Key Takeaways
- Asbestos in Pennsylvania is more common than in most other U.S. states — the state has both naturally occurring asbestos deposits and a massive industrial legacy of imported asbestos use.
- There are at least 37 significant natural asbestos deposits scattered across Pennsylvania. Four asbestos mines operated in the southeast, and the state’s mountain ranges contain rock formations rich with trace amounts of asbestos.
- Major Pennsylvania corporations — including U.S. Steel, the Pennsylvania Railroad, Philadelphia’s Naval Shipyard, Reading Iron Works, and Allied Chemical — are responsible for exposing workers and communities to asbestos for decades.
- Pennsylvania’s Asbestos Occupations Accreditation and Certification Act of 1990 requires contractors, project managers, employees, and supervisors working at asbestos sites to be educated on safe handling and disposal — but no state law requires the identification or removal of existing asbestos in buildings, schools, or infrastructure.
- The 2024 EPA ban on chrysotile asbestos prohibited new import and use — but it did not require removal of existing asbestos. People in Pennsylvania continue to live, work, and go to school in buildings that contain asbestos.
- Existing asbestos in Pennsylvania is degrading over time — entering water supplies, contaminating soil, and posing ongoing risks to communities, outdoor recreation areas, and school buildings.
Where is Asbestos in Pennsylvania?
There isn’t a way to ascertain all of the locations of asbestos in Pennsylvania. Asbestos can only be qualified by a laboratory—it isn’t visible to the naked eye. However, we do know that there are at least 37 significant deposits of asbestos scattered throughout PA. Four asbestos mines operated in the southeast, and many more non-asbestos mines have been contaminated by natural asbestos deposits. Rock formations and other environmental phenomena house trace amounts of asbestos (with different kinds of rocks having more asbestos than others)—PA’s mountain ranges are rife with asbestos.
Importantly, Pennsylvania is home to both natural deposits and imported (for industry) asbestos. Asbestos was used in steel production, car manufacturing, railroad building, the construction of pipes, the building of military supplies and barracks, and more. In PA specifically, the Pennsylvania Railroad, Philadelphia’s Naval Shipyard, Reading Iron Works, U.S. Steel Corporation, and Allied Chemical are a few of the notable industrial perpetrators of asbestos sites. This isn’t an exhaustive list of the places and job sites in which asbestos was used. Additionally, asbestos was used as a supplement for other products, like vinyl floor panels, paint, insulation, and protective equipment because of its durability. It’s insidious and cannot be quantified for this, among many, reasons.
How is PA Handling Asbestos?
Pennsylvania’s Asbestos Occupations Accreditation and Certification Act of 1990 requires any contractor, project manager, employee, or supervisor employed at an asbestos site to have certain qualifications. They must be educated on PA’s standards for safely handling and disposing of asbestos. This law ensures that employees, employers, and communities are safe from existing asbestos, especially as it’s handled during construction and renovation. As far as identifying asbestos—whether that be in natural deposits or in older buildings/construction sites—PA hasn’t codified a plan. In the wake of the 2024 ban—which banned the import and use of asbestos, but didn’t require asbestos removal—PA is complying with EPA standards. As it stands, though, existing asbestos still poses risks: people live, work, and go to school in buildings that contain asbestos. Hiking and outdoor activities are impacted by asbestos deposits. Existing asbestos is degrading and entering water supplies and soil. Even though PA is complying with federal law, there are still consequences for
Future Considerations
Pennsylvania policy makers should consider passing laws that a.) prioritize identifying asbestos in infrastructure; and b.) enforce the removal and replacement of said asbestos. The EPA set a precedent when they banned asbestos in March of this year—hopefully, they can maintain the integrity of that precedent by enforcing asbestos removal. Pennsylvanians would greatly benefit from a state-wide effort to remove asbestos from their children’s schools, their places of employment, and the outdoor spaces they cherish.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you should not have to face it alone. This website is filled with information about mesothelioma, such as common sources of exposure, some of the best hospitals to be treated at, and even legal information, should you wish to pursue a claim. For more information regarding you or a family member’s diagnosis, please call us at (800) 505-6000 or fill out our contact form and someone will be with you right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is asbestos found in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has both natural and industrial asbestos. There are at least 37 significant natural asbestos deposits across the state, four former asbestos mines in the southeast, and mountain ranges with rock formations containing trace asbestos. On the industrial side, asbestos was imported and used extensively by major employers including U.S. Steel, the Pennsylvania Railroad, Philadelphia’s Naval Shipyard, Reading Iron Works, and Allied Chemical — in steel production, shipbuilding, railroad construction, car manufacturing, and building materials. Additionally, asbestos was incorporated into everyday products like vinyl floor panels, paint, insulation, and protective equipment.
How many asbestos deposits are in Pennsylvania?
There are at least 37 significant natural asbestos deposits documented across Pennsylvania. Four asbestos mines operated in the southeastern part of the state, and many non-asbestos mines have also been contaminated by proximity to natural asbestos deposits. The state’s mountain ranges and rock formations house trace amounts of asbestos, with different rock types containing varying concentrations. Asbestos cannot be identified with the naked eye — it can only be confirmed through laboratory testing.
What laws govern asbestos in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s primary asbestos law is the Asbestos Occupations Accreditation and Certification Act of 1990, which requires that any contractor, project manager, employee, or supervisor working at an asbestos site hold proper qualifications and be educated on the state’s standards for safe handling and disposal. At the federal level, the 2024 EPA chrysotile ban prohibits new import, processing, and commercial use of chrysotile asbestos. However, neither state nor federal law currently requires the identification or removal of asbestos that is already in place in buildings, schools, or infrastructure.
Is there asbestos in Pennsylvania schools?
Many Pennsylvania schools — particularly older buildings constructed before 1980 — may still contain asbestos in insulation, floor tiles, ceiling materials, and other building components. While the EPA’s AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act) requires schools to inspect for asbestos-containing materials and develop management plans, it does not require removal. As long as the asbestos is intact and undisturbed, it is generally considered manageable — but deterioration, renovation, or damage can release fibers into the air, putting students and staff at risk.
Does Pennsylvania require asbestos removal from buildings?
No. Pennsylvania has not codified a plan to identify or remove existing asbestos from buildings, schools, or infrastructure. The state complies with federal EPA standards, which regulate how asbestos is handled during renovation and demolition — but do not mandate proactive removal. This means that existing asbestos in older buildings remains in place, potentially degrading over time and posing ongoing risks to the people who live, work, and attend school in those buildings.
Which Pennsylvania companies exposed workers to asbestos?
Several major Pennsylvania companies and job sites are known to have exposed workers to asbestos, including:
- U.S. Steel Corporation — cited by OSHA in 2011 and 2016 for knowingly exposing workers to asbestos
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard — used asbestos extensively in ship construction and repair
- Pennsylvania Railroad — used asbestos in railroad infrastructure and equipment
- Reading Iron Works
- Allied Chemical
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation — used asbestos in turbines, welding rods, and other products
This is not an exhaustive list. Many smaller manufacturers, contractors, and facilities throughout the state also used asbestos-containing materials.
What should Pennsylvania do about existing asbestos?
Advocates and public health experts recommend that Pennsylvania policymakers consider laws that prioritize identifying asbestos in existing infrastructure — particularly schools and public buildings — and enforce the removal and replacement of deteriorating asbestos-containing materials. The EPA’s 2024 chrysotile ban set a federal precedent by prohibiting new asbestos use, but without state-level action to address existing asbestos, Pennsylvanians remain at risk from the legacy materials already embedded in their communities.
What should I do if I believe I’ve been exposed to asbestos in Pennsylvania?
If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos — whether through a workplace, a building, a school, or environmental contact — and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, understanding your legal options is an important step. Call (800) 505-6000 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
