If you’ve ever come across the term “Asbestos” and wondered, When was asbestos banned?, you’re not alone. For decades this once-ubiquitous mineral was hailed for its durability and fire-resistance, and then gradually revealed its dark side. In this article I’ll walk you through the key moments in asbestos regulation: when asbestos was banned (or partially banned), how and why it’s still in use, what survivors of related diseases are doing, and what professionals (in construction, health, regulation) need to know. If you’re a property manager, contractor, legal professional or policy-maker, these insights will help you navigate the current landscape.
Is Asbestos Banned?
Short answer: Not fully — until recently. For many years, the U.S. did not have a blanket ban on all asbestos uses, even while many other countries did. According to one source, “asbestos has never been completely banned in the United States.”
However, some uses have been banned for decades and, on March 18 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule to ban ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos — the only form still imported and processed in the U.S.
So if your primary keyword is “When was asbestos banned”, the answer depends on what you mean by “asbestos” (which form, which use) and “banned” (all uses vs many uses).
Is Asbestos Still Being Used?
Yes – though in far fewer applications than before.
- The EPA in 2024 noted that chrysotile asbestos was still being imported as of 2022 for uses such as the chlor-alkali industry.
- Many consumer uses have been phased out, yet legacy asbestos remains in older buildings, insulation, brake linings, gaskets, etc.
- Because of this residual use and presence, professionals in building management, construction or maintenance still need to be aware of asbestos-related risk.
Mesothelioma Survivors and the Push for a Complete Asbestos Ban
For many years, survivors of mesothelioma (an aggressive cancer strongly linked to asbestos exposure) and advocacy organisations have pressed for a full ban on asbestos.
- Exposure to asbestos has been linked to lung cancer, mesothelioma, laryngeal and ovarian cancers, and is estimated to cause more than 40,000 deaths per year in the U.S. alone.
- These groups argue that piecemeal regulation is insufficient given the long latency (decades) between exposure and disease onset.
- Their advocacy helped push the EPA’s 2024 ruling; but they note that legacy asbestos in buildings and other forms remain problematic.
How Does Asbestos Legislation Control Its Use?
Regulation of asbestos in the U.S. is a patchwork of federal laws, state actions, product-specific bans and legal oversight. Some of the key mechanisms:
- Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976, the EPA gained authority to regulate “existing chemicals” like asbestos.
- The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) of 1986 set out requirements for inspecting and managing asbestos in schools.
- Product-specific bans: For example, the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) banned asbestos in fireplace embers and wall-patching compounds.
- In 2024, the EPA’s final rule under TSCA (amended 2016) targeted ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos.
So rather than a single “yes/no” ban, use-controls, product bans, import restrictions and phase-outs have been the pattern.
Timeline of Asbestos Regulations
Here’s a simplified timeline to show when key regulatory milestones occurred:
- 1971: Under the Clean Air Act, asbestos was designated a hazardous air pollutant.
- 1972: Consumer Product Safety Act bans asbestos in fireplace embers and specific wall-patching materials.1976: TSCA is passed, giving EPA broader chemical regulatory powers.
- 1986: AHERA passed to regulate asbestos in schools.
- 1989: EPA issues the “Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule” to ban nearly all asbestos-containing products.
- 1991: The Fifth Circuit Court overturns much of the 1989 EPA rule (in *Corrosion Proof Fittings v. EPA) on procedural grounds, leaving many uses legal.
- 2016: TSCA amendments (the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act) strengthens EPA’s chemical risk-evaluation powers.
- March 18 2024: EPA finalizes a ban on the ongoing use of chrysotile asbestos — marking the first final rule under the 2016 TSCA amendments.
Why Hasn’t the U.S. Fully Banned Asbestos?
Here are some of the reasons often cited:
- Industry resistance and litigation: When the EPA tried to phase out asbestos in 1989, it encountered a successful legal challenge. As Scientific American reports: “In 1989 the EPA tried … but a company named Corrosion Proof Fittings … successfully challenged the rule in federal court.”
- Economic and practical considerations: Some uses in the U.S. (e.g., chlor-alkali process, brake linings) continued due to lack of alternatives or transition costs.
- Regulatory burden: Under TSCA, the EPA must prove “unreasonable risk” and weigh costs and benefits, a high bar historically.
- Legacy presence: Even if new use is restricted, existing asbestos in buildings, infrastructure and products remains, complicating total elimination.
Past Attempts to Ban Asbestos
- The 1989 EPA ban (Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule) ended up being overturned by the courts in 1991.
- Since then, numerous legislative bills (e.g., the “Ban Asbestos in America Act”) have been proposed but never fully passed.
Notable Worldwide Asbestos Regulations
While the U.S. lagged in full prohibition, many countries took earlier and broader action:
- Over 50 countries had outright banned asbestos by 2024.
- For example: Canada banned asbestos (with limitations) in 2018.
- This global trend put pressure on U.S. regulators and underscored the public health imperative.
Common Questions About Asbestos Bans and Regulations
Q: What year was asbestos banned in the U.S.?
A: It depends on what you mean by “banned.” Many uses were restricted across the 1970s–1990s; a comprehensive ban on ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos was finalized in March 2024.
Q: When did they stop using asbestos in new construction?
A: While new construction largely phased out asbestos by the late 1970s and early 1980s (in insulation, pipe wrap, etc.), the material may still be found in older buildings, and some limited uses remained legally permitted until the 2024 rule.
Q: When asbestos was banned in construction?
A: Specific products (e.g., spray-applied surfacing) were banned under the Clean Air Act in the early 1970s. More broadly, asbestos was gradually phased out in construction materials.
Q: What about the claim of a ban reversal or repeal (e.g., under Donald Trump)?
A: There were proposals under the Trump administration to revise or delay the EPA’s asbestos rule. In July 2025 the EPA announced it would not pursue plans to rewrite the Biden-era ban.
The U.S. Finally Banned Asbestos in 2024
This is the watershed moment. On March 18 2024 the EPA announced the final rule to prohibit the ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only type still used/imported in the U.S.
Key take-aways for professionals:
- This marks the first final rule under the amended TSCA (2016) directed at asbestos.
- It represents a near-complete ban of asbestos in the U.S., albeit with transition periods and legacy uses excluded.
- Implication: Firms dealing with import, manufacturing, or building products need to determine whether their products contain chrysotile asbestos, and ensure phase-out or compliance.
- Health & safety professionals must still manage legacy asbestos in buildings, as legacy exposure risks persist.
When Was Asbestos Banned in Construction | Detroit, MI
The Rise of Asbestos in Construction and Its Consequences
In the mid-20th century, asbestos was a go-to material in U.S. construction because it resists fire, heat, and corrosion. Buildings in cities like Detroit, Michigan used asbestos insulation, ceiling tiles, boiler wraps, pipe-lagging, floor tiles and more. Over time, as workers developed asbestos-related diseases (mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer), the risks became undeniable.
Regulations and Ban of Asbestos in Construction
- From the 1970s onwards, regulatory controls began: e.g., spray-applied asbestos insulation was banned under the Clean Air Act.
- Though new construction shifted away from raw asbestos use, many buildings constructed before the 1980s still contain asbestos. That means in Detroit-area renovation/maintenance projects, asbestos surveys and abatement remain critical.
- The 2024 EPA ban on ongoing uses doesn’t fully address legacy asbestos in existing buildings, so property managers in Detroit and elsewhere must continue to treat existing asbestos as a hazard.
Implications for Mesothelioma Victims and Legal Recourse
- Mesothelioma often emerges decades after initial exposure — meaning a worker in a Detroit plant or construction in the 1970s may still develop disease in the 2020s.
- Legal cases often focus on exposure in buildings or industrial settings decades ago. Professionals handling building portfolios in Detroit should consider legal liability, record-keeping and monitoring of asbestos-containing materials.
- The 2024 ban is significant for future exposure, but it does not retroactively eliminate risk from existing asbestos.
Closing Ideas
In the construction sector — especially in older industrial cities like Detroit — asbestos remains a legacy issue. Even though active use is now banned (as of 2024), the battle is not over: maintenance, renovation, liability, health surveillance all remain front-line concerns.
Conclusion
So, when was asbestos banned? The straightforward answer: for many uses, decades ago; for the final major form (chrysotile) in the U.S., the ban was finalized in March 2024. That said, the story is complex: partial bans, legacy uses, regulatory delays, litigation and industry push-back all explain why it took so long. For professionals — whether in construction, property management, health & safety, or legal fields — the key is not only knowing when the ban occurred, but understanding what still remains, what your obligations are, and how to manage risk going forward.
What’s your next step? Maybe ask: “Does my building or product still contain asbestos?” or “Are my renovation plans compliant given the 2024 ban?”
FAQs:
Q1: What Is Asbestos?
This keyword links internally to a detailed article explaining asbestos fibres, types (chrysotile, amphiboles), how exposure happens, diseases, etc.
Q2: When did asbestos become illegal in the U.S.?
As an all-uses ban, not until March 18 2024. Many specific product bans occurred earlier (1970s-1990s).
Q3: When was asbestos banned in homes?
There’s no single date; many home-construction uses were phased out in the late 1970s-80s in the U.S., but legacy material remains.
Q4: Did Trump reverse the asbestos ban?
While there were proposals to revise or delay the 2024 rule, the EPA announced in July 2025 it would defend the ban and not pursue a rewrite.
Q5: Is asbestos completely banned worldwide?
Many countries have full bans (50+ by 2024) but some still allow limited uses. The U.S. is now largely aligned after the 2024 rule.
Q6: What about asbestos in Detroit construction?
Buildings built pre-1980s in Detroit (and elsewhere) often contain asbestos materials. Even though new use is banned, existing materials must still be managed properly.