New survey reveals widespread lack of asbestos awareness and testing among U.S. homeowners

A brand‑new national survey – commissioned by AsbestosClaims.Law – landed with an unfortunate bang this month: 91% of U.S. homeowners admit they have never tested their property for asbestos, while 35% of would-be buyers say they would bail on a deal the moment asbestos shows up. ‘Asbestos is quietly becoming a modern real‑estate risk,’ the report concludes.

That disconnect between fear and action isn’t just a curiosity; it’s a public‑health, financial and legal time bomb waiting to go off.

The Alarming Awareness Gap

When researchers pressed owners on why they skipped testing:

  • 44% said they didn’t know it was necessary
  • 29% assumed a contractor or insurer would handle it
  • 9% thought authorities had already cleared the risk 

Even knowledge of likely hiding spots is thin. Only 30% pointed to insulation, 19% named ‘popcorn’ ceilings and 19% mentioned roofing; few cited pipe insulation, vinyl tiles or mastics that routinely test positive.

Compounding the confusion, homes built well after the 1978 lead‑paint cut‑off can still contain asbestos in roofing, floor tiles and cement siding.

Why Asbestos Testing Matters For Health And Finance

Medical research leaves no room for doubt: asbestos fibers cause deadly diseases including mesothelioma, asbestosis and a spectrum of lung, laryngeal and gastrointestinal cancers. The World Health Organization attributes more than 200,000 deaths each year to asbestos exposure. Children exposed in mining towns continue to show elevated mortality decades later. Even homemakers – people who have never set foot in a shipyard or factory – are appearing in mesothelioma statistics.

The financial stakes run in parallel. In today’s hot housing market, 70% of survey respondents said a positive asbestos finding would threaten or delay a sale. Owners who renovate without testing risk surprise abatement costs that can add tens of thousands to a project, tank insurance claims or trigger lawsuits from future occupants.

Natural Disasters Stir Up Hidden Fibers

Wildfires, hurricanes, floods and high‑wind events don’t just flatten buildings – they churn up legacy toxins. During the January-February 2025 Southern California wildfires, many torched structures were built before 1980 and therefore most likely contained asbestos. Furthermore, microscopic fibers rode the smoke plume miles beyond the flames, creating an exposure zone far larger than the burn scar.

After the ash settles, insurance headaches begin. Standard homeowner policies often cap or exclude hazardous‑debris removal; deductibles and policy limits can leave families footing a big share of certified abatement fees. Add FEMA or Army Corps participation, and reimbursement rules become even more labyrinthine.

U.S. negligence law imposes a duty to warn whenever a property owner knows – or reasonably should know – about a hidden danger. Unlike lead paint, no federal rule forces disclosure of asbestos during a sale, yet civil juries have repeatedly found owners liable when tenants or contractors become ill after undisclosed exposure.

Ignoring that duty jeopardizes more than health; it can torpedo deals, spike insurance premiums and invite punitive damages.

A Cautionary Tale From New York’s Tunnels

Last year a steam‑pipe leak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side spewed asbestos‑laden dust onto Park Avenue, forcing officials to shut streets and tell residents to seal their windows. Crews cleared the debris but the incident underscored how infrastructure built decades ago can still unleash fibers with a single rupture.

If such an event happened beneath your rental or condo building, would management have records to prove pre‑incident testing? Would your insurer cover tenant relocation? Most owners cannot answer with confidence.

Insurance Coverage Is Not A Safety Net

Asbestos debris is a unique and costly challenge requiring specialized gear, negative‑pressure containment and licensed haulers; those costs routinely outstrip generic debris allowances in standard policies. Riders for environmental liability exist, yet uptake is low because many owners (incorrectly) assume the risk vanished with the 1980s bans.

If you live in a wildfire‑prone corridor, review your coverage now – waiting until after evacuation orders arrive all but guarantees unpleasant surprises.

Spotting Likely Hotspots In Older Homes

While only lab analysis can confirm asbestos, the materials below raise red flags:

  • Vermiculite or loose‑fill attic insulation
  • Nine‑inch vinyl floor tiles or original black mastic
  • Cement sheet siding, transite flues or asbestos‑cement pipes
  • Textured ceilings applied before the late 1980s
  • Pipe or boiler wrap with a white or gray fibrous blanket

If disturbed, any of these products can release airborne fibers invisible to the naked eye.

How To Protect Your Household Right Now

  • Do not disturb suspect materials: sanding, drilling or scraping can send deadly fibers into the air
  • Order a professional test: DIY kits risk false negatives and improper sampling
  • Budget for certified abatement: plan ahead so renovations don’t stall mid‑project
  • Document everything: keep lab reports and abatement receipts for future buyers
  • Educate tenants or family post renovation: hang notices and safe‑work rules in common areas

When To Call A Certified Professional

Asbestos remediation is a very dangerous business, and only a certified contractor should handle it. Qualified teams carry HEPA vacuums, sealed waste containers and insurance riders that protect owners if workers are exposed. Cutting corners not only endangers health; it opens the door to litigation and negative press.

Taking Proactive Steps

Testing costs a few hundred dollars; cancer treatment? Six figures (and a whole lot more). A simple air or bulk‑sample analysis can spare families, tenants and tradespeople from lifelong disease, and it arms owners with documentation that eases insurance claims, financing and future sales.

Waiting until a wildfire, renovation mishap or infrastructure failure forces the issue leaves only bad options. Closing the knowledge gap starts with one phone call to a qualified inspector – and it must start today.