Our sources
Safety, health and legal information on Assbestos comes only from official sources. We summarize them in plain English, link to them from every guide, and show when each guide was last reviewed. If our summary and an official source ever disagree, follow the official source and tell us.
Official sources
| Source | What we use it for |
|---|---|
| US Environmental Protection Agency | Where asbestos is found, what to do, vermiculite, federal rules and bans |
| Consumer Product Safety Commission | Asbestos in home products, the patching compound ban, recalls |
| ATSDR (CDC) | Health effects and preventing exposure |
| National Cancer Institute | Cancer risk, symptoms and what to do if exposed |
| OSHA | Contractor work practices and the "presumed asbestos" rule for older buildings |
| NIST NVLAP | Accredited asbestos labs |
| State agencies | Homeowner rules, licensing and disposal: see each state page |
| American Cancer Society | Health information, summarized in our own words |
Where official sources disagree on a detail (for example, how long asbestos disease takes to appear, or which years to worry about), we say so on the page.
How the tools get their information
- Could it be asbestos? Each material's note comes from the EPA, CPSC, ATSDR, OSHA and New York State Department of Labor. It gives categories, never a verdict that something is safe.
- Cost estimator: published ranges from Angi, HomeAdvisor, HomeGuide, Forbes Home and Fixr, and lab prices from the labs themselves, each shown with its date. See how we compare.
- State rules: state statutes, regulations and agency guidance, linked on each state page.
What we don't use
Law-firm and lawsuit-lead websites. Many rank well for asbestos questions, but they aren't neutral sources.
Review schedule
| Pages | Reviewed |
|---|---|
| Costs and test kit prices | Every three months |
| State rules | Every six months |
| The 2024 ban and federal rules | When the court case or EPA's next rule moves |
| Everything else | At least once a year |
Corrections
If something is out of date or wrong, tell us and we'll fix it.