If you’ve been around long enough, you probably remember when the news first broke that asbestos, which had kept people safe for nearly a century, could actually kill us. Suddenly asbestos awareness was everywhere, particularly in schools.
After a few decades of asbestos abatement, you might think the problem has been solved. I mean, we’re not using asbestos in building materials anymore. The average person knows to wear a face mask when remodeling anything built before the late 1980s. And all the late-night ads about mesothelioma are geared toward people who were exposed years ago, right?
In truth, the asbestos problem is still with us. Here are three common myths about asbestos. Taken together, it’s easy to see why asbestos remains a major public health issue.
Myth #1 Asbestos is no longer used in the U.S.
Asbestos was widely used until at least 1970, and even then, stockpiles of asbestos containing materials remained in circulation for years. Remember all those fixer-uppers bought during the house flipping craze from a few years ago? It’s highly likely many of them contained asbestos in everything from shingles to insulation to flooring. Despite what I said earlier, I’m not convinced the average person wears a face mask when remodeling an old house in the heat of the summer.
What people often don’t realize is that asbestos can be found in more recent materials as well. While various restrictions have limited the amount of asbestos allowable in building materials, it wasn’t until March of this year (2024) that the U.S. EPA prohibited the on-going use of chrysotile asbestos, the last known form of asbestos imported, processed, or distributed in the U.S. This type of asbestos is used in the automotive industry for parts built to withstand high levels of friction, e.g., sheet gaskets, brake blocks, and brake linings. The rule phases out the use of chrysotile asbestos over the next five years.
Myth #2 Asbestos is only a “dust” problem
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No doubt asbestos-containing dust has been one of the primary ways people get exposed, and inhalation of asbestos fibers has been clearly linked to certain cancers, including mesothelioma. However, in recent years, a new route of asbestos exposure has emerged: drinking water.
The problem stems from water distribution systems made from asbestos-cement pipes. These pipes are lightweight, low friction, and resistant to corrosion. Over time, however, they can deteriorate and release asbestos fibers into the water supply. That said, these pipes are durable and can last up to 70 years. The Safe Drinking Water Foundation estimates that up to 18% of in-service water distribution pipes in the U.S. and Canada are made from asbestos cement.
It should be noted that there are many unknowns when it comes to the health effects of ingesting asbestos fibers as opposed to inhaling them. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested there is no consistent, convincing evidence that ingested asbestos is associated with an increased risk of cancer or other serious health outcomes. We can only hope more thorough research is done as these pipes are reaching the end of their expected life span, and the public may pay the price if the WHO is wrong.
Myth #3 Asbestos is a synthetic material
Asbestos is a commercial term for the six (6) regulated naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals found in bedrock, all of which consist of long and thin fibrous crystals. Each fiber is composed of microscopic "fibrils" that can be released into the atmosphere through abrasion and other processes. While asbestos is no longer mined in the US for use in building materials and other end products, excavation projects and natural weathering can expose the public and workers to naturally occurring asbestos fibers (NOA). Due to increased urbanization and the natural stability provided by bedrock, many deposits of NOA are in heavily populated areas.
How Pace® can help
Pace® Building Sciences offers asbestos testing services for a variety of matrices, including building materials, dust, air, soil and water. Learn more about techniques for asbestos detection by visiting our website. Or contact us for more information or to request a quote.
