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Asbestos Exposure: Questions and Answers 

1. What is asbestos?

Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally in the environment 

as bundles of fibers and can be separated into thin, durable threads. These fibers are 

resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, 

asbestos has been widely used in many industries. 

There are two subgroups of asbestos: chrysotile, which has curly fibers and is in the 

serpentine family of minerals; and amphibole asbestos, which has straight, needle-like 

fibers and includes actinolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and amosite asbestos. 

Chrysotile asbestos is the form that has been used predominantly in commercial 

applications worldwide (1, 2). 

2. How is asbestos used? 

Asbestos was mined and used commercially in North America beginning in the late 

1800s. Its use increased greatly during World War II (3, 4). Since then, asbestos has 

Key Points 

• Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally in the 

environment as bundles of fibers (see Question 1). 

• Exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of asbestosis, lung cancer, 

mesothelioma, other cancers, and other nonmalignant lung and pleural 

disorders (see Question 3). 

• Smokers who are also exposed to asbestos have a greatly increased risk of 

lung cancer (see Question 6). 

• Individuals who have been exposed (or suspect they have been exposed) to 

asbestos fibers on the job, through the environment, or at home via a family 

contact should inform their physician of their exposure history and any 

symptoms (see Question 7). 

• Government agencies can provide additional information on asbestos 

exposure (see Questions 8, 9, and 11). 
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been used in many industries. For example, the building and construction industry has 

used it for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for insulation, roofing, 

fireproofing, and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to 

insulate boilers, steampipes, and hot water pipes. The automotive industry uses asbestos 

in vehicle brakeshoes and clutch pads. Asbestos has also been used in ceiling and floor 

tile; paints, coatings, and adhesives; and plastics. In addition, asbestos has been found in 

vermiculite-containing consumer garden products and some talc-containing crayons. 

 In the late 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use 

of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because the asbestos 

fibers in these products could be released into the environment during use. Additionally, 

in 1979, manufacturers of electric hairdryers voluntarily stopped using asbestos in their 

products. In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new 

uses of asbestos; uses established prior to 1989 are still allowed. The EPA also 

established regulations that require school systems to inspect for damaged asbestos and to 

eliminate or reduce the exposure to occupants by removing the asbestos or encasing it 

(2). 

In June 2000, the CPSC concluded that the risk of children’s exposure to asbestos fibers 

in crayons was extremely low (1). However, the U.S. manufacturers of these crayons 

agreed to eliminate talc from their products. In August 2000, the EPA responded to 

reports it received about the adverse human health effects associated with exposure to 

asbestos-contaminated vermiculite by conducting a series of tests to evaluate the extent of 

the risk. The EPA investigation concluded that the potential exposure to asbestos from 

some vermiculite products poses only a minimal health risk to consumers. The EPA 

recommended that consumers reduce the low risk associated with the occasional use of 

vermiculite during gardening activities by limiting the amount of dust produced during 

use. Specifically, the EPA suggested that consumers use vermiculite outdoors or in a 

well-ventilated area; keep vermiculite damp while using it; avoid bringing dust from 

vermiculite use into the home on clothing; and use premixed potting soil, which is less 

likely to generate dust. 

The regulations described above and other actions, coupled with widespread public 

concern about the health hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline 

in U.S. use of asbestos. Domestic consumption of asbestos amounted to about 803,000 

metric tons in 1973, but it had dropped to about 2,400 metric tons by 2005 (3, 5). 

3. What are the health hazards of exposure to asbestos?

People may be exposed to asbestos in their workplace, their communities, or their homes. 

If products containing asbestos are disturbed, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. 

When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they may get trapped in the lungs and remain there 

for a long time. Over time, these fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and 

inflammation, which can affect breathing and lead to serious health problems (6). 
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Asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen (a substance that causes 

cancer) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA, and the 

International Agency for Research on Cancer (2, 3, 7, 8). Studies have shown that 

exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma (a relatively 

rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen). Although rare, 

mesothelioma is the most common form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure. In 

addition to lung cancer and mesothelioma, some studies have suggested an association 

between asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers, as well as an 

elevated risk for cancers of the throat, kidney, esophagus, and gallbladder (3, 4). 

However, the evidence is inconclusive. 

Asbestos exposure may also increase the risk of asbestosis (a chronic lung disease that 

can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage) and other 

nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders, including pleural plaques (changes in the 

membrane surrounding the lung), pleural thickening, and pleural effusions (abnormal 

collections of fluid between the thin layers of tissue lining the lung and the wall of the 

chest cavity). Although pleural plaques are not precursors to lung cancer, evidence 

suggests that people with pleural disease caused by asbestos exposure may be at 

increased risk for lung cancer (9). 

4. Who is at risk for an asbestos-related disease?

Everyone is exposed to asbestos at some time during their life. Low levels of asbestos 

are present in the air, water, and soil. However, most people do not become ill from their 

exposure. People who become ill from asbestos are usually those who are exposed to it 

on a regular basis, most often in a job where they work directly with the material or 

through substantial environmental contact. 

Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos. 

Health hazards from asbestos fibers have been recognized in workers exposed in 

shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and 

other asbestos products, insulation work in the construction and building trades, and a 

variety of other trades. Demolition workers, drywall removers, asbestos removal 

workers, firefighters, and automobile workers also may be exposed to asbestos fibers. 

However, recent studies do not support an increased risk of lung cancer or mesothelioma 

among automobile mechanics exposed to asbestos through brake repair (10). As a result 

of Government regulations and improved work practices, today’s workers (those without 

previous exposure) are likely to face smaller risks than did those exposed in the past. 

Those involved in the rescue, recovery, and cleanup at the site of the September 11, 2001, 

attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City are another group at risk of 

developing an asbestos-related disease. Because asbestos was used in the construction of 

the North Tower of the WTC, when the building was attacked, hundreds of tons of 

asbestos were released into the atmosphere. Those at greatest risk include firefighters, 

police officers, paramedics, construction workers, and volunteers who worked in the 

rubble at Ground Zero. Others at risk include residents in close proximity to the WTC 
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towers and those who attended schools nearby. These populations will need to be 

followed to determine the long-term health consequences of their exposure (11). 

One study found that nearly 70 percent of WTC rescue and recovery workers suffered 

new or worsened respiratory symptoms while performing work at the WTC site. The 

study describes the results of the WTC Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening 

Program, which was established to identify and characterize possible WTC-related health 

effects in responders. The study found that about 28 percent of those tested had abnormal 

lung function tests, and 61 percent of those without previous health problems developed 

respiratory symptoms (12). However, it is important to note that these symptoms may be 

related to exposure to debris components other than asbestos. 

Although it is clear that health risks from asbestos exposure increase with heavier 

exposure and longer exposure time, investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in 

individuals with only brief exposures. Generally, those who develop asbestos-related 

diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after their first exposure. It can take 

from 10 to 40 years or more for symptoms of an asbestos-related condition to appear (2). 

There is some evidence that family members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos face 

an increased risk of developing mesothelioma. This risk is thought to result from 

exposure to asbestos fibers brought into the home on the shoes, clothing, skin, and hair of 

workers. To decrease these exposures, Federal law regulates work practices to limit the 

possibility of asbestos being brought home in this way. Some employees may be 

required to shower and change their clothes before they leave work, store their street 

clothes in a separate area of the workplace, or wash their work clothes at home separately 

from other clothes (2). 

Cases of mesothelioma have also been seen in individuals without occupational exposure, 

but who live close to asbestos mines or have been exposed to fibers carried home by 

family members working with asbestos (6). 

5. What factors affect the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease? 

Several factors can help to determine how asbestos exposure affects an individual, 

including (2, 6): 

• Dose (how much asbestos an individual was exposed to). 

• Duration (how long an individual was exposed). 

• Size, shape, and chemical makeup of asbestos fibers. 

• Source of exposure. 

• Individual risk factors, such as smoking and pre-existing lung disease. 

Although all forms of asbestos are considered hazardous, different types of asbestos 

fibers may be associated with different health risks. For example, results of several 

studies suggest that amphibole forms of asbestos may be more harmful than chrysotile, 
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particularly for mesothelioma risk, because they tend to stay in the lungs for a longer 

period of time (1, 2). All common commercial types of asbestos have been associated 

with lung cancer (13). 

6. How does smoking affect risk?

Many studies have shown that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure is 

particularly hazardous. Smokers who are also exposed to asbestos have a risk of 

developing lung cancer that is greater than the individual risks from asbestos and 

smoking added together (3, 6). There is evidence that quitting smoking will reduce the 

risk of lung cancer among asbestos-exposed workers (4). Smoking combined with 

asbestos exposure does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma (9). However, 

people who were exposed to asbestos on the job at any time during their life or who 

suspect they may have been exposed should not smoke. 

7. How are asbestos-related diseases detected?

Individuals who have been exposed (or suspect they have been exposed) to asbestos 

fibers on the job, through the environment, or at home via a family contact should inform 

their doctor of their exposure history, whether or not they experience any symptoms. The 

symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may not become apparent for many decades after 

exposure. It is particularly important to check with a doctor if any of the following 

symptoms develop (6): 

• Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness. 

• A persistent cough that gets worse over time. 

• Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up from the lungs. 

• Pain or tightening in the chest. 

• Difficulty swallowing. 

• Swelling of the neck or face. 

• Loss of appetite. 

• Weight loss. 

• Fatigue or anemia. 

A thorough physical examination, including a chest x-ray and lung function tests, may be 

recommended. The chest x-ray is currently the most common tool used to detect 

asbestos-related diseases. However, it is important to note that chest x-rays cannot detect 

asbestos fibers in the lungs, but they can help identify any early signs of lung disease 

resulting from asbestos exposure (2). 

Studies have shown that computed tomography (CT) (a series of detailed pictures of 

areas inside the body taken from different angles; the pictures are created by a computer 

linked to an x-ray machine) may be more effective than conventional chest x-rays at 

detecting asbestos-related lung abnormalities in individuals who have been exposed to 

asbestos (14). 
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A lung biopsy, which detects microscopic asbestos fibers in pieces of lung tissue 

removed by surgery, is the most reliable test to confirm the presence of asbestos-related 

abnormalities. A bronchoscopy is a less invasive test than a biopsy and detects asbestos 

fibers in material that is rinsed out of the lungs. It is important to note that these tests 

cannot determine how much asbestos an individual may have been exposed to or whether 

disease will develop (14). Asbestos fibers can also be detected in urine, mucus, or feces, 

but these tests are not reliable for determining how much asbestos may be in an 

individual’s lungs (2). 

8. How can workers protect themselves from asbestos exposure?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a component of the U.S. 

Department of Labor (DOL) and is the Federal agency responsible for health and safety 

regulations in maritime, construction, manufacturing, and service workplaces. OSHA 

established regulations dealing with asbestos exposure on the job, specifically 

construction work, shipyards, and general industry, that employers are required to follow. 

In addition, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), another component of 

the DOL, enforces regulations related to mine safety. Workers should use all protective 

equipment provided by their employers and follow recommended work practices and 

safety procedures. For example, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

(NIOSH)-approved respirators that fit properly should be worn by workers when 

required. 

Workers who are concerned about asbestos exposure in the workplace should discuss the 

situation with other employees, their employee health and safety representative, and their 

employers. If necessary, OSHA can provide more information or make an inspection. 

Regional offices of OSHA are listed in the “United States Government” section of a 

telephone directory’s blue pages (under “Department of Labor”). Regional offices can 

also be found at http://www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html on the Internet. 

More information about asbestos is available on the OSHA Asbestos Web page, which 

has links to information about asbestos in the workplace, including what OSHA standards 

apply, the hazards of asbestos, evaluating asbestos exposure, and controls used to protect 

workers. This page is available at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/index.html on the 

Internet. OSHA’s national office can be contacted at: 
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Organization: Office of Public Affairs 

 Occupational Safety and Health Administration

 U.S. Department of Labor

 Address: Room N−3649 

 200 Constitution Avenue, NW. 

 Washington, DC 20210 

 Telephone: 202–693–1999 

 1−800−321−6742 (1–800–321–OSHA) 

 TTY (for deaf or hard 

 of hearing callers): 1−877−889−5627 

 Internet Web site: http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/index.html (workers’ page) 

Mine workers can contact MSHA at: 

Organization: Office of Public Affairs 

 Mine Safety and Health Administration 

 U.S. Department of Labor

 Address: 21st Floor 

 1100 Wilson Boulevard 

 Arlington, VA 22209 

 Telephone: 202−693−9400 

 1–800–746–1554 

 Internet Web site: http://www.msha.gov 

 http://www.msha.gov/codeaphone/codeaphonenew.htm 

 (National Hazard Reporting Page) 

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention, is another Federal agency that is concerned with 

asbestos exposure in the workplace. NIOSH conducts asbestos-related research, 

evaluates work sites for possible health hazards, and makes exposure control 

recommendations. In addition, NIOSH distributes publications on the health effects of 

asbestos exposure and can suggest additional sources of information. NIOSH can be 

contacted at: 

Organization: Education and Information Division 

 Information Resources Branch 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

 Address: Robert A. Taft Laboratories 

 4676 Columbia Parkway 

 Cincinnati, OH 45226 

 Telephone: 1–800–356–4674 (1–800–35–NIOSH) 

 E-mail: eidtechinfo@cdc.gov 

 Internet Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh 
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9. What programs are available to help individuals with asbestos-related diseases? 

Some people with asbestos-related illness may be eligible for Medicare coverage. 

Information about benefits is available from Medicare’s Regional Offices, located in 10 

major cities across the United States and serving specific geographic areas. The Regional 

Offices serve as the agency’s initial point of contact for beneficiaries, health care 

providers, state and local governments, and the general public. Contact information for 

each Regional Office can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/RegionalOffices on the 

Internet. General information about Medicare is available by calling toll-free 

1–800–633–4227 (1–800–MEDICARE) or visiting http://www.medicare.gov on the 

Internet. 

People with occupational asbestos-related diseases also may qualify for financial help, 

including medical payments, under state workers’ compensation laws. Because 

eligibility requirements vary from state to state, workers employed by private companies 

or by state and local government agencies should contact their state workers’ 

compensation board. Contact information for state workers’ compensation officials may 

be found in the blue pages of a local telephone directory or at 

http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/owcp/wc.htm on the Internet. 

If exposure occurred during employment with a Federal agency, medical expenses and 

other compensation may be covered by the Federal Employees’ Compensation Program, 

which is administered by the DOL, Employment Standards Administration’s Office of 

Workers’ Compensation Programs. This program provides workers’ compensation 

benefits to Federal (civilian) employees for employment-related injuries and diseases. 

Benefits include wage replacement, payment for medical care, and, where necessary, 

medical and vocational rehabilitation assistance in returning to work. Benefits may also 

be provided to dependents if the injury or disease causes the employee’s death. The 

program has 12 district offices nationwide. 

In addition, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Program provides 

benefits to longshoremen, harbor workers, other maritime workers, and other classes of 

private industry workers who are injured during the course of employment or suffer from 

diseases caused or worsened by conditions of employment. Information about eligibility 

and how to file a claim for benefits under either of these programs is available from: 
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Organization: Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs 

 Employment Standards Administration 

 U.S. Department of Labor

 Address: Frances Perkins Building 

 200 Constitution Avenue, NW. 

 Washington, DC 20210 

 Telephone: 1–866–692–7487 (1–866–OWCPIVR) 

 202–693–0040 (Federal Employees’ Compensation Program) 

 202–693–0038 (Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation 

 Program) 

 E-mail: OWCP-Public@dol.gov 

 Internet Web site: http://www.dol.gov/esa/owcp_org.htm 

 

 Eligible veterans may receive health care at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 

Medical Center for an asbestos-related disease. Veterans can receive treatment for 

service-connected and nonservice-connected medical conditions. Information about 

eligibility and benefits is available from the VA Health Benefits Service Center at 

1−877−222−8387 (1−877−222−VETS) or on the VA Web site at 

http://www1.va.gov/health on the Internet. 

10. Is there legislation to help victims of asbestos-related health diseases? 

No Federal legislation has been enacted yet to compensate victims of asbestos-related 

diseases or to protect people from asbestos exposure. However, in 2005, the Fairness in 

Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act (Senate bill 852) was introduced into Congress 

(15). This bill would create a national trust fund to compensate victims suffering from 

asbestos-related diseases. The proposed trust fund would be administered by the DOL, 

outside of the courts, through a claims process whereby all those with certain medical 

symptoms and evidence of asbestos-related disease would be compensated. Funding for 

the trust would come from insurance companies and companies that mined, 

manufactured, and sold asbestos or asbestos products. Under the bill, individuals 

affected by asbestos exposure would no longer be able to pursue awards for damages in 

any Federal or state court. 

11. What other organizations offer information related to asbestos exposure?

The organizations listed below can provide more information about asbestos exposure. 

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is the principal 

Federal agency responsible for evaluating the human health effects of exposure to 

hazardous substances. The agency works in close collaboration with local, state, and 

other Federal agencies, with tribal governments, and with communities and local health 

care providers to help prevent or reduce harmful human health effects from exposure to 

hazardous substances. The ATSDR provides information about asbestos and where to 

find occupational and environmental health clinics. The ATSDR can be contacted at: 
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Organization: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

Address: 1825 Century Boulevard 

 Atlanta, GA 30345 

 Telephone: 1–800–232–4636 (1−800−CDC−INFO) 

 TTY: 1–888–232–6348 

 E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 

 Internet Web site: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov 

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the general public’s 

exposure to asbestos in buildings, drinking water, and the environment. The EPA offers 

a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Hotline and an Asbestos Ombudsman. The 

TSCA Hotline provides technical assistance and information about asbestos programs 

implemented under the TSCA, which include the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act 

and the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. The Asbestos Ombudsman focuses 

on asbestos in schools and handles questions and complaints. Both the TSCA Hotline 

and the Asbestos Ombudsman can provide publications on a number of topics, 

particularly on controlling asbestos exposure in schools and other buildings. The 

Ombudsman operates a toll-free hotline for small businesses, trade associations, and 

others seeking free, confidential help. 

 The EPA Web site includes a list of EPA regional and state asbestos contacts at 

http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/regioncontact.html on the Internet. In addition, EPA’s 

Asbestos and Vermiculite home page provides information about asbestos and its health 

effects and links to asbestos resources, including suggestions for homeowners who 

suspect asbestos in their homes, and laws and regulations applicable to asbestos. This 

page can be found at http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/ on the Internet. Questions may be 

directed to: 

 Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

 EPA West Building 

 National Program Chemicals Division 

 Address: Mail Code 7404T 

 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. 

 Washington, DC 20460 

 TSCA Hotline: 202–554–1404 

 TTY: 202−554−0551 

 Asbestos 

 Ombudsman: 1–800–368–5888 

 E-mail: tsca-hotline@epa.gov 

 Internet Web site: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/ 

 

Another EPA resource that may be of interest is the brochure titled Current Best 

Practices for Preventing Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers. 

Released in April 2007, this brochure includes work practices for both automotive 

professionals and home mechanics that may be used to avoid asbestos exposure. It also 

summarizes existing OSHA regulatory requirements for professional auto mechanics. 
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The brochure supersedes the EPA’s existing Guidance for Preventing Asbestos Disease 

Among Auto Mechanics, which is known as the “Gold Book.” The brochure can be 

found at http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/brakesbrochure.html on the Internet. 

 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for protecting 

the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types 

of consumer products, including asbestos, under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC 

maintains a toll-free 24-hour hotline where callers can obtain product safety and other 

agency information and report unsafe products. In addition, CPSC publications provide 

guidelines for repairing and removing asbestos, and general information about asbestos in 

the home. CPSC can be contacted at: 

 Organization: Office of Information and Public Affairs 

 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

 Address: 4330 East West Highway 

 Bethesda, MD 20814 

 Telephone: 1–800–638–2772 

 TTY (for deaf or hard 

 of hearing callers): 1−800−638−8270 

 E-mail: info@cpsc.gov 

Internet Web site: http://www.cpsc.gov 

Individuals can also contact their local or state health department with questions or 

concerns about asbestos. 

Information about cancer is available by calling the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) 

Cancer Information Service (CIS) at 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237) or by 

visiting the NCI’s Web site at http://www.cancer.gov on the Internet. The NCI is a 

component of the National Institutes of Health. Information about quitting smoking, 

including smoking cessation counseling, is available by calling the NCI’s Smoking 

Quitline toll-free at 1–800–44U–QUIT (1–800–448–7848) or visiting the NCI’s smoking 

cessation Web site at http://www.smokefree.gov on the Internet. 

Selected References 

1. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (April 2006). What Is Asbestos? 

Retrieved August 30, 2006, from: 

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/more_about_asbestos/what_is_asbestos. 

2. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (September 2001). Public Health 

Statement for Asbestos. Retrieved August 30, 2006, from: 

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs61.html. 
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3. National Toxicology Program. Report on Carcinogens. Eleventh Edition. U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology 

Program, 2005. 

4. Ullrich RL. Etiology of cancer: Physical factors. In: DeVita VT Jr., Hellman S, 

Rosenberg SA, editors. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. Vol. 1 and 2. 7th

ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2004. 

5. Virta RL (January 2006). Mineral Commodity Summaries: Asbestos. U.S. Geological 

Survey Minerals Information. Retrieved August 30, 2006, from: 

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/asbestos/asbesmcs06.pdf. 

6. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (June 2006). Asbestos: Health 

Effects. Retrieved August 30, 2006, from 

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/asbestos/health_effects/index.html. 

7. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Health Effects Assessment for Asbestos. U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 1984. EPA/540/1-86/049 (NTIS PB86134608). 

8. International Agency for Research on Cancer. (March 1998). Asbestos. IARC 

Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, vol. 14. Lyon, France: 

Retrieved September 6, 2006, from: 

http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol14/volume14.pdf. 

9. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (November 2000). Case Studies in 

Environmental Medicine: Asbestos Toxicity. Retrieved September 6, 2006, from 

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HEC/CSEM/asbestos/index.html. 

10. Laden F, Stampfer MJ, Walker AM. Lung cancer and mesothelioma among male 

automobile mechanics: A review. Reviews on Environmental Health 2004; 19(1):39–61. 

11. Landrigan PJ, Lioy PJ, Thurston G, et al. Health and environmental consequences of the 

World Trade Center disaster. Environmental Health Perspectives 2004; 112(6):731–739. 

12. Herbert R, Moline J, Skloot G, et al. The World Trade Center disaster and the health of 

workers: Five-year assessment of a unique medical screening program. Environmental 

Health Perspectives 2006; 114(12):1853–1858. 

13. Schrump DS, Altorki NK, Henschke CL, et al. Non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer of 

the lung. In: DeVita VT Jr., Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, editors. Principles and Practice 

of Oncology. Vol. 1 and 2. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 

2004. 

14. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (June 2006). Asbestos: Working with 

Patients: Diagnosis. Retrieved August 30, 2006, from: 

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/medical_community/working_with_patients. 
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15. U.S. Congressional Budget Office (August 2005). Congressional Budget Office Cost 

Estimate for S. 852, Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005. Retrieved 

August 30, 2006, from: http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/68xx/doc6881/s852.pdf. 

# # # 

Related Resources

Publications (available at http://www.cancer.gov/publications) 

• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 6.36, Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers

• What You Need To Know AboutTM Cancer of the Larynx

• What You Need To Know AboutTM Kidney Cancer

• What You Need To Know AboutTM Lung Cancer

National Cancer Institute (NCI) Resources

Cancer Information Service (toll-free)

 Telephone: 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237) 

 TTY: 1–800–332–8615 

Online 

NCI’s Web site: http://www.cancer.gov 

LiveHelp, NCI’s live online assistance: 

https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/livehelp/welcome.asp

This fact sheet was reviewed on 2/1/07