On July 12, 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a landmark rule to ban asbestos, a toxic mineral known to cause mesothelioma and other serious diseases. However, this protection was short-lived.
Just 2 years later, the asbestos ban was overturned — due, in large part, to pushback from corporations that profit from asbestos use.
For decades, asbestos was used in thousands of everyday products, including insulation, drywall, car parts, and even children’s clothing. Manufacturers favored asbestos because it was durable, heat-resistant, and affordable, despite knowing the health risks.
Now, more than three decades later, asbestos still hasn't been fully banned in the United States.
Although the EPA finalized a ban on chrysotile asbestos in 2024, the rule continues to face challenges and pushback from industry leaders.
As a national mesothelioma law firm, Sokolove Law may be able to pursue justice and compensation on your behalf if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.
1989: EPA Passes Asbestos Ban to Protect Americans' Health
In July 1989, the EPA announced a sweeping ban on nearly all asbestos-containing products due to the severe health risks linked to asbestos exposure.
By that time, millions of Americans had already been exposed to asbestos at home, in schools, on the job, and during military service. Health advocates cheered the agency’s decision, but manufacturers pushed back.
Since asbestos was used in paint, floor tiles, acoustical ceiling tile, pipe and duct wrap, insulation, boilers, brakes and brake pads, caulk, and cement (to name just a few), this affected many industries.
If the ban stuck, companies would no longer be allowed to sell these hazardous products to businesses, the government, or the U.S. military.
The health effects of asbestos often don’t appear until decades later. It can take 20 to 50 years after exposure for symptoms of mesothelioma to develop.
The full impact of past use was only beginning to come into focus when the ban was announced.
Profits Over People: Manufacturers Fight the Ban
After the EPA announced the 1989 asbestos ban, asbestos-containing products were no longer allowed on store shelves or in government supply chains. This move threatened the profits of major manufacturers.
For decades, many manufacturers knowingly hid the health risks of asbestos from the U.S. government and the public in order to keep making money.
Rather than accept the ban, the asbestos industry fought back by filing a lawsuit against the EPA. In 1991, just two years after the ban was issued, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans ruled in favor of manufacturers.
The court’s decision overturned much of the EPA’s rule, allowing many asbestos-containing products to return to the market and continuing the cycle of exposure and harm.
2024: EPA Issues Final Rule Banning Chrysotile Asbestos
In March 2024, the EPA issued a long-awaited final rule banning chrysotile asbestos, the last type of asbestos still legally imported and used in the United States.
This historic decision came under the authority of the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and marked the agency’s most aggressive action on asbestos in decades.
The rule prohibits the import and processing of chrysotile asbestos and sets phase-out timelines. Some companies, like those in chlorine production, have up to 12 years to comply, while others must transition within just 6 months.
Michael Regan, the EPA Administrator at the time, called the move a long-overdue public health victory, stating the agency was “finally slamming the door on a chemical so dangerous that it's been banned in over 50 countries.”
2025: EPA Reconsiders Asbestos Ban, Then Backs Down
Just a year after issuing its landmark ban on chrysotile asbestos, the EPA filed a motion in June 2025 to pause litigation challenging the 2024 rule in order to formally revise it. This would have triggered a 30-month review process.
The agency’s attempt to revisit the rule faced strong opposition, especially from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), which warned that any delay would put lives at risk and reward corporations.
In a significant reversal, the EPA withdrew its motion in July 2025 and announced that the agency would no longer pursue changes to the ban at this time, acknowledging that further reconsideration would only add confusion.
“The EPA’s sudden reversal is a quiet but clear acknowledgment that their plan to rethink the chrysotile ban created more chaos than clarity. Their motion would have opened the door to years of delay, confusion, and increased risk to public health."
– Linda Reinstein, ADAO Co-Founder and President
Although the rule will now remain in place, litigation brought by chemical manufacturers is ongoing, and many health advocates remain concerned that legal challenges may lead to more preventable asbestos-related illnesses and deaths.
Common Products That Still Contain Asbestos
Despite the well-documented health risks, asbestos can still be found in many products used in homes, schools, and workplaces across the U.S. In fact, more than 3,000 products are known to have contained asbestos at some point.
Common asbestos-containing materials include:
- Automotive brakes and clutches
- Cement pipes
- Fireproof clothing and gear
- Gaskets and packing materials
- Roofing felt
- Vinyl floor tiles
Worse still, many of these products do not carry warning labels, leaving consumers and workers unaware of the potential danger.
At Sokolove Law, we believe it’s time for a complete ban on the manufacture and sale of asbestos-containing products in the U.S.
More than 60 countries, including all 27 European Union member states, have already banned asbestos in all consumer products. Americans deserve the same level of protection.
Sokolove Law: Fighting for Victims of Asbestos Exposure
At Sokolove Law, our mesothelioma lawyers have been fighting for victims of asbestos exposure for over 45 years. We understand the hardship that families may face after a loved one receives an asbestos-related disease diagnosis.
Let us put our decades of experience to work for you, so you can focus on your health and recovery.
Our experienced team may be able to:
- File a mesothelioma lawsuit against the companies responsible for your exposure
- Negotiate mesothelioma settlements on your behalf
- Prepare VA benefit claims for veterans exposed to asbestos during military service
- Submit claims for the $30 Billion estimated to be in asbestos trust funds
With our help, you may be able to receive compensation that can help pay for medical treatments and provide your family with financial security.
Call (800) 647-3434 right now or fill out our contact form. Our team is here to answer your questions and help you seek justice.
