Chrysotile asbestos use and import ban announced in the US
By 
Rebecca Trager2024-03-20T15:21:00
The EPA’s new prohibition should put an end to all present uses of asbestos in the country
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalised a ban that prohibits the use of chrysotile asbestos, which is still used and imported into the US. This action, taken under the Toxic Substances Control Act, follows decades of unsuccessful attempts by lawmakers and health advocacy groups to ban asbestos in the US.
‘The science is clear – asbestos is a known carcinogen that has severe impacts on public health,’ stated EPA Administrator Michael Regan in the 18 March announcement. ‘That’s why EPA is so proud to finalise this long-needed ban on ongoing uses of asbestos.’
Most consumer products containing chrysotile asbestos have been discontinued, but raw chrysotile asbestos was imported into the US as recently as 2022 for use by the chlor-alkali industry. It is found in products like asbestos diaphragms, sheet gaskets and vehicle brake pads.