Asbestos

sbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring, fibrous silicate minerals mined for their useful properties such as thermal insulation, chemical and thermal stability, and high tensile strength. Asbestos is commonly used as an acoustic insulator, and in thermal insulation, fire proofing and other building materials. Many products in use today contain asbestos.

Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers that may become airborne when asbestos- containing materials are damaged or disturbed. When these fibers get into the air they may be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems.

This page provides access to information about asbestos. On this Web site, you may access general information about asbestos and its health effects. You may also read about what to do if you suspect asbestos in products, in your home or in your school (en español- asbesto en las escuelas).

If you wish to obtain more information on asbestos, EPA maintains a listing of asbestos resources available to the public. If you would like to locate an asbestos contact, EPA maintains a listing of federal and state asbestos contacts.

The National Directory of AHERA Accredited Courses (NDAAC) contains information about training providers and approved courses nationwide and is meant to serve as a comprehensive reference and resource document. It should be useful for those training providers who offer accredited asbestos courses and to all consumers of these training services. It is also intended for use by federal and state agencies involved in the training and accreditation of asbestos control professionals under the federal law, the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA).

EPA maintains a listing of the laws and regulations applicable to asbestos. A 1989 regulation to ban most asbestos-containing products was later overturned in court.