EPA Proposes Ban on Chrysotile Asbestos Still in Use Today
Asbestos is contained in thousands of products, from building materials and adhesives, fireproofing materials to consumer products.
Asbestos is contained in thousands of products, from building materials and adhesives, fireproofing materials to consumer products. The use of asbestos has dramatically declined since the 1980s, and more than 50 countries have banned its use. However, one type of asbestos is still being used to make certain products in the U.S., and EPA is working to ban it. It’s called chrysotile, or white asbestos.
⚡ TL;DR: EPA is banning chrysotile asbestos in chlor-alkali diaphragms, gaskets, brake linings, and vehicle friction products. Manufacturers using chrysotile must transition to alternatives within two years of the final rule. This is a major regulatory shift after more than 50 countries already banned asbestos.
Chrysotile is the most common type of asbestos. Its soft, flexible fibers form a serpentine material that’s strong, heat resistant to 3000 degrees and non-conductive. Some chlor-alkali manufacturing plants that make chlorine and sodium hydroxide and some vehicle brake and sheet gasket manufacturers still import and use chrysotile asbestos in their products.
⚠️ What’s at stake: Facilities continuing to use chrysotile after the ban faces EPA enforcement, civil penalties up to $50,000+ per day, facility shutdowns, and product recall obligations. Workers exposed to chrysotile risk mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis, creating significant occupational health and liability exposure.
The EPA Ban on Chrysotile
EPA has issued a proposed rule to ban chrysotile asbestos in the following products: Chrysotile asbestos used in bulk or in asbestos diaphragms in the chlor-alkali industry beginning two years after the effective date of the final rule; Chrysotile asbestos-containing sheet gaskets in chemical production beginning two years after the effective date of the final rule; Chrysotile asbestos-containing brake blocks used in the oil industry; Chrysotile asbestos-containing aftermarket automotive brakes/linings and other friction products, including for consumer use; and Chrysotile asbestos-containing gaskets, including for consumer use. Asbestos diaphragms are used by chlor-alkali plants for the water treatment industry, but that use has been declining. EPA estimates only 9 chlor-alkali plants in the U.S. still use asbestos diaphragms as there are other alternatives, accounting for only 33% of all chlor-alkali plants. EPA was not able to quantify the scope of asbestos use in the brake and gasket industries. EPA’s rule would also include targeted disposal and recordkeeping requirements that would take effect 180 days after the effective date.
Is your facility using chrysotile asbestos in gaskets, brakes, diaphragms, or other products? iSi’s industrial hygiene and compliance team helps chemical manufacturers, brake producers, and gasket manufacturers conduct product assessments, identify chrysotile-containing materials, and transition to EPA-approved alternatives. Get started →
Other Upcoming Asbestos Studies by EPA
As part of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), asbestos was one of 10 chemical substances on a list to be studied and put through a risk evaluation. EPA decided to do the evaluation in two parts. The first part was the risk evaluation for chrysotile, leading to this ruling on banning it. In Part 2, EPA will be looking at a number of other issues related to asbestos, including: Different types of asbestos (amphibole-type asbestos such as crocidolite, amosite, tremolite) Legacy uses of asbestos in commercial, industrial and consumer products Disposal phases Occupational exposure Consumer and bystander exposure General population exposure Potential exposed or susceptible subpopulations (children, workers, smokers, others) In addition, EPA will be evaluating asbestos-containing talc and vermiculite. This does not apply to talc used in makeup, but talc that’s imported and used in industrial, commercial and consumer products such as filler/putty, crayons with talc-containing asbestos and toy crime scene kits with talc-containing asbestos. EPA will be looking at the import of this talc, distribution of it in commerce and its disposal. Vermiculite was used in building materials, and 70% of all vermiculite sold in the U.S. was extracted from an open pit mine in Libby, Montana until it closed in 1990. EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed rule for chrysotile asbestos at https://www.regulations.gov/.
💰 The cost of non-compliance: EPA penalties for violating asbestos regulations can reach $25,000-$50,000+ per day per violation. Manufacturers continuing to import, use, or distribute chrysotile after the ban faces significant civil penalties, product recalls, facility shutdowns, and potential criminal liability if workers are harmed by continued exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is chrysotile asbestos and why is EPA proposing a ban?
Chrysotile asbestos (white asbestos) is the most common type of asbestos, representing approximately 90-95% of asbestos used historically. It has soft, flexible serpentine fibers that are heat-resistant to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and non-conductive. Chrysotile is still used in some chlor-alkali manufacturing plants and vehicle brake/gasket manufacturers. EPA proposes banning chrysotile because of its carcinogenic properties and health risks. More than 50 countries have already banned asbestos. EPA estimates the ban will eliminate approximately 33% of remaining chlor-alkali asbestos diaphragm use, with alternatives available. iSi Environmental helps industries identify asbestos-containing products and transition to alternatives.
Q: Which products containing chrysotile asbestos would be banned under EPA’s proposed rule?
EPA proposes banning chrysotile asbestos in: (1) bulk chrysotile or asbestos diaphragms in chlor-alkali industry manufacturing chlorine and sodium hydroxide, (2) sheet gaskets in chemical production, (3) brake blocks in the oil industry, (4) aftermarket automotive brakes and friction products for consumer use, and (5) gaskets for consumer use. Ban implementation dates are generally two years after the rule becomes effective. Disposal and recordkeeping requirements take effect 180 days after the effective date. iSi Environmental helps affected industries plan transitions to asbestos-free alternatives.
Q: What is Part 2 of EPA’s asbestos risk evaluation under TSCA?
EPA’s asbestos evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act is conducted in two parts. Part 1 focuses on chrysotile (addressed in the proposed ban). Part 2 addresses other asbestos types (amphibole asbestos: crocidolite, amosite, tremolite), legacy uses in commercial and consumer products, disposal, occupational and consumer exposure, and vulnerable populations including children and workers. EPA is also evaluating asbestos-containing talc and vermiculite used in industrial and consumer products. Vermiculite mining in Libby, Montana (which closed in 1990) contaminated significant quantities. iSi Environmental helps facilities assess asbestos-containing materials beyond chrysotile.
Q: What are the occupational exposure risks from chrysotile asbestos?
Chrysotile asbestos is carcinogenic and causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis when inhaled or ingested. Workers in chlor-alkali plants, automotive brake manufacturing, gasket production, and construction/demolition face occupational exposure. Exposure risk depends on fiber concentration, duration of exposure, and individual susceptibility. OSHA regulates asbestos occupational exposure and requires medical monitoring, training, and engineering controls. Facilities using chrysotile must implement exposure controls, training, and medical surveillance programs. iSi Environmental helps facilities eliminate asbestos exposure through product substitution and compliance implementation.
Every satisfactory regulatory transition starts with knowing what chrysotile-containing materials exist in your operations. iSi Environmental helps chemical manufacturers, brake and gasket producers, and industrial facilities conduct asbestos material surveys, develop alternative product strategies, and ensure EPA compliance through the chrysotile ban transition. Schedule a compliance review →
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