Posted on January 17, 2025

After nearly 20 years of receiving common questions, ADAO has collected facts from government agencies to answer some frequently asked questions about asbestos exposure and cancer risk.  In light of the Los Angeles fires, which are likely to release asbestos fibers into the air as old buildings burn down, we found it prudent to share these facts with you again.

Top Ten Facts about Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk

  1. Asbestos is the name given to six minerals that occur naturally in the environment. 
  2. Asbestos,  chrysotile, actinolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and amosite have been classified as known human carcinogens (a substance that causes cancer) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
  3. There is no safe or controlled use of asbestos. 
  4. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, a cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen, and cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary. 
  5. The latency period from initial asbestos exposure to a mesothelioma diagnosis ranges from 10 – 50 years. 
  6. Asbestos has not been banned in the United States.
  7. Each year, over 40,000 Americans die from preventable asbestos-caused cancers and pleural diseases. 
  8. The last U.S. asbestos mine closed in 2002.
  9. Asbestos was widely used in the building and construction, shipbuilding, and automotive industries. Asbestos can also be found in consumer products and asbestos-contaminated vermiculite.
  10. Smoking can compound your risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Smokers have a far greater risk of developing lung cancer when exposed to asbestos than the general population.

Linda Reinstein
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