Asbestos

Environmental behavior

Persistence and movement

Asbestos fibers do not biodegrade. Risk is greatest when material is disturbed and respirable fibers become airborne.

Pathways

How exposure may occur

• Breathing airborne fibers during work, demolition, deterioration, or improper handling
• Household contact with contaminated work clothing historically created secondary exposure

People

Potential long-term human effects

• Long-term inhalation can cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
• Disease may appear decades after exposure.

Other living systems

Potential ecological effects

• Ecological effects are less extensively characterized than human inhalation hazards.
• Airborne fibers and contaminated material can affect animals, but species-specific exposure evidence is limited.

Limits

Important uncertainty

The presence of intact asbestos-containing material does not equal airborne exposure; condition and disturbance are central.