Asbestos, a mineral used for decades to make various materials and goods, is now known to pose a serious risk to public health and safety. Exposure to asbestos may cause some people to develop ailments ranging from lung cancer to scarring of the lungs to mesothelioma. Many people are now wondering how much asbestos exposure it takes to be damaging to their health.

Is there a safe level of asbestos exposure?

According to both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, the idea that there is a safe level of asbestos exposure is erroneous. Even inhaling or ingesting minute amounts of asbestos fibers has been deemed unsafe.

Legal Asbestos Limits

In the United States, the acceptable level of asbestos in a workplace set forth by OSHA is 0.1 asbestos fiber per cubic centimeter. This level is set purely for regulatory purposes, and does not mean that exposure at this level is risk-free.

Duration of Exposure

While even a one-time exposure to asbestos is unsafe, it is generally thought that those who work near or with asbestos for many years have a higher rate of asbestos-related disease due to exposure over time.

Past Asbestos Limits

In past decades, people believed that asbestos was less dangerous. Up until 1994, the acceptable level of asbestos in a workplace was higher than it is today. While the precise amount has changed over time, at one point 2 fibers/ml was considered acceptable.

Encapsulated Asbestos

Asbestos is generally only considered dangerous when the material has been damaged or is disintegrating (friable). If the material is encapsulated, it is generally considered safe to be around.

Source:

AsbestosNetwork.com: There is No Safe Level of Asbestos Exposure

EPA.gov: Asbestos Health Risks

lhc.org.uk: The Myths About Asbestos