Mesothelioma Help Center - Asbestos Links

EPA Asbestos Contact Information

Asbestos in Schools Publications

Asbestos Regulations - 40 CFR 763
NIOSH Recommendations for Limiting Potential Exposures of Workers to Asbestos Associated with Vermiculite from Libby, Montana
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2003-141 (2003)
Fact Sheet describes Vermiculite and Asbestos, and provides recommendations to prevent occupational exposures.

Asbestos Bibliography (Revised)
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-162 (1997)
Compendium of NIOSH research and recommendations on asbestos. It updates and supersedes the NIOSH document Asbestos Publications from June 1992.

Occupational Health Guidelines for Chemical Hazards
Guidelines summarize pertinent information about chemical hazards for workers, employers, and occupational safety and health professionals.

Current Intelligence Bulletin #31 - Adverse Health Effects of Smoking and the Occupational Environment
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No 79-122 (1979)
Identifies six ways in which smoking can interact with workplace exposures, including asbestos.

Revised Recommended Asbestos Standard
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 77-169 (1976)
Review of information on the health effects of exposure to asbestos.

Current Intelligence Bulletin #5 - Asbestos Exposure During Servicing of Motor Vehicle Brake and Clutch Assemblies
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No 78-127 (1975)
Includes estimates of the population at risk, interim recommendation for brake and clutch serviceing procedures, and a copy of the Department of Labor standard covering exposure to asbestos in the workplace.

Criteria for a Recommended Standard-Occupational Exposure to Asbestos
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 72-10267 (1972)
Presents the criteria and standards for preventing occupational diseases arising from exposure to asbestos dust.

Asbestos Abatement

An Evaluation of Glove Bag Containment in Asbestos Removal
NIOSH Publication No. 90-119 (1990)
Examines the effectiveness of the glove bag control method to prevent asbestos emissions during the removal of asbestos-containing pipe lagging.

B-Reader Program

To B or Not to B: The NIOSH B-Reader Program
NIOSH B-Reader approval is granted to physicians who demonstrate proficiency in the classification of chest x-rays for the pneumoconioses using the International Labour Office (ILO) Classification System.

Conference Proceedings

Proceedings of the VIIth International Pneumoconioses Conference Part I
NIOSH Publication No. 90-108 Part I (1990)

Proceedings of the VIIth International Pneumoconioses Conference Part II
NIOSH Publication No. 90-108 Part II (1990)

Home Contamination

Protecting Workers' Families: A Research Agenda: Report of the Workers' Family Protection Task Force
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-113 (2002)
Represents the Task Force's commentary on the 1995 NIOSH Workers' Home Contamination Study report, identifies gaps in the current knowledge about take-home exposures and related health effects, and provides a prioritized agenda for Federally sponsored research.

Protect Your Family: Reduce Contamination at Home
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-125 (1997)
This report summarizes a NIOSH conducted a study of contamination of workers' homes by hazardous substances transported from the workplace.

Report to Congress on Workers' Home Contamination Study Conducted Under the Workers' Family Protection Act (29 U.S.C. 671A)
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 95-123 (September 1995)-Summary
This report to Congress and the Workers' Family Protection Task Force summarizes incidents of home contamination, including the health consequences, sources, and levels of contamination.

Sampling and Analysis

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), 4th edition
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-113 (1994)
NMAM is a collection of methods for sampling and analysis of contaminants in workplace air, and in the blood and urine of workers who are occupationally exposed. These methods have been developed or adapted by NIOSH or its partners and have been evaluated according to established experimental protocols and performance criteria. NMAM also includes chapters on quality assurance, sampling, portable instrumentation, etc.

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
The Pocket Guide presents key information and data in abbreviated tabular form for 677 chemicals or substance groupings (e.g., manganese compounds, tellurium compounds, inorganic tin compounds, etc.) that are found in the work environment.

Asbestos

Appendix E - Commonly Asked Questions and Answers about Part 84 Respirators

Surveillance

Atlas of Respiratory Disease Mortality, United States: 1982-1993
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-157 (1998)
This report presents maps showing geographic distributions (by health service area) of mortality associated with selected respiratory conditions that together represent nearly all respiratory diseases. For categories of traditional occupational lung diseases mapped in this atlas (i.e., the pneumoconioses, including coal workers' pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, silicosis, byssinosis, and other and unspecified pneumoconioses), nearly all cases are attributable to hazardous occupational exposure.

Worker Health Chartbook, 2000
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2000-127 (2000)
The Worker Health Chartbook presents data and charts that characterize types of injuries and illnesses by gender, race, industry, and occupation. In May 2002, sections of the Chartbook were re-packaged in booklets highlighting fatal and nonfatal illnesses and injuries as well as a focus on mining.

Fatal Illness
(DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-118)

Nonfatal Illness
(DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-120)

Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 2002
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-111 (2002)
The sixth of a series, the Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance Report 2002 provides information on various work-related respiratory diseases and associated exposures in the United States. The WoRLD Surveillance Report 2002 describes where these diseases are occurring (by industry and geographic location), who is affected (by race, gender, age, and occupation), how frequently they occur, and temporal trends.

Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 1999
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2000-105 (1999)
This surveillance report presents summary tables and figures of occupational respiratory disease surveillance data focusing on various occupationally-relevant respiratory diseases, including pneumoconioses, occupational asthma and other airway diseases, and several other respiratory conditions. For many of these diseases, selected data on related exposures are also presented.

Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 1996
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-134 (1996)
This 1996 surveillance report provides national and state-specific summaries of occupational respiratory disease surveillance data focusing on pneumoconiosis mortality. Selected occupational respiratory hazard sampling data relevant to pneumoconiosis are also presented.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Mortality

Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 1994
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-120 (1994)
The 1994 Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report (WoRLD) provides a summary of surveillance data for various occupational respiratory diseases from a variety of sources. The majority of the data in this report is for the time period 1968-1990.

Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report Supplement 1992
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 91-113s (1992)
Supplement to the first Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report (WoRLD) which presents updated data and data which was previously unpresented including sex, race, geographic distribution, industry and occupation; number of discharges with silicosis or asbestosis from the National Hospital Discharge Survey; and reports of occupational asthma and silicosis from the SENSOR program.

Work Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 91-113 (1991)
First of a series, this report represents a summary of data for various occupational respiratory diseases divided into figures and tables.

NIOSH Recommendations for Limiting Potential Exposures of Workers to Asbestos Associated with Vermiculite form Libby, Montana . NIOSH Update (2003, May 21), 2 pages. This document cautions that, in general, any vermiculite that originated from a mine near Libby should be regarded as potentially contaminated with asbestos.

The full fact sheet , DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-141 (2003, May), 3 pages, is also available. This fact sheet provides information about vermiculite, its health effects, and how workers can be protected from asbestos-contaminated vermiculite.

Asbestos in Your Home . EPA (2003, January), 8 pages. This document will help you understand asbestos: what it is, its health effects, where it is in your home, and what to do about it.

Asbestos . NIOSH Safety and Health Topic page (2003), 4 pages. This document provides recommendations for preventing occupational exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos Statistics and Information . U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (2003), 2 pages. Many thousands of tons of asbestos are currently imported, mined, and used every year in the U.S., mostly for roofing, friction products, and gaskets. The references in this link provide information on the amount of asbestos produced by year.

Sample List of Suspect Asbestos - Containing Materials . EPA Region VI (2002, June), 2 pages. Provides a list of materials that may contain asbestos.

Asbestos . OSHA Fact Sheet (2002), 63 KB PDF, 2 pages. This document discusses the hazards of asbestos exposure to workers.

Asbestos-The Tenth Report on Carcinogens . U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Toxicology Program (2002), 2.02 MB PDF, 8 pages. This is a document that explains the properties, use, production, exposure, and regulations regarding asbestos.

Asbestos Information . Utah Division of Air Quality (2002), 4 pages. This document discusses asbestos minerals, diseases, exposure, and occurrence.

Toxicological Profile for Asbestos . Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (2001, September), 4 pages. The ATSDR toxicological profile succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information of asbestos.

Chrysotile Reference Guide . Asbestos Institute, 3 pages. Provides an extensive overview of asbestos types and health related issues. Explores evidence of lower toxicity for chrysotile. To read why OSHA rejected this concept, use your browser's "find" feature to locate "chrysotile" in the Preamble to the 1994 OSHA Asbestos Standard .

What is Asbestos? University of Minnesota, 1 page. This document explains the different mineral forms of asbestos.

Asbestos Health Effects . University of Minnesota, 2 pages. This document describes asbestos exposure and disease.

Asbestos Report . International Program on Chemical Safety (IPCS), (1988, December). Provides an international point of view. This summary discusses aspects of asbestos production, use, and disposal, as well as health effects, and sampling and analysis procedures.

Asbestos: Criteria for a Recommended Standard . NIOSH (1976, December). This asbestos criteria document provides extensive discussion of asbestos hazards and control measures. Though the material is dated, this is a valuable resource.

Other mineral fibers may be hazardous. National Toxicology Program lists respirable size ceramic fibers (1.9 MB PDF) and glasswool (2.05 MB PDF) as "reasonably anticipated" carcinogens.

More Resource Links

OSHA Asbestos Information (OSHA-SLC)
OSHA's Asbestos Standard for General Industry /1910-1001 (OSHA)
Asbestos: NESHAP Information and Guidance Documents (EPA)
Code of Federal Regulations for Asbestos / Title 40, Part 763 (GPO)Asbestos (ATSDR)

Asbestos (Ohio State Univ)
Asbestos (Univ. Louisville)
Asbestos (UMaryland)
Asbestos Awareness (Oklahoma State Univ. EHS )
Asbestos Awareness Training Requirements (Oklahoma State Univ. EHS )
Asbestos Cement Building Products (Saftek)
Asbestos Facts (National Safety Council)
Asbestos in the Home (EPA Region 4)
Asbestos NESHAP Adequately Wet Guidelines (EPA)
Asbestos/NESHAP Regulated Asbestos Containing Material Guidelines (EPA)
Asbestos: What Is It? (American Lung Association)
Asbestos Exposure During Servicing of Clutch and Brake Assemblies (NIOSH)
The Asbestos Informer (EPA)
Asbestos in the Home: A Homeowner's Guide (EPA)
Asbestos Operations and Maintenance Manual (U Texas)
Asbestos Safety (Medical Consumer Guide)
The Asbestos Standard (Lab Safety Supply)
Asbestos in the Workplace: Protection Against (OSHA)
Asbestos: Statistics and Information (production info from USGS)
asbestosis.html" target="_blank">Asbestosis (American Lung Association)
Asbestosis (Mesothelioma Information & Resource Group)
Building Materials Containing Asbestos (Mesothelioma Center)
Chrysotile Asbestos Evaluated by Health Experts (World Health Organization)
Demolition Practices Under Asbestos NESHAP (EPA)
Facts About Asbestos (US Geological Survey)
Malignant Mesothelioma (Cancer Web)
Malignant Mesothelioma (National Cancer Institute: Cancer.gov)
Mesothelioma (American Lung Assoc.)
Mesothelioma (Mesothelioma Information & Resource Group)
Occupational Hazards of Asbestos (American Lung Assoc.)
Occupational Lung Disease Fact Sheet (American Lung Assoc.)
Reduction of Asbestos in the Environment (Intl' Program on Chem Safety)
Safe Use of Chrysotile Asbestos: A Manual (Asbestos Institute)
Sample List of Suspect Asbestos-Containing Materials (EPA - Region 6)
Transport and Disposal of Asbestos Waste (CFR 40.763, Appendix D)
What Is Asbestos? (EPA - Region 6)