EPA Announces Comprehensive Asbestos Ban

The ban targets chrysotile asbestos, the only form still used in the U.S., in a major expansion of EPA regulatory authority.

The EPA announced a comprehensive ban on asbestos, marking a significant expansion of its regulatory powers under a 2016 law.
Asbestos, a known carcinogen linked to over 40,000 deaths in the U.S. annually, is still used in products like brake pads and chlorine bleach.
The ban targets chrysotile asbestos, the only form of asbestos still in use in the U.S., primarily imported for use in the chlor-alkali industry.
The rule includes a phased prohibition on chlor-alkali use over five years, with a ban on most other uses taking effect in two years.
Environmental and health advocacy groups have praised the EPA's action as a critical step in protecting public health from toxic chemicals.