Asbestos in California: Exposure Risks, Laws, and Regulations
- Legally Reviewed By:
- Case A. Dam
- Page Last Updated:
- April 2, 2026
Asbestos exposure remains a significant hazard in California, as it was widely used for decades in construction and industrial materials, even as surfacing on playgrounds. Over 27,000 people died from asbestos-related conditions in California from 1999 to 2017, including diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
Asbestos Exposure Risks of Asbestos in California
Asbestos exposure in California can happen anywhere, from your home to your workplace to your child’s school building. Thanks to natural disasters and other disturbances, it’s even possible to be exposed to asbestos through the environment.
Occupational: Which California Companies Exposed Workers to Asbestos?
California workers experienced occupational asbestos exposure with virtually no protection from the early 1900s until as recently as the 1970s. Even after asbestos became regulated, workers in many industries have continued to face significant asbestos exposure.
California companies known to have exposed workers to asbestos include the following:
Manufacturing
- Alcoa in Vernon
- CertainTeed in Richmond and Riverside
- Dow Chemical in Pittsburg
- E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company in Antioch
- Firestone in Los Angeles
- Harvey Aluminum/Martin Marietta in Torrance (Harbor Gateway)
- Johns Manville in Stockton
- Kaiser Aluminum in Foothill Ranch
- Kimberly-Clark in Fullerton
- Lockheed Corporation in Burbank
- McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach
- Shell Oil Company/The Dexter Corporation in Pittsburg
- US Pipe & Foundry in Union City
Oil Refineries
- Atlantic Richfield Company in Carson
- Caminol Oil/Beacon Oil in Hanford
- Champlin Petroleum Company in Wilmington
- Edgington Oil/Signal Oil & Gas/Kern Oil in Bakersfield and Long Beach
- Exxon in Benicia
- Gulf Oil in Hercules and Santa Fe Springs
- Mobil Oil in Torrance
- Mohawk Petroleum/Reserve Oil/Getty Oil in Bakersfield
- Powerine Oil in Santa Fe Springs
- San Joaquin Refining Co. in Bakersfield
- Shell Oil Company in Martinez
- Shell Oil Company, Wilmington/Dominguez Facility, in Carson
- Standard Oil Company/Chevron Corporation in Bakersfield, El Segundo, and Richmond
- Unocal in Rodeo
Shipyards/Military
- Bethlehem Shipbuilding in San Pedro
- Camp Pendleton in Oceanside
- Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco
- Long Beach Naval Shipyard in Long Beach
- Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Mare Island
- National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO)/General Dynamics in San Diego
- Naval Air Station Alameda in Alameda County
- San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard in San Francisco
- Todd Pacific Shipyards in San Pedro
Mines
- Coalinga asbestos mines in Fresno County
- Calaveras asbestos mine in Calaveras County
- Panamint talc mine in Inyo County
- Grantham talc mine in Inyo County
- Galena Canyon talc mine in Inyo County
Railroads
- Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in Barstow and San Bernardino
- Southern Pacific Railroad in Glendale, West Oakland, Roseville, and Sacramento
Power Generation
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company in Antioch
- Southern California Edison in Huntington Beach
Residential: How Are People Exposed to Asbestos in California Homes?
The construction industry widely used asbestos-containing materials for much of the 20th century, including in California. Some common home-building components, such as roofing shingles and flooring tiles, may still contain asbestos, especially in older buildings.
Other household materials that may contain asbestos include the following:
- Insulation, particularly in houses built between 1930 and 1950
- Piping
- Furnaces that use coal or oil
- Vinyl flooring
- Pre-70’s textured paints
- Artificial fireplace materials
- Protective materials near wood-burning stoves
Can a Homeowner Remove Asbestos in California?
If you believe you have asbestos in your home, you shouldn’t try to remove it yourself. While you can legally remove asbestos from a single-family home that you own and reside in, it’s unsafe to move without professional assistance. In most situations, you’ll need to hire a contractor certified to safely remove asbestos in California.
In some cases, it might be safest to leave asbestos-containing materials where they are, as you’re only exposed to fibers when the materials are disturbed. A professional inspection can help you determine whether it’s best to repair, seal off, or fully remove any asbestos in your home. To learn more or get started on an asbestos removal project, you can contact the South Coast Air Quality Management District online here.
Asbestos Exposure Risks in California Schools and Playgrounds
Many older schools used the same asbestos-containing construction materials as other buildings, and may still have asbestos in flooring, insulation, and other components to this day.
Additionally, a small number of California schools may have exposed children to asbestos through serpentine rock materials used on playgrounds and other surfaces. Serpentine and its parent material, ultramafic rock, often contains asbestos.
The California Air Resources Board issued advisories to schools in 1990 and 1999 over the use of serpentine rock as surfacing material on unpaved playgrounds, parking areas, roads, and more. It is a glassy-textured crushed gravel, usually dark green in color.
California Environmental Asbestos Exposure
Naturally occurring asbestos can be found in 42 of California’s 58 counties, most prevalently in Humboldt, San Benito, El Dorado, and Monterey counties. After asbestos was determined to be an air contaminant, concerns about public exposure in western El Dorado County led to new state environmental safety regulations for construction and mining in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Notable locations that pose a risk of asbestos exposure in California include the following:
- The Clear Creek Management Area in San Benito and Fresno counties, a popular recreational area, is home to the largest known body of naturally occurring chrysotile asbestos in California.
- There are dozens of mostly abandoned asbestos mine sites in the Death Valley region, including parts of Inyo and San Bernardino counties.
- The Coalinga asbestos district in San Benito and Fresno counties was home to the last operational asbestos mine in the U.S., which closed in 2002.
California Veteran Asbestos Exposure
Military service members stationed in California often encountered asbestos-containing materials at bases and shipyards. The military used asbestos in countless applications, from brake pads and bunkers to insulating components within vessels, putting certain veterans at high risk for developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.
Military facilities in California where asbestos exposure occurred include the following:
- Naval Air Station Alameda has dozens of areas on or near the site contaminated with a variety of chemicals and toxic substances, including asbestos.
- Mare Island Naval Shipyard was heavily involved in shipbuilding and repair operations for more than a century, exposing many workers to asbestos through boilers, gaskets, insulation, and other common ship components.
- George Air Force Base in Victorville was the site of extensive cleanup efforts by the EPA involving asbestos and a wide range of other contaminants.
Asbestos Exposure from California Wildfires
Wildfires can disturb asbestos-containing materials and release deadly fibers into the air, further endangering California residents. Those returning home after a wildfire may be at risk of asbestos exposure from older materials damaged by the flames. Therefore, both homeowners and cleanup crews need to take proper precautions.
If your home was damaged in a wildfire, government agencies like the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can help provide cleanup services to remove contaminated debris.
Laws and Regulations Governing Asbestos Exposure in California
Landmark federal asbestos laws and regulations, such as the Clean Air Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act, help regulate exposure in California. Under an EPA rule finalized in March 2024, all uses of chrysotile asbestos are currently banned in California and nationwide.
California state laws set strict safety standards for asbestos handling, abatement, and disposal.
California Occupational Safety and Health Administration
California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, enforces multiple regulations regarding asbestos exposure, including a general industry standard and individual rules for construction and shipbuilding. Each set of standards includes rules for the following:
- Ensuring workers don’t exceed the maximum permissible limits of asbestos exposure
- When employers must provide respiratory protection and other safety equipment, and when workers must use them
- How employers are responsible for disclosing and warning of hazards in the workplace
- How to manage and minimize contamination, including best practices for employee hygiene
- Monitoring exposure and ensuring that employers are complying with regulations
- Other safety standards
Cal/OSHA also sets rules for the handling of non-asbestiform tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite, minerals that are less dangerous than asbestos but still pose some health hazards.
Legal Help for Asbestos Victims in California
The Lanier Law Firm is nationally recognized as a leader in mesothelioma litigation with a reputation for securing significant compensation for those who need it most. Our award-winning legal team has been fighting for asbestos exposure victims since 1990, recovering billions of dollars for our clients in asbestos and mesothelioma case results.
We’re committed to providing top-notch legal care, ensuring our clients receive sound representation and compassionate service throughout the legal process. Our California mesothelioma lawyers have an office in Los Angeles and can travel to meet with you if necessary.
There are no upfront costs to work with us, and you won’t pay us anything unless you win your case. Contact us online or call (800) 723-3216 today to schedule a free consultation with our trusted team.
Case A. Dam is dedicated to asbestos exposure, representing clients with mesothelioma, asbestosis, and related cancers. He has served veterans, automotive mechanics, and workers in various industries. Recognized in the 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, among others.
