When Did Asbestos Stopped Being Used? A Complete Timeline

Asbestos has not been completely banned in the United States, but its use has been heavily restricted for decades. The direct answer is that asbestos was never fully stopped in the U.S., though major declines began in the 1970s. Most consumer products stopped containing asbestos by the late 1980s, but some industrial uses and imported goods still contain it today. The timeline is not a single year but a series of regulations and market shifts that slowly pushed the material out of common use.

The 1970s: First Restrictions

Asbestos was widely used from the late 1800s through the 1970s because it resists heat, fire, and electricity. It appeared in thousands of products: insulation, roofing shingles, floor tiles, brake pads, cement pipes, and household items like ironing board covers and hair dryers.

The first major U.S. regulation came in 1971, when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set workplace exposure limits for asbestos. This was a response to growing evidence that inhaling asbestos fibers caused lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. The World Health Organization classifies all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic to humans.

In 1973, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned spray-applied asbestos-containing materials for fireproofing and insulation. In 1975, it banned asbestos in pipe insulation and block insulation. These rules targeted the products that released the most fibers into the air during installation and maintenance.

One concrete example of the shift was the automotive industry. Before 1975, most brake pads and clutch facings contained 30 to 60 percent asbestos. By 1980, many manufacturers had switched to non-asbestos alternatives like aramid fibers and ceramic compounds. This change was driven less by regulation and more by the rising cost of liability insurance and the difficulty of defending lawsuits.

The 1980s: Partial Bans and Market Decline

The most significant regulatory action came in 1989, when the EPA issued a rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act to ban most asbestos-containing products. However, this rule was largely overturned in 1991 by a court decision (Corrosion Proof Fittings v. EPA). That court ruling left only a few specific bans in place.

After 1991, the EPA maintained bans on corrugated paper, rollboard, commercial paper, specialty paper, and flooring felt, as well as new uses of asbestos in products that did not historically contain it.

Despite the court setback, market demand for asbestos had already fallen sharply. By the mid-1980s, most manufacturers had voluntarily stopped using asbestos in consumer goods because of liability concerns and public awareness. Building materials like asbestos-containing ceiling tiles and floor tiles were phased out during this period.

Some products continued to legally contain asbestos after the 1990s, including cement pipes and sheets, brake pads and clutch facings, gaskets and packing materials, roofing products, and some imported vinyl floor tiles. The EPA notes that asbestos is still imported into the United States for use in these limited categories. The chlor-alkali industry uses asbestos diaphragms in the production of chlorine and sodium hydroxide, and this remains one of the largest current uses.

The 2000s to Present

In 2019, the EPA issued a final rule that required companies to obtain approval before introducing new uses of asbestos. This was part of a broader update to the Toxic Substances Control Act. The rule did not ban existing uses but made it harder to expand asbestos into new products.

In 2024, the EPA proposed a rule to ban ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only form still imported into the U.S. This rule would phase out asbestos use in the chlor-alkali industry and other remaining applications. As of early 2025, this rule has not been finalized.

Asbestos continues to enter the United States through imported products. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that the U.S. imported about 340 metric tons of raw asbestos in 2022, down from over 800 metric tons a decade earlier. Most of this material comes from Brazil and is used primarily in the chlor-alkali industry. Imported brake pads and gaskets from countries with weaker regulations have been found to contain asbestos even when not labeled.

Millions of homes, schools, and commercial buildings built before the 1980s still contain asbestos. The OSHA requires specific handling procedures for workers who may disturb asbestos during renovation or demolition. If you suspect asbestos in your home, leave the material undisturbed if it is in good condition, hire a certified asbestos inspector to take samples, and use a licensed abatement contractor if removal is necessary.

The United States is one of the few developed countries that has not fully banned asbestos. Canada banned it in 2018, and the European Union banned all forms in 2005. Many developing countries, including Russia, China, and India, still produce and use asbestos in large quantities.

Key Takeaways

• Asbestos was never fully banned in the United States, but most consumer products stopped containing it by the late 1980s.
• The EPA’s 1989 ban was largely overturned in 1991, leaving only a few specific product bans in place.
• Asbestos is still legally used in cement pipes, brake pads, gaskets, and the chlor-alkali industry.
• Millions of older buildings still contain asbestos; it is safe if left undisturbed but dangerous when damaged or disturbed.
• If you suspect asbestos in your home, do not touch it. Contact a certified professional for inspection and removal.