Asbestos | The History, Types, and Exposure Risks

Types of Asbestos

The use of asbestos was common in the United States until the 1970′s. During this time regulations were made to help protect people from developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.

Some parts of the world still use asbestos because it is cheap and convenient for manufacturing. Asbestos can still be found today and there are several other minerals which also pose a threat to those who breathe in their fibers.

Serpentine vs. Amphibole Asbestos

There are two different kinds of equally dangerous asbestos fibers: serpentine and amphibole.

Serpentine fibers are long and curly. These types of asbestos fibers are sometimes easier for the body to flush out. The only known type of this asbestos is chrysotile.

Serpentine asbestos can be found in:

• Automobile brakes
• Joint compound/drywall mud
• Textiles
• Roofing materials
• Plastics

Amphibole fibers are short, straight, rigid and sharp. These types of asbestos fibers are easy to inhale. Amphibole lodges into organs and tissues more easily than serpentine fibers. These types of asbestos fibers are more likely to cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. Amosite and crocidolite asbestos have these types of fibers.

Amphibole asbestos can be found in:

• Insulation
• Ceiling tiles
• Asbestos cement piping
• Some gaskets

Asbestos Subtypes

There are six different subtypes of asbestos used in products: tremolite, actinolite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite. The three most commonly used asbestos types are chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite. These asbestos subtypes can be found in construction materials and automobile parts.

Chrysotile

Asbestos Subtype

Also known as "white asbestos"

Most commonly used form of asbestos

Used in products where it is compacted and non-friable

Found in car gaskets, brake pads, brake linings and drywall mud

Amosite

Asbestos Subtype

Also known as "brown asbestos"

Second most commonly used type of asbestos in the United States

Dangerous because it's easy to crumble and inhale

Used to make ceiling tiles, insulation, fire protections, and cement sheets

Made up of amphibole fibers

Crocidolite

Asbestos Subtype

Also known as "blue asbestos"

Least commonly used in materials

Most hazardous type of asbestos

Commonly found in cement products and some gaskets

Where Is Asbestos Found?

Asbestos is primarily found in older buildings. Prior to the 1980’s and 1990’s, there weren’t any restrictions on using materials that contained asbestos. Unfortunately, the health risks were known long before regulations were instituted.

Asbestos is extremely flame-resilient and durable. As a result, it was used in many buildings, homes, plants, and schools built prior to the 1990’s. Asbestos was also used in automobile parts.

Some building materials that may contain asbestos are:

• Tiles (ceiling and floor)
• Insulation
• Roofing shingles
• Drywall products

There are approximately 542 locations in the United States where asbestos exists in mine deposits.

Asbestos was once mined in the following states:

• Vermont
• Arizona
• North Carolina
• Georgia
• California
• Washington
• Alaska

Those who have worked directly with asbestos materials, such as miners, have the highest risk of developing asbestos-related cancers. However, secondary exposure can also occur. Many mesothelioma patients were unintentionally exposed by coming into contact with asbestos fibers brought home by their loved ones.

Mining and Importing Asbestos

Mining for asbestos no longer occurs in the United States. It was once popularly mined to meet a high demand in the country.

Asbestos was mined by using an open-pit (an open area similar to a valley) method. When asbestos is first extracted, it resembles old wood. It is then refined to a fluffy fiber. The refined asbestos is then added to other materials, like cement or insulation, to form an asbestos-containing material.

Mining of asbestos in the United States ended in 2002, but it is still imported into the country today. In fact, over 8 million pounds of asbestos has been imported to the U.S. over the last decade.

The majority of asbestos imported into the United States is raw asbestos. As of today, this type of asbestos is mostly used by the chlor-alkali industry. This industry uses it to aide in the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide.

The following ports in the United States are known for receiving large shipments of asbestos:

Is Asbestos Banned in the United States?

The answer is no. Even though there have been efforts made to officially ban it, asbestos is still legal in the United States.

In 1989 the EPA attempted to ban asbestos. Unfortunately, the result was banning only new uses of the carcinogen. Some ways that asbestos was used dating up to 1989 are still legal.

Types of asbestos products officially banned in the United States:

• Corrugated paper
• Rollboard
• Commercial paper
• Specialty paper
• Flooring felt

Some types of asbestos products not banned in the United States:

• Clothing
• Roofing felt
• Vinyl floor tile
• Roof coatings
• Drum brake linings
• Automatic transmissions

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commision in the 1970’s banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching and gas fireplaces. Also around this same time, asbestos was removed from electric hair dryers.

In the early 2000’s crayon manufacturers refined their recipes when asbestos was discovered in their crayons. During this timespan, the EPA also expressed concern about asbestos contamination in gardening products containing vermiculite. Recently, traces of asbestos have been found in cosmetic products, such as talc powder and makeup.

In 2016 the Toxic Substances Control Act was passed in the United States. Under this law, certain chemicals must undergo a series of tests that address public safety. The EPA included asbestos in the first ten chemicals picked to be reviewed. Unfortunately, as of today, no tests have been completed yet.

Over 50 countries have banned asbestos, but the U.S. isn’t one of them.

History of Asbestos

It is impossible to pinpoint the first uses of asbestos, but archaeologists have found traces of the mineral in Scandinavian excavations (pointing to 3000 B.C.). The Greeks and Romans once used the material to create fire retardant cloth and in their building materials. Asbestos has also been discovered in suits of armor from medieval times and in embalming techniques used in preserving pharaohs in ancient Egypt.

As the Industrial Revolution engulfed America in the early 1800′s, manufacturers found asbestos helped to insulate pipes and fireboxes. Soon, asbestos was mined and used in every facet of construction and manufacturing. It was also used in shipyards, railroad cars, and automotive factories. As time went on, the demand for asbestos increased.

Although health risks were known, asbestos materials were continued to be used in houses, schools, and office buildings up until the 1980’s.

Occupational Asbestos Exposure

For many decades, the asbestos industry held secret from workers that asbestos could cause pulmonary issues. Outside researchers didn’t discover until late in the 20th century that asbestos causes mesothelioma.

In the past, exposure to asbestos was associated only with individuals that worked directly with the raw material. Some professions associated with this are mining and construction.

Occupational exposure is not just a thing of the past because it still occurs to many people in the United States today. Exposure can occur to individuals inside their home because asbestos was once used freely in building materials and consumer goods. Secondary exposure has even been known to occur to the loved ones of workers that carry asbestos dust home with them on their clothes and person.

Asbestos exposure still occurs during:

• Repairs
• Renovations
• Removal
• Maintenance

Other professions at risk for exposure are:

• Firefighters
• Veterans
• Auto mechanics
• Ironworkers
• Demolition workers
• Teachers

Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Unfortunately, many individuals have been exposed unknowingly in their workplace. Learn more about occupational exposure in our free Mesothelioma Guide.