Today, the dangers of asbestos exposure are well known. In our homes, we test potentially contaminated building materials before renovations. On the job, workers take a series of precautions (like wearing full-body personal protective equipment) to prevent exposure to the toxin’s airborne fibers. And if you go to the store, you won’t see products promoting fireproofing asbestos as an ingredient. This leaves many people to wonder: “When was asbestos banned?”
Regrettably, the answer isn’t what you’d expect. Even today, asbestos has never been totally banned in the United States. Starting in the 1970s, several federal agencies attempted to outlaw the use of carcinogens in manufacturing, especially as the number of workplace-related asbestos cancers increased dramatically.
Since the mineral’s use in manufacturing has declined, many people think that producing asbestos-containing material (ACM) is illegal. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned specific applications of asbestos (like spray-on surfacing ACMs). Yet, it isn’t against the law to make or import many types of ACM.
Keep reading for facts and an overview of asbestos bans and regulations followed by asbestos products that have been banned in the U.S.
For years, the government took steps toward limiting exposure to asbestos by limiting legal uses of the mineral. Through several legislative acts, products manufactured with the toxin declined. Meanwhile, however, rates of asbestos cancers were already on the rise.
Below, the timeline lists the major U.S. asbestos lawsuits, bans, and regulations.
Remember, the EPA prohibited companies from producing more ACM (like rollboard). Yet, legacy uses of asbestos were not banned. Legacy uses of asbestos include those already in use; they do not include new uses or imports.
In the U.S., asbestos products were never totally banned from public use. Consequently, some manufacturers continue to add the mineral fiber to materials for heat resistance. As a result, countless people have been exposed to asbestos at home, work, or in other older buildings.
Today, manufacturing the following asbestos products is prohibited. Yet, you may still come across them in older vehicles, houses, and structures. However, testing material samples by a certified laboratory is the only way to reveal contamination.
Banned asbestos products:
Destiny Bezrutczyk is a content writer from Iowa and has earned a Bachelor’s in English Language and Literature from Texas Tech University. After working as a freelance script and blog writer, she began writing content for tech startups. Maintaining a passion for words, she took on a variety of projects where her writing could help people. She enjoys spicy food and video games about robots.
Carroll et al. (2005). Asbestos Litigation. Retrieved on July 24, 2021, from https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7249/mg162icj
State of Colorado. (n.d.). Asbestos Bans. Retrieved on July 23, 2021, from https://www.fremontco.com/files/building/asbestosbans.pdf
Texas State Historical Association. (2020). Borel v. Fibreboard Paper Products Corporation. Retrieved on July 24, 2021, from https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/borel-v-fibreboard-paper-products-corporation
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2020). EPA Actions to Protect the Public from Exposure to Asbestos. Retrieved on July 23, 2021, from https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/epa-actions-protect-public-exposure-asbestos
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). List of Uses Covered under April 2019 Final Rule; Restrictions on Discontinued Uses of Asbestos. Retrieved on July 23, 2021, from https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/list-uses-covered-under-april-2019-final-rule-restrictions-discontinued-uses-asbestos