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Illinois, United States – 29 September, 2026 – CHICAGO (Guest contribution): Asbestos has been tightly regulated in the United States for decades, and federal regulators moved in 2024 to ban the last form still in active use. But the mineral has not left the places where Americans live, learn and work. It remains inside a vast number of homes, schools, offices and factories built before the 1980s, and the people most likely to encounter it today are often unaware of the danger.

Health experts say that is why new cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases continue to be diagnosed every year, and why the risk is expected to persist for years to come.

A Material Built Into the Country

For much of the 20th century, asbestos was prized for being cheap, durable and resistant to heat and fire. Builders used it in pipe insulation, boiler wrap, ceiling tiles, vinyl flooring, roofing shingles, joint compound and siding. Vermiculite attic insulation, some of which was contaminated with asbestos, was installed in a large number of homes across the country. Federal health officials have long advised homeowners with this insulation to leave it undisturbed and to hire trained professionals if it must be removed.

When these materials are intact and undisturbed, they generally pose little risk. The danger arises when they crack, crumble or are cut, sanded or torn out. That process releases microscopic fibers that can be inhaled and become lodged in the lungs and the lining around them.

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule in March 2024 banning ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, with phase-out periods for certain industries. The rule addresses new use, not the material already sitting in older buildings.

Who Faces Exposure Today

The people most at risk now are not the factory workers of the mid-1900s but those who repair, renovate and maintain the buildings they left behind.

Construction and renovation workers are among the most exposed, especially during demolition or remodeling of older structures. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters and HVAC technicians often work behind walls, above ceilings and in basements where asbestos-containing materials are common.

Firefighters face a particular hazard. When older buildings burn or collapse, asbestos can be released into the air. A study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that firefighters had about twice the rate of mesothelioma seen in the general U.S. population. Fire departments have responded with better protective gear and decontamination procedures, but older buildings remain unpredictable.

School custodians and maintenance staff can also be exposed. Many public schools were built during the peak years of asbestos use. The federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act requires schools to inspect for asbestos and maintain management plans, but aging buildings still require constant attention.

Homeowners are a growing concern. Do-it-yourself renovation projects, such as pulling up old floor tiles, scraping textured ceilings or removing attic insulation, can release fibers without anyone realizing it.

A Delayed and Deadly Disease

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer. It usually appears 20 to 50 years after exposure, which means the effects of today’s exposures may not show up until the 2050s or later. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 3,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year.

There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure, according to federal health agencies. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough and unexplained weight loss often appear only once the disease is advanced.

Legal Rights for Those Affected

In states with heavy industrial histories, such as Illinois, courts continue to handle a large number of asbestos claims. People diagnosed with mesothelioma, and families who have lost someone to the disease, may be able to seek compensation from companies that made or used asbestos products. Many former manufacturers now pay claims through trusts created during bankruptcy proceedings.

Those claims depend on reconstructing where and how a person was exposed, often decades earlier. Many Midwest families start by looking for an asbestos lawyer Chicago patients can meet with quickly, since tracing work histories and identifying products takes time. In Illinois, filing deadlines are generally two years from diagnosis or death.

Reducing the Risk

Safety officials recommend several precautions for anyone living or working in an older building:

• Assume materials in buildings constructed before 1980 may contain asbestos until testing shows otherwise.
• Hire an accredited inspector before remodeling, and use licensed abatement contractors for removal.
• Avoid sanding, drilling, sawing or scraping suspect materials.
• Employers should follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules on exposure limits, protective equipment and worker training.

Anyone who believes they were exposed should tell their doctor, even if they feel healthy. Early medical monitoring can help detect problems sooner and gives patients more treatment options.

The country stopped building with asbestos long ago. Experts say the challenge now is making sure the millions of people who work around it every day know it is still there.

About Cooney & Conway LLP

Cooney & Conway LLP is a Chicago-based law firm representing individuals and families affected by asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. The firm provides legal guidance and representation to clients seeking to understand their rights and potential compensation.

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Company Name: Cooney & Conway LLP
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Website: https://www.cooneyconway.com/