Asbestos Exposure Archives | Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman LLP

Is Asbestos Still Used Today?

Posted on August 6, 2026July 22, 2026 by Candice Paddock

Despite decades of warnings about its links to serious health complications, asbestos remains a present threat in Hawai’i and across the United States. For those who have suffered from asbestos-related diseases, understanding where exposure still occurs today is critical to protecting yourself and your loved ones.

Is Asbestos Still Used in the United States?

Asbestos is still used today in the United States. Unlike many industrialized nations that have implemented complete bans, the U.S. permits asbestos in certain products. In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency outlawed chrysotile asbestos, which is the only form of asbestos still imported and used in the U.S. The ban established a phase-out period of up to 12 years for some industries.

Asbestos exposure can also be caused by products containing talcum powder. Talc and asbestos are both minerals, often found together in underground mineral deposits.

Wildfire Victims Face Hidden Asbestos Exposure Threat

Posted on February 3, 2026April 13, 2026 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

As thousands of Californians attempt to recover and rebuild after the devastating wildfires that swept through several counties early this year, a new danger has emerged — asbestos exposure — and it lingers in the ashes of what once were homes and communities.

Public health officials are now warning residents about the serious risks in the debris left behind by the fires.

Toxic Chemicals & Asbestos Exposure

“We’re going to urge that young children not be touching any of this contaminated debris because it’s filled with lead and asbestos,” Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County director of public health, told Pasadena Now about the risks of asbestos exposure. “We’ve had meltdowns of lithium batteries. You think of your houses as being relatively safe and they are, but when they burn, there’s a lot of toxicity there.”

Is Mesothelioma Deadly? 5 Things to Know About This Disease

Posted on October 15, 2025April 13, 2026 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

You may have heard about mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive cancer. You may think it is becoming a thing of the past or could never affect you or your family. But this disease continues to affect thousands of people each year. And, yes, it is deadly.

The Basics of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma affects the tissue that surrounds most internal organs, including lungs, stomach and intestines. This disease has one clear cause: asbestos exposure. Exposure to even small amounts of this fibrous, naturally occurring substance can lead to mesothelioma over time. Asbestos was widely used in construction, automotive and other products for years. And asbestos also contaminates talc products like baby powders and cosmetics.

Risk of asbestos exposure complicates reno work on State Capitol building

Posted on July 29, 2025April 13, 2026 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

A major upgrade planned for the Hawai‘i ‘State Capitol building is complicated by concern that workers could be exposed to cancer-causing asbestos. The project has already been plagued by a hefty price tag—estimated at up to $100 million—and the potential prolonged closure of the building.

When the Hawai‘i State Capitol building last underwent major renovations in the 1990s, the project included removing asbestos present throughout the structure. Former Gov. John Waiheʻe acknowledged that although he had been assured that all asbestos had been removed from the building, particles might be discovered once the planned renovation work gets underway.

Hawai‘i’s Asbestos Legacy: A Growing Mesothelioma Threat

Posted on July 1, 2025April 13, 2026 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Mesothelioma deaths in the U.S. surged by 20% between 1990 and 2019, according to BMC Public Health. This increase is tied directly to decades of asbestos exposure, especially among workers in construction, shipbuilding, military service, and manufacturing.

The rise in cases is particularly alarming in Hawai‘i, where thousands of veterans have been exposed to asbestos while working on Navy ships, submarines and maintenance facilities at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard since World War II. The state health department reported over 700 asbestos-related deaths between 1999 and 2017, including 139 from mesothelioma.

Navy Veterans Face Higher Risk of Mesothelioma

Posted on February 25, 2025April 13, 2026 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Navy veterans have been exposed to cancer-causing asbestos fibers at levels higher than other branches of the military, according to new research.

According to a study of British and Australian veterans published in Scientific Reports, naval personnel have been exposed to higher levels of asbestos because of the time they spent on ships and submarines, particularly for service members who worked in engine rooms, where maintenance procedures involved disturbance of asbestos on pipework, turbines, boilers and other machinery. As a result, sailors suffer high rates of asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer, even when other lifestyle factors are controlled.

Hidden Asbestos Danger Lurks in Aging Homes, Buildings

Posted on January 14, 2025April 13, 2026 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Asbestos has been widely used in the construction of buildings in Hawai‘i for generations. According to the Hawai‘i State Department of Health, most residential buildings in Hawaii contain some asbestos, which can be found in ceilings, walls, insulation and flooring.

While these materials pose little risk when a building is kept in good condition, they become hazardous when asbestos is disturbed. Storms, high winds and natural disasters can cause minute fibers to break away and create a risk to human health.

Despite restrictions on asbestos, Hawai‘i residents continue to succumb to mesothelioma cancer

Posted on December 18, 2024April 13, 2026 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

While it’s well-established that the deadly form of cancer known as mesothelioma is caused solely by exposure to asbestos, thousands of people throughout the U.S. mainland and Hawaii continue to die from the disease every year.

About 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are registered each year in the United States. In Hawaii, there are approximately 38 asbestos-related deaths a year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Mesothelioma was discovered in the late nineteenth century and gradually came to be associated with exposure to asbestos. The mineral has been used throughout history, but as the Industrial Revolution took hold, more and more uses were found.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma Aren’t Going Away

Posted on December 3, 2024April 13, 2026 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

The serious health risks associated with asbestos exposure have been known for generations. The naturally occurring fiber is the only known cause of mesothelioma, an incurable and deadly form of cancer of the lining of the lungs and internal organs. Legal and regulatory scrutiny of asbestos use has ramped up over the years — including a 2024 ban on chrysotile asbestos — but an alarming number of Americans continue to die from mesothelioma every year. While mesothelioma diagnosis rates have fallen among men, they have remained steady among women.

Global Mesothelioma Cases Surge as Asbestos Use Continues

Posted on October 29, 2024April 13, 2026 by Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

Cases of mesothelioma around the world have been increasing along with a rise in the global use of asbestos, despite an acknowledgment more than 40 years ago by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic.

Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma, a cancer of the tissue that lines the lungs, chest wall, and abdomen. Given that asbestos continues to be used globally in a variety of commercial products, it’s not surprising that mesothelioma cases and deaths associated with the disease have been rising too.

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