The possibility of being exposed to asbestos is not limited to whether you work or have worked in an area where asbestos is present. In fact, the threat of asbestos exposure can include the threat of being exposed in the comfort of your own home. What’s worse, there are legal considerations involved in asbestos-containing products in your home that could not only affect your or those you love but also your wallet! Here’s what you need to know as a homeowner about asbestos in your home, and what to do to protect yourself and others.





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If you believe that you were exposed to asbestos, even as a child, speak to a healthcare provider about tests and screening to help diagnose lung-scarring and screen for asbestos-related diseases.





Health Issues and Dangers

The asbestos industry can be considered both the most negligent and the most wreckless throughout history in the United States. This is because while the asbestos industry was aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure as far back as the 1930s, no regulations or banning of the mineral took place until over 50 years later. 





“The overall evidence suggests there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.”

Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH)1





What prompted this legal change concerning asbestos was not the concern for the welfare of American citizens, but a reaction from the industry to the widespread lawsuits and financial claims from those who suffered from a debilitating asbestos diseases, or loved ones of those who died from asbestos exposure. 

Most asbestos products have been banned, but a lot of asbestos materials still linger in older buildings of all kinds.

This increasing legal trend prompted the big players in the asbestos industry to seek legal protection and bankruptcy stipulations, and the federal government was forced to pass legislation that finally agreed with the hidden data that had been growing for over half a century: Asbestos exposure, in any form, is dangerous to human health and can often be fatal.





“Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after exposure.”

Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH)2

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Prominent Asbestos Use in American Construction

Despite the laws in the United States finally coming to terms with the facts concerning asbestos exposure, this change in the 1980s came after a long-standing practice of using asbestos here, there, and everywhere. This is especially true in the construction industry. Everything from the foundation, the floor, the walls, the pipes, the insulation, and even the roof was constructed with the inclusion of asbestos to provide protection and durability.

It is hard to overstate just how effective asbestos was throughout commercial and residential buildings. Asbestos could provide a cheap and reliable solution to everything from heat resistance to sound absorption and strength. No wonder the ancients referred to asbestos as a miracle mineral!





“Some asbestos fibers may bypass…your body’s natural defenses…and lodge deep within your lungs. Those fibers can remain in place for a very long time and may never be removed.”

Source: American Lung Association





Durability, Friability, and Health Issues

Despite the seeming invincibility of asbestos, there are limits to its durability. Specifically, this includes the understanding of the friability of asbestos. This term refers to the breakdown of asbestos when it comes under stress or deterioration. Despite asbestos’ durability, when it is used in other products it can become susceptible to being broken down, crushed, or crumbled. While this is not normal, it can still happen alongside the occurrence of environmental risks. One of the most significant examples of this includes building fires or other natural disasters. 

Demolition or even wear and tear can lead to asbestos fibers becoming airborne and inhaled or swallowed by anyone in the vicinity.

These situations can take an otherwise harmless asbestos-containing product, make it friable, and disperse the dangerous microscopic asbestos fibers into the air. Modern inventions such as HVAC or simply the occurrence of a strong wind can take these fibers and disperse them throughout the surrounding area, turning a localized risk into a catastrophic danger.

Don’t put your head in the sand when it comes to asbestos on your property.

Homeowners may be tempted to downplay the health issues related to asbestos, especially if no structural or environmental damage has occurred in an older home. However, health risks related to asbestos exposure and the friability of asbestos can also apply to instances when home renovations are taking place. Just like natural disasters, renovation projects in older homes can take harmless asbestos-containing materials that are still intact and aggravate them by breaking them down and spreading asbestos fibers throughout the construction area and throughout the home.

Even if the renovation is taking place in an area that does not have wind concerns or HVAC, such as an attic or basement, tiny asbestos fibers can attach themselves to tools and clothing and be carried throughout the rest of the house. Not only does this pose a risk for those who are working on the renovation, but it creates a risk of secondary exposure for other people in the home.

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Premises Liability

What should homeowners do in light of these risks? One of the first things to do if your home was built prior to the 1989 EPA ban of asbestos and you suspect asbestos is to conduct an asbestos test.  Various kinds of tests exist, including both soil and air tests. Some of these can be easily done by yourself, and some require professional help. 

Use a professional for asbestos testing and removal.

Depending on the circumstance and your level of concern it is always best to leave both the testing and removal of asbestos to companies that are trained to do so. In fact, it is good to know that different states have their own regulations for asbestos removal and disposal, and your local removal companies will be trained and certified to deal with asbestos accordingly. 

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The importance of getting an asbestos test for your home or other property.

If you find yourself in the process of buying or selling a home that carries a reasonable possibility of asbestos, you should know that while some home inspections will include concerns for asbestos-containing products, home inspections are not exhaustive tests for asbestos. As a seller, you will need to ensure that you have done all you can to ensure that you have not sold a home that contains asbestos, especially without the legal protection of documenting an official asbestos test prior to selling the home. 

Inspection reports have been falsified or incorrect, so get your own report to be certain.

Further, if you are buying an older home, do not rely on the home inspection report as the only documentation of verifying whether the home contains asbestos or not. Particularly, if you are buying a fixer-upper home and notice damage in areas where asbestos-containing materials may be present, you should reach out to the seller and request an asbestos test for your family’s safety.

However, if you are on the back end of this entire process and are only recently being educated on the dangers and legal considerations of asbestos exposure, it is important to reach out to those who offer professional help to walk you through all of these things. The good folks at AsbestosClaims.Law can help you secure the financial compensation you need if you have been exposed to asbestos, especially at the expense of a negligent property seller.

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For Justinian C. Lane, getting compensation for asbestos victims is personal.

Justinian’s grandparents and his father all worked with asbestos in their younger years and died from asbestos-related cancers in their later years.  

At the time of each of their deaths, no one in Justinian’s family knew that they were eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit and to seek compensation from the asbestos trusts.

Because no one in Justinian’s family knew their options, they never received any compensation for the death of their loved ones. 

If you believe that you or your family member’s injury was related to asbestos exposure, you could be entitled to significant compensation.

This is money you could use to cover the costs of asbestos removal services, pay for medical treatment, and preemptively protect your physical well-being. 

There are also asbestos trusts that offer compensation much more quickly and easily (without filing a lawsuit.)

If you’d like help with filing a claim, please get in touch by email at [email protected], or call or text us at (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378) or (206) 455-9190. We’ll listen to your story and explain your options. And we never charge for anything unless you receive money in your pocket.

In addition to legal claims, veterans disability, social security and employment protection like workers compensation, FELA and The Jones Act for maritime workers, there are asbestos trusts that have been set up to compensate those harmed by asbestos without having to file a lawsuit.

There is no risk or cost to speak with one of our staff about your asbestos litigation. There are no fees unless you receive money.

If you have any additional questions or concerns related to asbestos, check out our website and YouTube page for videos, infographics and answers to your questions about asbestos, including health and safety, asbestos testing, removing asbestos from your home and building, and legal information about compensation for asbestos injuries.

Introducing the largest database of asbestos information on the planet.

W.A.R.D., which stands for the Worldwide Asbestos Research Database, helps clients to narrow down when and where they may have been exposed, as well as which products may still contain asbestos. W.A.R.D. will also help indicate compensation types and how much a person may be entitled to.

1 National Cancer Institute (NIH), Asbestos Fact Sheet.
2 National Cancer Institute (NIH), Asbestos Fact Sheet.