EPA Actions to Protect the Public from Asbestos
The use of asbestos has dramatically declined since its peak in
the 1970s. Today, there are few remaining asbestos-containing
products and asbestos is no longer mined in the United States.
There are three key actions that EPA has taken or is actively
working on that address asbestos-containing products.
2019 Asbestos Regulation
A final rule that ensures that discontinued asbestos products cannot be
reintroduced into commerce without the Agency evaluating them and putting
in place any necessary restrictions, including prohibiting use.
2019 Risk Evaluation of Asbestos
This process underTSCA evaluates whether certain asbestos uses present an
unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.This process must be
completed before EPA is able to restrict use or ban use in any of those products,
if unreasonable risk is found.
EPA also has a wide range of guidance and tools available online to help homeowners, schools, building managers,
and remediation professionals safely manage, clean-up and dispose of asbestos-containing products. Together EPA's
actions are ensuring public health is protected as the use of asbestos in the United States continues to decline.
1989 Partial Ban
An EPA rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act banned the manufacture,
import, processing and distribution of some asbestos-containing products.
The banned product categories include: asbestos-containing flooring felt,
rollboard, and commercial, corrugated, and specialty papers. EPA also banned
new uses of asbestos which prevented new asbestos products from entering
the marketplace after August 25,1989.
v>EPA
www.epa.gov/ asbestos

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