Legacy Asbestos, the Third Wave of Asbestos Disease, and Implications for Domestic Exposure

Asbestos-containing products have been utilized extensively in home and building construction during the first eight decades of the 20th century.  While substantial literature exists regarding occupational asbestos exposure, limited information is available concerning asbestos exposure in residential settings. In addition to asbestos containing building products in homes, exposures to asbestos may also result from the use of products in which asbestos occurs as a contaminant. Despite regulation by EPA and OSHA, ongoing occupational and environmental exposures to asbestos remain a continuing cause for concern. The aim of this paper is to review the scope of legacy asbestos and highlight the implications for domestic exposure.