Making the Invisible Visible: Legacy Asbestos, Prevention, and the Urgency of EPA Action

Check out our new release detailing our lawsuit against the EPA

Posted April 21, 2026

As the United States confronts the ongoing public health threat of legacy asbestos, one fact remains: asbestos is present in millions of homes, schools, workplaces, and consumer products.

Legacy asbestos refers to materials installed or manufactured before use restrictions were enacted. These materials remain in insulation, flooring, roofing, cement, and other building components. When disturbed through renovations, natural disasters, or routine maintenance, they can release microscopic fibers into the air. These fibers are so small that thousands can fit across the surface of a single penny. Far thinner than a strand of human hair, they are virtually impossible to detect without specialized equipment.

Natural disasters further heighten exposure risks. Hurricanes, wildfires, and floods can damage older structures, releasing asbestos fibers into surrounding communities. Effective prevention must include asbestos safety measures to protect both responders and residents.

Nearly 40,000 people in the United States die each year from asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. These diseases are directly linked to asbestos exposure. The long latency period, often 10 to 50 years, makes it difficult to connect exposure to disease, obscuring accountability and delaying prevention. This ongoing loss underscores the urgency of prevention efforts, as highlighted by initiatives such as every13minutes.org.

Recent developments sharpen the focus. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that legacy asbestos poses an “unreasonable risk” to human health and, under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), is required to propose a risk management rule. Delays reflect the challenge of regulating a hazard embedded across the built environment. In response to the missed deadline, ADAO filed a federal lawsuit to compel EPA action on legacy asbestos.

Prevention must lead. Managing exposure is reactive; preventing it is more effective. This requires advancing policy, including the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, which would prohibit all asbestos fibers and uses.

Three of the most requested ADAO resources are: 

Prevention remains the only effective cure. Making the invisible visible requires translating science and policy into action, aligning regulation with public awareness, and sustaining commitment across government, industry, and civil society.

Hear Asbestos. Think Prevention.™

Linda Reinstein