The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, and other government agencies began reporting the dangers of asbestos beginning in the late 1960s by The naturally occurring mineral was used in building materials, auto parts and even kitchen products and clothing. When the products degraded, they released asbestos into the environment. The U.S. government instituted a ban against using asbestos in new products and building construction, but fibers remain in structures and home products made before the ban.
Uses
The fibrous natural mineral asbestos was used in both residential and commercial building. Asbestos insulation was commonly used in construction from 1930 through 1950, according to the EPA. Textured paint and wall patch was banned in 1977, but existing supplies may have been used after this date. Stove hot pads, vinyl flooring, steam pipes, water pipes, and gaskets in furnaces include asbestos fibers in homes built prior to 1980.
Time Frame
The EPA notes that fibers are typically found in homes constructed from 1930 to 1970. But other contamination is possible. The Libby, Montana, mine extracted vermiculite ore for use to manufacture residential and commercial wall insulation. The mine also included large deposits of asbestos that contaminated the ore. While early supplies of asbestos products date to the early 1920s and 30s, products contaminated with natural asbestos were distributed until the Montana mine closed in 1990.
Identification
The EPA states that identification of items made with asbestos is not possible using the naked eye. Asbestos fibers used as connective material cannot be easily identified without a test kit. Educated guesses can be made based on the date of manufacture of the item or the year that a house or building was constructed. Most homes, schools and businesses constructed prior to 1975 used materials made from asbestos. Asbestos test kits, available online and from hardware stores, identify the presence of the fibers.
Considerations
Naturally occurring asbestos is concentrated in states with significant amounts of decaying uranium. Twenty states have deposits of asbestos, and mining was done in 17 of the states. The largest deposits are found in California, Oregon and states in the Appalachian Mountain region.The EPA reports that each state administers a separate asbestos program, which the state health or environmental protection agency supervises. State offices assist specialized abatement procedures for homes and businesses.
Expert Insight
The Union of Concerned Scientists states that "research has shown that asbestos, in all forms, poses a serious risk for causing cancers and lung disease." Debate surrounds the best method to deal with asbestos, but workers and scientists agree that awareness is the first step in managing the problem. Approximately 10,000 U.S. residents die every year due to cancers contracted through exposure to asbestos, according to the Environmental Working Group. The group also reports that 10 times that number are expected to die of diseases related to exposure over a 10-year period.
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