Asbestos Exposure Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral with heat-resistant and insulating properties. People have been using asbestos for thousands of years. It has been used to create products such as fire-resistant materials, insulation, floor and ceiling tiles and automobile brake linings. When asbestos fibers are released into the air, the fibers can be inhaled and swallowed.
People exposed to asbestos are at greater risk for lung cancer than mesothelioma.
Today, as many as 8 million Americans have had work-related asbestos exposure. People who work in any of the industries in which asbestos is used have an increased risk for all asbestos-related illnesses. In addition, family members of people with occupational exposure to asbestos have a small but significantly increased risk because the fibers can be carried on the clothing and hair of those exposed. Since 1972, people who work with asbestos are required to shower and change clothes before leaving the workplace. Even people without these risk factors may have been exposed to asbestos, because asbestos-containing materials were used in the construction of many older buildings.