Asbestos is not a single substance. It is a group of six naturally occurring mineral fibers, each with distinct physical characteristics and each capable of causing serious and potentially fatal diseases.
Understanding the different types of asbestos, the jobsites where they were most commonly found, and the health conditions they cause is critical for workers and families who may have been exposed.
For more information, contact the lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend by calling toll-free at 1-855-500-3734, or by filling out our free asbestos contact form to the left of this page..
The Two Families of Asbestos
The six recognized types of asbestos are divided into two mineral families: serpentine and amphibole. The distinction matters because the shape of the fiber affects how it behaves inside the human body and how long it remains lodged in the lungs and other tissues.
Serpentine asbestos includes only one type: chrysotile. Chrysotile fibers are long and curly, forming a layered, sheet-like structure. This is the most commonly used form of asbestos in the United States, accounting for roughly 90% to 95% of asbestos found in buildings and commercial products. Because of its flexibility, chrysotile was woven into fabrics, mixed into cement, and used extensively in brake linings, gaskets, roofing materials, and insulation.
Amphibole asbestos includes five types: amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. Amphibole fibers are straight, stiff, and needle-like. Research has shown that amphibole fibers tend to penetrate deeper into the airways and remain in lung tissue longer than chrysotile fibers, which contributes to their potency. Amosite and crocidolite were widely used in commercial and industrial applications, while tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite were less commonly used on their own but frequently appeared as contaminants in other minerals, including chrysotile and talc.
The Six Types of Asbestos
Chrysotile (white asbestos) is the most widely used type of asbestos in the world. It was added to thousands of products, including roof shingles, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, pipe insulation, boiler seals, brake pads, and cement. Workers at construction sites, automotive repair shops, and manufacturing facilities were among those most frequently exposed to chrysotile.
Amosite (brown asbestos) was the second most commonly used type of asbestos in the United States. It was valued for its heat resistance and was used extensively in cement sheets, pipe insulation, ceiling tiles, thermal insulation products, and fireproofing materials. Amosite was heavily used in industrial settings, including chemical plants and power generating stations, as well as aboard naval vessels and at shipyards.
Crocidolite (blue asbestos) is considered by many researchers to be the most hazardous form of asbestos due to its extremely fine fibers, which are easily inhaled. Crocidolite was used to insulate steam engines, in spray-on coatings, and in some pipe insulation and cement products. From the 1880s through the 1950s, crocidolite was also used as insulating material on naval ships, putting service members and shipyard workers at significant risk.
Tremolite was not widely used as a standalone commercial product, but it is one of the most common asbestos contaminants found in chrysotile deposits, vermiculite, and talc. The contamination of vermiculite mined near Libby, Montana, with tremolite asbestos led to widespread illness and death among miners and residents. Tremolite has also been found in some talcum powder products linked to cancer.
Anthophyllite was used in limited quantities for insulation products and construction materials and is also found as a contaminant in chrysotile, vermiculite, and talc. While it was less common in commercial products, workers at mining operations and processing facilities could still be exposed.
Actinolite is a darker-colored mineral with sharp, elongated fibers. Like tremolite and anthophyllite, actinolite was not frequently used in commercial products on its own but could appear as a contaminant in other materials, including cement, insulation, paints, and drywall.
Jobsites Where Asbestos Exposure Was Most Common
Asbestos was used in thousands of products across virtually every major industry in the United States. Workers at the following types of jobsites faced some of the highest levels of exposure:
Oil refineries, steel mills, paper mills, and other industrial facilities relied on asbestos insulation on boilers, pipes, turbines, and furnaces. Workers who maintained or repaired this equipment, including pipefitters, insulators, and boilermakers, faced daily contact with asbestos-containing materials.
Shipyards and naval vessels used enormous quantities of chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite asbestos in engine rooms, boiler rooms, and throughout the hulls of ships built before the 1980s. Navy veterans and civilian shipyard workers were among the most heavily exposed groups in the country.
Power plants used asbestos insulation to protect workers and equipment from extreme heat. Maintenance workers, electricians, and equipment operators at these facilities frequently handled or worked near asbestos-containing materials.
Construction sites exposed carpenters, drywall installers, roofers, plumbers, and demolition workers to asbestos in cement, joint compounds, floor tiles, roofing materials, and insulation.
Automotive repair shops exposed mechanics and technicians to chrysotile asbestos from brake pads, clutch facings, and gaskets. Grinding, cutting, and replacing these parts released asbestos dust into the air in poorly ventilated garages.
Workers who were exposed at these and other jobsites may qualify for a free asbestos medical examination to determine whether they have developed signs of an asbestos-related disease.
The History of Asbestos Regulation in the United States
Despite decades of scientific evidence linking all six types of asbestos to cancer and lung disease, the United States has never enacted a complete ban on the mineral. The regulatory history is marked by repeated efforts, legal setbacks, and persistent gaps that continue to affect workers and families today.
Federal regulation began in the early 1970s. The Clean Air Act of 1970 classified asbestos as a hazardous air pollutant, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established the first workplace exposure limits the following year. In 1973, the EPA banned spray-on asbestos fireproofing and insulation, one of the most common sources of airborne fiber on construction sites and in buildings. These early actions targeted specific products and exposure settings but left the vast majority of asbestos-containing materials on the market.
In 1986, Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), which formally identified all six types of asbestos as hazardous and required schools nationwide to inspect for asbestos-containing materials. AHERA raised public awareness but did not ban the production or sale of asbestos products.
The EPA’s most ambitious effort came in 1989 with the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule, which sought to prohibit the manufacture, import, and sale of most asbestos-containing products. In 1991, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturned the majority of the rule, finding the EPA had not shown a full ban was the least burdensome option. That decision created a regulatory gap that lasted more than 30 years, during which the United States continued to import chrysotile asbestos while more than 70 other countries banned the substance outright.
In 2016, Congress passed the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act, overhauling the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and giving the EPA stronger authority to regulate dangerous chemicals. Asbestos was selected as one of the first chemicals for evaluation. In 2020, the EPA concluded chrysotile asbestos poses an unreasonable risk to human health, and on March 18, 2024, the agency finalized a rule banning the commercial use of chrysotile, the only type of asbestos still being imported into the country.
That rule is now under legal challenge. Industry groups filed suit in the Fifth Circuit, the same court that struck down the 1989 ban, and oral arguments are scheduled for June 2026. The outcome could shape the future of asbestos regulation for years to come.
Critically, the 2024 rule addressed only chrysotile asbestos. Legacy asbestos of all six types remains in millions of older buildings, factories, and homes across the country. When these materials are disturbed during renovation or demolition, they can still release dangerous fibers into the air.
Protecting Your Health and Your Rights
If you or a family member worked at a facility where any type of asbestos was present, the risk of developing a serious asbestos-related disease may still exist decades after that exposure occurred. Early detection through medical screening is one of the most important steps you can take.
Workers exposed to asbestos before 1982, along with their spouses and adult children, may qualify for a free asbestos health exam. The experienced attorneys at Hissey, Mulderig & Friend can also help you understand whether you may be entitled to compensation through a lawsuit or asbestos trust fund claim.
Schedule your free health exam or start your claim today by contacting our law office toll-free at 1-855-500-3734, or submit your information online by filling out our free asbestos case evaluation form today.
