Asbestos Exposure Limits: What Level is Safe?

You might think that you don’t have much chance of developing an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma if you didn’t have direct exposure yourself or you didn’t have exposure for very long. However, though higher levels of exposure are known to be more dangerous, what is often surprising is that there is no safe level of asbestos that you can be exposed to. Being exposed to it only briefly can lead to asbestos-related disease, and you can even develop a disease after secondary exposure through someone else.

Asbestos Permissible Exposure Limit

According to government data, the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for asbestos is 0.1 fiber for every cubic centimeter of air with an eight-hour average period. For a period of only 30 minutes, the excursion limit is 1.0 fibers for every cubic centimeter. These limits are in place because of the highly toxic nature of asbestos and the high rate of damage it can do to the lungs.

OSHA placed the 0.1-fiber limit in place for regulatory purposes, but the department stresses that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. The 0.1 fibers rule per cubic centimeter still leaves those exposed to this much asbestos at substantial risk of mesothelioma and other lung diseases.

What Employers Must Do to Reduce Exposure

If it is not possible to meet the PEL, companies are required to use engineering controls to reduce the amount of asbestos as much as possible. In addition, respiratory protection equipment must be used by everyone who could come in contact with asbestos. In some instances, there must be periodic monitoring of the exposure levels as well as required assessments of the initial exposure level.

Areas that have dangerously high levels of asbestos concentrations must be regulated to have limited access to prevent as much exposure as possible. In regulated areas, no one may eat, drink, or smoke. Regulated areas must have warning signs as well as caution labels to make it clear that there are hazardous materials present. In addition, recordkeeping for the regulated areas that document the precautions taken is required, and those who are given access to the regulated areas must be placed under medical surveillance.

Asbestos Exposure Dangers Still Exist

Due to its dangerous nature, asbestos is no longer used today. However, older buildings and other sites may still retain this substance in their building materials. If the materials are still in good condition, exposure to asbestos should be at a minimum. However, materials that are in bad condition often let asbestos fibers into the surrounding air.

In addition to the demolition of buildings, asbestos dangers are present in industrial sites that are related to asbestos such as in asbestos mines and factories. In these areas, the amount of particles in the air can be expected to be larger. This often makes exposure to asbestos worse when it happens indoors and on the job, called occupational exposure, than when it happens in the environment.

Construction work is particularly dangerous when it comes to asbestos exposure, as is asbestos abatement. Both of these job types come with their own OSHA procedures for protection against exposure to asbestos. All construction jobs require vacuum cleaners to be used with HEPA filters to collect debris that could contain asbestos fibers. There are ways to minimize the dust generated at these worksites to keep as many fibers as possible out of the air. Anything collected that does contain asbestos must be collected in containers that are tight and leak-free. Approved respirators must be work, and regulated areas must have ventilation that moves the potentially contaminated air from the area around workers to an area where the air will be filtered or collected. 

Why Long-Term Exposure is High Risk

There is a health risk any time asbestos is inhaled, though that risk may not be apparent for a long time. During asbestos exposure, the fibers get into the lungs where they become trapped. There, they create scarring of the lungs. Having a short exposure to a high concentration of asbestos fibers is highly dangerous, but it is just as dangerous to have longer exposure to a lower level of concentration in the air. To help minimize these risks, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have guidelines for staying protected from asbestos exposure both in the environment and at work.

Though any exposure to asbestos fibers can result in lung disease, the damage may take many years to develop. One of the biggest risk factors for mesothelioma is having worked in the 50s and 60s with insulation products. It can take decades for the disease to develop even after significant exposure to the fibers.

If you believe exposure to asbestos could have caused your lung disease, contact us today to find out how we can help.

Secondary and Environmental Asbestos Exposure: The Hidden Risk

When most people think of asbestos exposure, they picture construction workers, shipyard employees, or factory laborers. However, secondary exposure—also known as take-home exposure—has become a growing concern. This occurs when someone who works directly with asbestos unknowingly carries fibers home on their clothing, hair, or tools. Family members who handle the contaminated laundry or spend time near those fibers can inhale them and face the same long-term risks.

Environmental exposure is another overlooked danger. Old buildings, shipyards, schools, and even residential homes built before the 1980s may still contain asbestos insulation, siding, or flooring materials. Natural asbestos deposits found in certain regions—such as parts of California, Montana, and Virginia—can also pose risks when disturbed by construction, mining, or weather events.

Because asbestos fibers are microscopic and durable, they can remain suspended in the air for long periods or settle into household dust. Even occasional or low-level exposure from these sources can lead to asbestosis, mesothelioma, or lung cancer decades later. For this reason, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that no level of asbestos exposure is considered completely safe—not even from indirect contact.

How Asbestos is Monitored and Controlled Today

Although asbestos use in new products has sharply declined since the 1980s, it has never been fully banned in the United States. That means monitoring and control remain vital in workplaces and public spaces where older materials may still be present.

Regulatory agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforce strict standards for asbestos exposure, handling, and disposal. Employers must:

• Conduct air monitoring and maintain records of exposure levels.
• Use engineering controls such as ventilation and wet methods to reduce dust.
• Provide respiratory protection and protective clothing to workers.
• Post warning signs and limit access to regulated areas.
• Provide medical surveillance for employees with potential exposure.

For non-occupational settings—such as public buildings and schools—EPA regulations under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) require regular inspections and management plans to prevent airborne fiber release.

While compliance helps reduce risks, aging infrastructure remains a public health concern. Renovations and demolitions of older properties frequently uncover hidden asbestos materials, which underscores why licensed asbestos abatement professionals must always be involved in removal or repair work.

What to Do If You’ve Been Exposed to Asbestos

If you suspect past or recent asbestos exposure—whether at work, at home, or in the environment—it’s important to act quickly. While the health effects of asbestos can take years to appear, early medical evaluation and documentation can make a significant difference in monitoring and legal outcomes.

Here’s what you should do:

1. See a doctor immediately. Inform your healthcare provider about your possible exposure so they can perform chest imaging or lung function tests.
2. Notify your employer or local health authorities. If exposure occurred on the job, request written documentation of the incident and exposure measurements.
3. Avoid disturbing the source. If asbestos is still present, do not attempt to clean or remove it yourself. Contact a certified asbestos abatement contractor.
4. Consult an experienced asbestos attorney. Even if exposure occurred years ago, you may still qualify for compensation through an asbestos trust fund or lawsuit if negligence played a role.

The legal system recognizes that asbestos diseases develop slowly, and many cases remain eligible for claims decades after exposure. Whether you were directly exposed at work or indirectly through a loved one, you deserve clarity and accountability.