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EPA provides various paths for the public to access information about asbestos. On this website, you may access general information about asbestos and its health effects. EPA has also developed a list of commonly used Asbestos acronyms.
You may also read about what to do if you suspect asbestos in your home or your school (en Espanol - Asbestos en las Escuelas). If you are in the automotive repair industry, you may want to read EPA's questions and answers about asbestos in brakes.
If you wish to obtain more information on asbestos, EPA maintains a listing of asbestos resources available to the public. If you would like to locate an asbestos contact, EPA maintains a listing of federal asbestos contacts. If you would like to learn more about the laws and regulations that govern asbestos, EPA maintains a listing of the laws and regulations applicable to asbestos.
You may read more about EPA's attempt to ban many asbestos-containing products on the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out page.
The National Directory of AHERA Accredited Courses ( NDAAC directory) is intended primarily for use by federal and state agencies. It contains information about training providers and approved courses nationwide and is meant to serve as a comprehensive reference and resource document. It may also be useful for those training providers who offer accredited asbestos courses and to all consumers of these training services.
In response to September 11th, EPA maintains a web page dedicated to the Agency's activities at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Vermiculite
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that may contain asbestos. Vermiculite has the unusual property of expanding into worm-like accordion shaped pieces when heated. The expanded vermiculite is a light-weight, fire-resistant, absorbent and odorless material. These properties allow vermiculite to be used to make numerous products, including attic insulation, packing material and garden products.
Asbestos contamination in vermiculite and vermiculite products has become a national concern. A tremendous amount of information has been made available to the public via print, television/radio and the Internet. EPA's vermiculite pages provide users with basic information about Vermiculite and its uses, fact sheets, Question and Answer documents, reports, and links to EPA Regional vermiculite pages.
EPA, in conjunction with Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has launched a national awareness campaign to arm homeowners with important information on vermiculite attic insulation.
