Asbestos has been used in more than 5,000 products, including roofing, thermal and electrical insulation, cement pipe and sheet, flooring, gaskets, friction materials, coatings, plastics, textiles, and paper products. Major research is currently under way to develop and determine suitable substitutes for asbestos. The CBI Aggregate was between 100 million and 1 billion lb. U.S. imports of asbestos have declined since 1980. The primary routes of potential human exposure to asbestos are dermal contact, inhalation, and ingestion.
Asbestos is used so widely that the entire population is potentially exposed to some degree.
Worker exposure is a concern in the mining and milling of asbestos, during the manufacture of all asbestos products, and in the construction and shipbuilding industries. OSHA reported that about 2.5 million workers are estimated to have some potential exposure to asbestos. In addition, worker exposure occurs in asbestos end-product use occupations, e.g., asbestos insulation workers, brake repair and maintenance workers, building demolition workers, asbestos abatement workers, etc. The NOES estimated that 30,594 total workers, including 3,410 women, potentially were exposed to chrysotile. Dermal absorption is minimal, but contact may lead to secondary ingestion.