning Stoves
If you own or handle older versions of these asbestos-containing products, it’s important to be cautious about the potential risks of exposure, especially when these materials are damaged.
What Is Asbestos-Contaminated Talc?
Talc is a soft mineral used in a variety of products, including cosmetics, due to its moisture-wicking properties. Talc mined in certain regions is often contaminated with asbestos, particularly tremolite and anthophyllite.
For many years, Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder contained asbestos-laden talc, which led to a landmark case in 2020, resulting in a $4.69 billion verdict for 22 women who developed ovarian cancer linked to talc use. Although Johnson & Johnson has since stopped using talc in their products in the U.S., the issue remains significant.
Talc is also found in powdered makeup products, such as:
- Facial Powder
- Eyeshadow
- Powdered Blush
The cosmetic industry is mostly self-regulated, with limited oversight from the FDA. Despite the illegal distribution of asbestos-containing talcum powder products, some cosmetics companies conduct voluntary tests, which often prove inaccurate. A study by the Environmental Working Group found asbestos in three out of 21 cosmetic products tested, including a children’s product.
How Does Asbestos Exposure Occur in Homes and Schools?
Exposure in schools and homes occurs when materials containing asbestos are disturbed. This can expose students, teachers, staff, and homeowners to asbestos. Residential buildings and schools built before 1975 are most likely to contain asbestos materials. Common asbestos-laden materials found in these buildings include:
- Insulation around pipes, furnaces, and boilers
- Floor tiles and ceiling tiles
- Textured paints and wall patching compounds
- Roofing shingles and siding materials
- Caulking and joint compound
Asbestos Exposure in the Military: How Does It Happen?
Military personnel, especially veterans, have historically faced the highest levels of asbestos exposure. Asbestos was used extensively in military equipment and barracks construction. Military veterans, particularly those in the U.S. Navy, were often exposed while working with ships, engines, and boiler rooms. Asbestos exposure in military service continues today, with veterans accounting for a significant portion of mesothelioma cases.
What Are the Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure?
Exposure to asbestos can cause various types of cancer and serious health conditions, often 10 to 40 years after initial exposure due to their long latency periods. These include:
- Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer affecting the mesothelium, the lining of the lungs and abdomen.
- Lung Cancer: Studies show that asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer, especially when combined with smoking.
- Asbestosis: A condition caused by scarring of the lungs, leading to difficulty breathing. Asbestosis is often, but not always, a precursor to lung cancer.
- Ovarian Cancer: Linked to the use of asbestos-laden talcum powder in feminine hygiene products. Studies show that women who use these types of products are 30 percent more likely to develop ovarian cancer compared to those who do not use them.
Which Asbestos Laws and Regulations Help Protect the Public?
Several laws and regulations have been established to protect the public from the dangers of asbestos exposure. These laws aim to limit the use of asbestos, and enforce safe handling practices. Key asbestos laws and regulations include:
- The Toxic Substances Control Act: Enacted in 1976, TSCA gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to regulate asbestos and other toxic substances. The EPA has restricted the use of asbestos in many products, and in 2024, they implemented a ban on the use of chrysotile asbestos in the U.S. The EPA is pushing towards a total ban on asbestos, but this has been an uphill battle due to intense opposition from asbestos companies.
- The Clean Air Act: This law requires the EPA to regulate air toxins, including asbestos, and set emission standards for asbestos fibers. It mandates that any renovation or demolition projects involving asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) follow strict procedures to control emissions and minimize exposure to workers and the public.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations: The primary responsibility of OSHA is to enforce federal employer safety standards. OSHA enforces asbestos safety regulations in shipyards, construction and general industries to protect workers from occupational exposure to asbestos.
- The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations: The CPSC ensures consumer products meet safety standards. The agency has the authority to regulate asbestos in consumer products and to implement outright bans on such products. For example, the CPSC has banned the use of artificial fireplace embers made of asbestos due to their friability.
How Can You Claim Compensation for Asbestos Exposure?
To claim compensation for asbestos exposure you must have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. Diagnosed asbestos exposure victims have three potential pathways to recovering compensation. In many cases, victims can recover compensation through more than one of these methods:
- Personal injury lawsuits for asbestos exposure
- Asbestos claims after death or wrongful death lawsuits
- Asbestos trust fund claims
- Asbestos exposure VA claims
- Survivors’ benefits
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, contact The Lanier Law Firm. Our talented asbestos exposure lawyers are here to fight for you and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Darron E. Berquist specializes in asbestos exposure and product liability. He was part of the team that secured a $4.69 billion jury verdict in Ingham v. Johnson & Johnson, linking asbestos in talcum powder to ovarian cancer. Recognized by Best Lawyers for Mass Tort and Product Liability Litigation (2024-2025).
Asbestos Exposure FAQs
How Much Asbestos Exposure Is Dangerous?
No level of asbestos exposure is deemed safe. Products that contain more than 1% asbestos minerals are classified as asbestos-containing products. The more exposure an individual has, the higher their risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.
How Much Asbestos Exposure Causes Mesothelioma?
The American Cancer Society has observed a loose association between the level of asbestos exposure and the risk of developing mesothelioma. According to the findings, the highest risk comes from high levels of asbestos exposure at an early age over an extended period. Most cases of pleural mesothelioma have been linked to high levels of exposure.
OSHA limits the amount of asbestos a worker can be exposed to during an eight-hour workday to 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter. While this may seem trivial, OSHA acknowledges that every exposure can cause mesothelioma.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Asbestos-Related Illnesses?
Asbestos exposure symptoms vary depending on the developed illness, and may include: shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, weight loss, coughing, and difficulty swallowing, among others.
