How might someone be exposed to asbestos?

People whose work brings them into contact with asbestos—workers who renovate buildings with asbestos in them, for example— may inhale fibers that are in the air: this is called occupational exposure. Workers' families may inhale asbestos fibers released by clothes that have been in contact with ACM: this is called paraoccupational exposure. People who live or work near asbestos-related operations may inhale asbestos fibers that have been released into the air by the operations: this is called neighborhood exposure.

The amount of asbestos a worker is exposed to will vary according to:
• The concentration of fibers in the air
• Duration of exposure
• The worker's breathing rate (workers doing manual labor breathe faster)
• Weather conditions
• The protective devices the worker wears

It is estimated that between 1940 and 1980, 27 million Americans had significant occupational exposure to asbestos.