Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. EPA and CPSC have banned several asbestos products. Manufacturers have also voluntarily limited uses of asbestos. Today, asbestos is most commonly found in older homes, in pipe and furnace insulation materials, asbestos shingles, millboard, textured paints and other coating materials, and floor tiles.

Elevated concentrations of airborne asbestos can occur after asbestos-containing materials are disturbed by cutting, sanding or other remodeling activities. Improper attempts to remove these materials can release asbestos fibers into the air in homes, increasing asbestos levels and endangering people living in those homes.

There are no immediate symptoms of asbestos exposure. However, over the long-term, there is a high risk of chest and abdominal cancers and lung disease including Asbestosis and Mesothelioma.

Asbestosis is a non cancerous condition that results when asbestos fibers get lodged in the lungs of a person who has been exposed to asbestos. The lungs try to protect themselves by producing scar tissue. As a result, the lung's capacity for oxygen diminishes. As the scarring of the lungs increases, the long's vital capacity decreases.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant cells appear in the chest, the area surrounding the heart, or abdominal region. This disease is attributed to asbestos exposure, typically in a work environment. Even a small exposure to this cancer-causing material can result in malignant mesothelioma.