Though the vast majority of asbestos-related diseases come from occupational exposure that occurred decades ago, legacy asbestos also poses a very real, continuing risk. Legacy asbestos refers to asbestos that remains in buildings, vehicles, infrastructure, and equipment from years ago. It was generally put in place during the days before the toxic mineral was identified as dangerous but was never removed in the years since. Though legacy asbestos is considered harmless when it’s in place, it holds the potential to cause illness in the future if it is disturbed during renovations, damage, or during the replacement of asbestos-contaminated parts.
What is Legacy Asbestos?
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, asbestos was identified as a carcinogen linked to malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases, but it was used constantly in the decades before that discovery. Victims of these illnesses began filing personal injury lawsuits against the companies that manufactured, distributed, and sold these materials, and asbestos companies quickly discontinued their use after being ordered to pay millions in compensation to victims. Many of these companies had known that the material was dangerous but chose to continue using it. After being found negligent by juries and told to pay millions in asbestos liabilities, they were forced into bankruptcy.
Though not banned in the United States until 2024, asbestos use slowly became a taboo over the last fifty years, and only the chloralkali and chemical industries have openly continued its use. Still, legacy asbestos continues posing a thread, lurking in the walls of old buildings, the brake linings of old automobiles, and in many other locations where asbestos was once a normal and acceptable component. While many mesothelioma and asbestos-related disease diagnoses have been attributed to occupational and secondary exposure that took place during the middle and end of the 20th century, more recent cases are being attributed to exposure to legacy asbestos, and it is anticipated that the risks posed by asbestos currently in place will continue for decades.
Where is Legacy Asbestos Found?
Asbestos was once considered a miracle material. The mineral’s physical characteristics contributed to its well-deserved reputation for adding strength and insulation against heat, friction, and flame. It was one of the most relied-upon materials of the 20th century, but the very attributes that made asbestos so valuable as a component of construction materials and equipment insulation also made it extremely hazardous to human health: Asbestos is a material made up of long, fibrous strands that, when damaged, easily break down into microscopic particles that become airborne and can then be inhaled or ingested. Once in the body, these particles can become embedded in the vulnerable cells that line the cavity containing the lungs and abdomen and can eventually mutate into scarring and tumors that lead to painful, fatal diseases.
When the dangers of asbestos were identified, the manufacturers that had used it in thousands of applications quickly changed course. However, discontinuing its use did not address decades of previous use. While the U.S. military took aggressive action to remove asbestos from the ships and barracks that contained it, other areas and applications where it had been used did not receive the same level of attention. Asbestos remains in place in many buildings constructed before 1980, including a large percentage of America’s homes, schools, hospitals, and administrative buildings.
Older Asbestos Becomes Friable Under Stress
The presence of legacy asbestos is frightening, but the material is most dangerous when it becomes “friable.”[1] Friable is a term that describes asbestos that has become or has the potential of becoming dangerous as a result of having been “crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by the pressure of an ordinary human hand” such as by sanding, grinding, cutting, or abrading, as well as by aging or weathering. When asbestos becomes friable, its fibers escape into the air, and that is when they pose a danger of inhalation or ingestion.
Asbestos was used before the 1980s as a component in insulation, concrete, wallboard, and ceiling tiles, as well as in vinyl flooring, adhesives, shingles, and roofing materials. Demolition and renovation projects to update structures that originally used asbestos pose a real risk of asbestos exposure to those doing the work and those close to the work. Likewise, people living or working in buildings where asbestos is exposed to wear, tear, and damage are at risk, whether work is being done or not. Though regulations exist to prevent this type of exposure, far too many fail to adhere to these rules, and many homeowners are unaware of them.[1]
What Are the Dangers of Friable Asbestos?
When asbestos that has been in place for decades is damaged through human manipulation, natural disasters, weather, or aging, it releases its fibers into the air where they can be inhaled or ingested. The impact of this won’t be seen immediately: Asbestos-related diseases have a prolonged latency period, and symptoms often don’t manifest for several decades. When they do, victims may be diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and other serious illnesses.
Legacy asbestos can be found in homes, offices, automobiles brake linings and other parts, and schools. It is also frequently found in government buildings and other older structures and is sometimes discovered in older household appliances.
According to the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, there are millions of buildings and municipal infrastructure components in the United States where asbestos remains embedded in materials and behind walls, putting employees, children, and others at risk of asbestos-related diseases in their homes, schools, and workplaces. The risk of this legacy asbestos is constant but increases in the face of fire, extreme weather events, and renovations. Improperly supervised renovations and maintenance of buildings that contain asbestos, as well as disposal of asbestos-containing materials, pose the greatest risk.[2]
Legacy Asbestos in Schools
Schools are among the most concerning areas where legacy asbestos exists. The majority of schools in the United States were built before the 1980s, and that means that asbestos is hidden in pipe insulation, ceiling and floor tiles, boiler rooms, chalkboards, and more. Though asbestos in schools is a national problem, the schools in the city of Philadelphia have attracted significant attention because multiple teachers in the district have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. Several of the city’s schools have been temporarily closed due to fears of student and employee asbestos exposure.
Exposure to Legacy Asbestos in Renovation and Demolition
Asbestos was a common component of construction materials through the 1980s, whether for homes, apartment buildings, and other structures. Construction elements containing asbestos included:
- Adhesives
- Boilers
- Ceiling tiles
- Drywall
- Electrical wiring
- Fireplaces
- Floor tiles
- Gaskets
- Joint compound
- Pipes
- Roof shingles
- Sheetrock
- Siding
- Spray-on insulation
- Water heaters
- Window glazing
Many buildings that include these asbestos-containing components are slated for demolition to make way for new, modern replacements, and others are being renovated and updated. Both of these activities put those doing the work at risk of exposure to legacy asbestos. Federal and state regulations demand that those overseeing this type of work conduct inspections to assess the presence of asbestos and arrange for abatement of legacy asbestos in compliance with applicable laws, including proper disposal of asbestos-containing materials.
Legacy Asbestos Exposure for Consumers
Though most risk of legacy asbestos is faced by contractors and those who work in buildings where asbestos is hidden in walls and construction materials, the toxic material is also hidden in household appliances and other items that homeowners may never have replaced, despite their age. These items include:
- Oven mitts and potholders
- Hair dryers
- Ovens
- Toasters and toaster covers
- Refrigerators
- Vacuums
- Freezers
- Coffee pots
- Ovens Lamps
- Ironing board covers
- Clothes dryers
- Wood burning stoves
- Chimneys
Legacy Asbestos in Automobiles
Car brake linings and brake pads were one of the most common sources of exposure to asbestos in the years before the material was identified as a carcinogen. Though American vehicle parts manufacturers have stopped using the material in its high-friction parts, that has not stopped foreign manufacturers from using the material in parts imported into the United States, and hobbyists and auto mechanics remain at risk from both new, imported parts and parts that were installed decades ago that may have contained the carcinogenic material.
Protecting Yourself Against Legacy Asbestos
The most important thing you can do to protect yourself against legacy asbestos is to learn where you are most likely to encounter it and to be cautious before doing work in any buildings or applications that pose a risk of containing hidden asbestos-containing materials.
If you find asbestos while beginning renovations or any other type of work, stop immediately and contact an asbestos abatement professional for assistance. If you suspect that a contractor or building owner is exposing you or others to the risk of asbestos exposure, reach out to your local Department of Environmental Health and Protection for assistance.
If You’ve Been Exposed to Legacy Asbestos
Learning that you’ve been exposed to legacy asbestos can be frightening, as there is a real risk of being diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease in the future. Taking steps to avoid this type of exposure is your best step, but if you have encountered legacy asbestos and you’re concerned, let your physician know what happened so they can take appropriate steps to protect your health.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, one of your most valuable resources will be an experienced asbestos attorney who can explain the options available to you. You may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against those whose negligence exposed you to legacy asbestos or to file a claim against an asbestos trust fund established by the asbestos companies initially responsible for the product that caused you harm.
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