Written by Alex Lira, Emergency Preparedness Specialist
When I worked with the Army Corps of Engineers during the Palisades Fire in California, many of us wore Tyvek suits that looked like space suits. They were designed to keep chemicals, dust, and other hazardous materials off our skin and out of our lungs. The biggest threat we faced was asbestos. During debris removal, testing showed asbestos in about 31% of homes in the Pacific Palisades area.¹ Many homeowners had no
idea that their walls and ceilings contained this toxic, cancer-causing material.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once called a “miracle material.” For most of the 1900s, it was used in thousands of products because it is strong, fire-resistant, and inexpensive.1,2 From the 1930s to the 1970s, builders and manufacturers used asbestos in homes, schools, and workplaces across the United States.1,2 At the time, asbestos was praised for saving lives in fires and insulating buildings during harsh winters. It was mixed into cement, woven into fabrics, sprayed as insulation, and layered into tiles, roofing, and siding. Because it was so common, many older structures in the Great Lakes region may still contain asbestos today.
Why Asbestos Became a Problem
While asbestos was valued for its durability, doctors and researchers eventually discovered its dangerous side. Tiny asbestos fibers can break loose and remain in the air for hours when disturbed. When breathed in, they can become trapped in lung tissue and cause serious health problems that may not appear for decades, including3:
• mesothelioma (a rare cancer found almost exclusively in people exposed to asbestos)
• asbestosis (scarring of the lungs)
• lung cancer.
By the late 1970s, the U.S. began restricting asbestos use, but it was not fully banned until 2024.¹ This means many buildings built before 1980 are still likely to contain asbestos in insulation, tiles, pipes, or siding. It can even appear in some newer buildings, though this is much less common.
Regional and Tribal Impact
In Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, asbestos continues to be a present issue affecting both rural and Tribal communities.3 For example:
• Michigan’s environmental agency reports that asbestos remains one of the top environmental hazards in older industrial and residential areas.4
• Minnesota requires asbestos inspection surveys for most renovation and demolition projects.4,5
• Wisconsin alone saw an estimated 6,815 asbestos-related deaths between 1999 and 2017.3
Tribal communities in the region face unique challenges. Many Tribal homes, community centers, and schools were built or renovated during the mid-1900s using federally supplied materials containing asbestos. Nationwide, nearly 100,000 Native American households live in aging housing, increasing the likelihood that asbestos materials still exist in reservation housing. Today, Tribal housing authorities across the Midwest continue to balance modernization and energy-efficiency upgrades with the high cost and health considerations of removing and containing asbestos.6-8
How to Check for and Remove Asbestos
• Do Not Disturb: Never drill, sand, or remove suspected asbestos materials on your own.1,2,9
• Get Professional Testing: Certified inspectors can safely take samples to determine if asbestos is present.1,2,9
• Remove Asbestos Safely: If asbestos is confirmed, trained and licensed contractors can remove or seal it properly.1,2,9
Protecting Tribal Communities
GLITEC encourages awareness about asbestos in older homes, schools, and community buildings. Safe inspections and removal help prevent exposure and protect future generations. By understanding the history of asbestos and where it may still be found, we can make informed choices to keep our communities healthy.
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References
1. Health effects of asbestos. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. August 2024. Accessed October 2025. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/health-effects/index.html
2. Asbestos and your health. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. August 2024. Accessed October 2025. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/about/index.html
3. Asbestos exposure and cancer risk. National Cancer Institute. May 2021. Accessed October 2025.https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/asbestos/asbestos-fact-sheet
4. Asbestos in Minnesota homes. Minnesota Department of Health. Updated May 2025. Accessed October 2025. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/asbestos/homeowner/asbinhomes.html
5. Environmental standards. Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. Updated April 2025. Accessed October 2025. https://www.mnhousing.gov/document/Guide_Environmental_Standards_25-26
6. Stephens D, Wright E, Adams S. Indian Housing Block Grant evaluation. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Accessed October 2025. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/Indian-Housing-Block-Grant-Evaluation-Final-report.pdf
7. Learn about asbestos. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Updated August 2025. Accessed October 2025. https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/learn-about-asbestos
8. Abandoned mobile homes on Tribal lands: deconstruction and other tools. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed October 2025. https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-10/330_Mobile%20Home%20Deconstruct%20EPA%20Overview%202017%20Tribal%20Conference_October2017.pdf
9. Asbestos. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://www.osha.gov/asbestos
