The Role of Asbestos in Construction Products

Written by Staff Writer | Edited by Michael Purser

If you work in construction, particularly in renovations and historical preservation, you are likely to encounter asbestos fibers in certain building materials.

Before the material’s health hazards were well understood, manufacturers frequently used asbestos in cement products because it offered multiple benefits — including improved strength, durability and fire resistance.

Unfortunately, it also caused serious and sometimes fatal health complications for anyone who breathed it in, which is why asbestos regulations sharply curbed its use from the early 1970s onward. But if you work on older buildings, asbestos exposure is still just as deadly today as it was when the materials were installed.

Learning about asbestos in cement and other building materials, as well as safe asbestos abatement procedures, is vital if you want to protect yourself and your fellow workers.

Understanding the Hazards of Fibers in Construction, Their Uses and Health Risks

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), asbestos is a classification of materials that includes the following mineral fibers:

• Actinolite
• Amosite
• Anthophyllite
• Chrysotile
• Crocidolite
• Tremolite
• Any chemically treated or processed variation of the above

Chrysotile is the most common fiber found in cement. It was also the last form of the material to be banned, starting in 2024. Manufacturers historically used a variety of fibers to improve the performance of their building products. Any variation presents a serious hazard to workers.

Applications

Chrysotile and similar minerals offered several enhancements to concrete mixtures. They reinforced the products and made them significantly stronger than they would have been otherwise. The corrosion resistance properties made the concrete last longer under environmental stress. It also helped reduce friction, which is why it was mixed into water pipes.

Exceptional fire resistance is asbestos’s most famous property. With a melting point of around 1600 degrees Fahrenheit, these minerals were essentially non-flammable and non-combustible, which offered obvious benefits to any structure. Fire-proof insulation, roofing materials, walls and other building components are exceptional safety features.

Chrysotile and similar minerals offered so many benefits that they were used in many industries beyond construction, including everything from shipbuilding to automobile manufacturing.

Health Risks

All materials break down, even those with above-average strength and corrosion resistance. When structures containing chrysotile and similar minerals degrade — or are demolished — they release fibers into the air. Particles are invisible to the human eye and easily inhaled.

Health and safety researchers eventually discovered that inhaling these minerals can lead to an accumulation of scar-like tissue in the lungs, causing a condition now known as asbestosis. This results in a loss of lung function and often progresses to significant disability and death.

The damage can extend beyond the workers who are directly exposed. Documented cases include family members suffering from health complications after breathing in dust brought home on workers’ clothing. This demonstrates just how hazardous these minerals are. You don’t even have to be the one engaging in asbestos disposal to suffer harm.

Regulations

OSHA developed standards to protect workers from the risks of exposure. Construction standards are found in 29 CFR 1926.1101.

Employers must engage in asbestos testing if they suspect the presence of these minerals at worksites.

If employers find hazardous minerals like chrysotile, they must do everything possible to mitigate employee exposure. Ideally, this can be done through a combination of engineering controls and safe work practices.

If exposure cannot be reduced to permissible levels, proper respiratory protection must be provided in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE), including filtered respirators.

Employers must also establish proper hazard communication and demarcation of the presence of the hazard with clear signage.

Regulators require employers to provide adequate safety training for workers who will encounter these materials and medical surveillance for those exposed to hazardous levels.

Today, regulations prohibit these minerals in most new products and buildings. But if you work in existing, especially older, buildings, OSHA’s standards provide much-needed protection.

Most Common Asbestos-Containing Materials in Construction

Cement isn’t the only asbestos-containing material (ACM). The OSHA Fact Sheet for this hazard states that some materials should be presumed to contain contaminants if they were manufactured before 1981, including:

• Thermal insulation
• Roofing and siding shingles
• Vinyl floor tiles
• Plaster, cement, putties and caulk
• Ceiling tiles and spray-on coatings
• Industrial pipe wrapping
• Heat-resistant textiles
• Automobile brake linings and clutch pads

Cement, used as a bonding agent in many different applications often contained these minerals. Many reinforced concrete products contained chrysotile as a strengthening additive. You might not find this mineral in concrete foundations or thick walls, but you are more likely to encounter it in products like pipes, panels and other products that need enhanced structural properties.

The Most Common Asbestos-Related Diseases

According to the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), “Workers and others who breathed…fibers over many years have developed asbestos-related cancer and noncancer diseases.”

These diseases include:

Lung Cancer

A malignant tumor that invades tissue and may block the lung’s air passages. Tumors degrade respiratory function and may metastasize to spread to other areas of the body.

Tobacco smokers exposed to these minerals are significantly more likely to develop lung cancer.

Mesothelioma

A rare cancer of the membrane lining the lungs and chest cavity, abdominal cavity or other organs. Signs of this disease may not appear for 30 or 40 years after exposure. Many workers were unaware of the dangers they faced until decades later.

Other Cancers

Exposure can lead to cancer of the larynx and ovary and possibly to cancer of the pharynx, stomach and colorectum. Exposed workers should seek comprehensive screenings.

Asbestosis

Scarring of the lungs inhibits the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide, making breathing progressively harder. This condition usually develops after very high exposure over many years.

Pleural Disease

A lung condition that changes the membrane surrounding the lungs and chest cavity. The tissue thickens over time, which can result in a life-threatening fluid buildup around the lungs.

Educational Resources for Identification and Safety Assessments

The dangers of chrysotile and similar minerals to human health are so significant that you can’t afford to take chances. Whether you are directly exposed to the material or manage others, proper safety training is essential. Everyone at risk must understand how to identify potential dangers, practice safe asbestos removal and follow proper safety practices.

Fortunately, it’s never been easier to get that training. At OSHA Education Center, we offer comprehensive online training for construction and general industry. In as little as an hour, you can learn the risks and how to limit or eliminate exposure as you maintain a safe work environment.

Key topics covered in the course include:

• Hazards of these minerals as they relate to the construction workplace
• OSHA and EPA standards that regulate exposure
• Safeguards for limiting or eliminating exposure

Each module of the course ends with a five-question quiz so you can verify that you absorbed all the relevant information. At the end of the course, you will take a 20-question final exam. Don’t worry if you don’t pass on the first try. You can retake the exam as many times as you want until you achieve a passing score of 70% or higher.

This course is appropriate for any worker who may be exposed to these hazardous materials during active work, including:

• Workers
• Supervisors and managers
• Site safety personnel

Why Choose Our Asbestos Awareness Training

OSHA Education Center is the preferred resource for workplace safety education. We offer a wide range of courses, including short, hazard-specific courses on topics like fall protection as well as comprehensive courses like OSHA 10-hour and OSHA 30-hour Outreach Training programs. If you need safety education, we have a course that covers the topic that interests you.

It's not just the variety and quality of our courses that make us stand out. We focus on helping you get the education and certifications you need without disrupting your busy life. Our fully online training is perfect for your unique schedule.

Study from any device with an internet connection, including your laptop, tablet or smartphone. Start and stop any time you like because we save your progress automatically. Once you successfully complete your course, you can instantly download your Certificate of Completion.

Don’t take chances with your respiratory safety. Sign up for a course today!