Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers that may become airborne when disturbed. If these fibers get into the air, they can be inhaled into the lungs where they may cause significant health problems. Researchers still have not determined a "safe level" of exposure but we do know that the higher the concentration of fibers and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk of contracting an asbestos-related disease. Some of these health problems include:

• Asbestosis - a lung disease that causes scarring of the lungs. Eventually, this scarring may become so severe that the lungs cannot function. The latency period (meaning the time between the exposure and the onset of disease) is often 25-40 years.
• Mesothelioma - a cancer of the lining of the lung and chest and/or the lining of the abdominal wall. Asbestos exposure is one of the few causes of this cancer. The latency period for mesothelioma is often 15-50 years.
• Lung Cancer – Lung cancer can be caused by exposure to asbestos. A person has a much greater chance (50 to 84 times greater) of developing lung cancer if they are exposed to asbestos and they smoke. Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract can also be caused by asbestos exposure. The latency period for these cancers is often 15-30 years.

Despite the common misconception, exposure to asbestos fibers does not cause headaches, upper respiratory irritation or other immediate symptoms. As mentioned above, the effects often go unnoticed for 15-50 years.

There are common misunderstandings about an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ban on ACM products or uses from 1989. Many sources incorrectly report that all asbestos-containing products have been banned. In 1991, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated much of the so-called "Asbestos Ban and Phaseout" rule and remanded it to the EPA. Thus, much of the original 1989 EPA ban on the U.S. manufacturing, importation, processing, or distribution in commerce of many asbestos-containing product categories was set aside and did not take effect. Six asbestos-containing product categories are still subject to the 1989 asbestos ban. However, EPA has no existing bans on other asbestos-containing products or uses. Products manufactured in other countries may also contain asbestos and can be imported into the United States.

EPA does NOT track the manufacture, processing, or distribution in commerce of asbestos-containing products. It would be prudent for a consumer or other buyer to inquire as to the presence of asbestos in particular products. Possible sources of that information would include inquiring of the dealer/supplier or manufacturer, refer to the product's "Safety Data Sheet" (SDS), or consider having the material tested by an accredited laboratory before installing it in your building.