Asbestos is a mineral that is commonly found in building materials. It is toxic to the human body when inhaled or ingested. It can cause serious negative health effects--including some types of cancer. If NESHAP regulations are not followed, people may have higher chances of asbestos exposure as well as exposure to other toxins found in building materials.
NESHAP’s standards were originally proposed in 1971 as a response to the clean air act of 1970. In the following years, amendments were enacted to further reduce the exposure to various air pollutants. By 2004, the final standards of NESHAP were entirely implemented.