EPA finally bans asbestos after 30 years

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a ban on chrysolite asbestos, the last form

of asbestos legal to import and use in products in the United States. Asbestos, a deadly cancer-

causing mineral, was widely used in many industries because of its fire-resistant capabilities.

However, usage has been on the decline in the United States based on efforts by the EPA and

other health organizations. The inhalation of toxic asbestos fibers causes mesothelioma, lung

cancer, and other illnesses, and accounts for approximately 40,000 deaths of United States

citizens a year.

It’s been almost 30 years since the EPA first tried to enact a federal ban on all asbestos usage.

Chrysotile asbestos, also known as white asbestos, is one of the six forms of the deadly mineral.

It is the most commonly used type, making up roughly 95% of all asbestos used in the United

States and many other countries. On March 18, 2024, the EPA finally succeeded in its goal of

banning all forms of asbestos, marking a historic success for the EPA.

“Folks, it’s been a long road. But with today’s ban, EPA is finally slamming the door on a

chemical so dangerous that it has been banned in more than 50 countries,” spoke EPA

administrator Michael Regan. “This historic ban is more than 30 years in the making, and it’s

thanks to amendments that Congress made in 2016 to fix the Toxic Control Act.”

The Toxic Substances Control Act set the stage for the EPA to be able to succeed in joining the

50 other countries with total asbestos bans. Other attempts to fully ban the mineral before the Act

fell flat, from administrational procedural blockages.

The EPA first attempted to ban all asbestos use back in the late 1980s. The attempt was met with

heavy pushback from companies reliant on the mineral. Any progress the EPA made then was

overturned by a federal court decision. A panel of federal judges ruled that the banning of all

usage of asbestos in the US was too onerous on manufacturers, setting any hope of banning the

hazardous material back until now.

The chlorine industry, in particular, opposed a ban on all asbestos use. The chlorine industry is

reliant on large filters containing asbestos used for water filtration. Asbestos isn’t necessary to

produce chlorine for water filtration, but getting rid of it entirely will require a massive overhaul

for these facilities. The ban has allowed producers time to make this turnover. Producers are

required to have 5 years to convert their first facilities, 8 for their second, and 12 for their third to

be asbestos-free.

The complete ban on asbestos constitutes a major win for the health and safety of any Americans

involved in industries necessitating exposure to asbestos. However, it will be many years yet

until asbestos is completely phased out of all American industries.

If you or a loved one have ever been exposed to asbestos, or you or a loved one believe you may

have been exposed to asbestos, please speak with your doctor.