Asbestos & Lead in Buildings

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used in building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant. Other manufactured goods that may contain asbestos include building materials (for example, roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (for example, automobile clutch, brake and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets and coatings. Some vermiculite or talc products may contain asbestos.

If these materials are disturbed or damaged in any way—such as when renovating or demolishing a building — asbestos fibers can be released into the air and breathed in. Exposure to asbestos fibers increases the risk of developing health effects — such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Exposure to asbestos can be prevented, as long as building owners, homeowners, property owners and contractors know how to reduce or eliminate exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, and what danger signs to look for.

Call your health care provider if you think you or a family member have been exposed to asbestos, even if you or they do not feel sick.

Below are links to resources and more information on asbestos from the Health Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

Lead is a highly toxic metal that has been commonly used in many household, industrial and automobile products — such as paint, solder, batteries, brass, car radiators, bullets, pottery, etc. Too much lead in the body, or lead poisoning, can cause serious and permanent health problems. Children and pregnant women are at special risk.

You can have lead poisoning without noticing any symptoms. Even if you feel fine, lead can start building up in your body and may damage your kidneys, brain, and your digestive, reproductive and blood systems. In children, lead can slow down growth, impair development and learning, and can cause behavior problems. In people who are pregnant, lead can increase the risk of miscarriage and cause babies to be born too early, too small, or with learning or behavior problems.

Lead poisoning can be prevented when homeowners, tenants and contractors know how to reduce or eliminate exposure to lead dust, deteriorated (chipping or peeling) lead-based paint, lead-contaminated soil as well as what danger signs to look for. Learn more about lead hazards and lead poisoning

Call your health care provider if you think you or a family member have been exposed to lead, even if you do not feel sick.

Below are links to resources and more information on lead from the Health Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).