Asbestos still has a handful of industrial uses in the United States, but that window is closing fast. In March 2024, the EPA finalized a rule banning chrysotile asbestos, the only type still imported into the country, with phase-out deadlines ranging from late 2024 to as far out as 2037 depending on the application. Until those deadlines hit, asbestos remains in active use in a few specific industries, and it persists in enormous quantities in older buildings, pipes, and infrastructure across the country.
Chlorine Production: The Biggest Remaining Use
The single largest active use of asbestos in the U.S. is in chlor-alkali plants, which produce chlorine and caustic soda through electrolysis. In this process, asbestos fibers are woven into diaphragms that separate the two chemicals into different chambers during production. About 38% of U.S. chlorine capacity depends on this asbestos diaphragm technology. Chlorine is essential for water treatment, PVC manufacturing, and dozens of other chemical processes, so the industry has significant economic weight.
Under the 2024 EPA rule, importing new asbestos for diaphragms was banned immediately in May 2024. But plants already using asbestos diaphragms have until May 2029 to stop, and facilities actively converting to newer membrane technology can continue operating with asbestos until as late as May 2036. This extended timeline reflects the cost and complexity of retrofitting chemical plants.
Brake Pads, Gaskets, and Friction Products
Asbestos was once a standard ingredient in brake linings, clutch pads, and industrial gaskets because it resists heat, doesn’t conduct electricity, and holds up against chemical corrosion. Some of these products remained legally available in the U.S. until very recently. Aftermarket automotive brake linings, oil industry brake blocks, and various friction products were all banned as of November 25, 2024, just 180 days after the EPA rule took effect.
That said, older vehicles and heavy equipment may still have asbestos-containing brake and clutch components installed. OSHA advises mechanics to assume that all brakes contain asbestos-type materials unless confirmed otherwise. Brake dust released during repair work is a real inhalation risk, which is why specific handling procedures exist for automotive shops.
Asbestos-containing sheet gaskets used in chemical production follow a slightly longer timeline. Most were banned after May 2026, but gaskets used in titanium dioxide production get an extension to May 2029. A nuclear materials processing facility at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina has the longest exception of all: it can continue using asbestos gaskets until the end of 2037.
Legacy Asbestos in Buildings and Infrastructure
The far bigger source of asbestos exposure today isn’t new products. It’s the massive amount of asbestos already embedded in existing structures. Asbestos-cement water pipes have been in service since the 1920s and still carry drinking water in many municipal systems. Roofing materials, floor tiles, insulation, and fireproofing installed before the 1980s commonly contain asbestos. None of this material was removed when regulations tightened; it was simply left in place.
For water pipes specifically, the health concern is primarily about workers who cut, repair, or remove the pipes and inhale the fibers. The World Health Organization considers the risk from swallowing asbestos fibers in drinking water to be negligible. But as these pipes age and utilities need to maintain or replace them, occupational exposure becomes a serious issue. Current best practices include tracking pipe locations with mapping software, using non-destructive testing to assess pipe condition, and following strict dust-control protocols during any work that disturbs the material.
In buildings, asbestos that’s intact and undisturbed is generally left alone. The danger comes during renovations, demolitions, or when materials start to deteriorate and release fibers into the air. This is why asbestos inspections are required before most commercial demolition projects, and why specialized abatement crews handle removal.
Asbestos Contamination in Consumer Products
Asbestos occasionally turns up in consumer products where it was never an intended ingredient. Talc, the mineral used in baby powder and many cosmetics, is sometimes found naturally alongside asbestos deposits, and contamination can occur during mining. In 2019, the FDA issued warnings about specific cosmetic products that tested positive for asbestos, and one baby powder manufacturer voluntarily recalled its product.
The FDA has continued testing talc-containing cosmetics, prioritizing products marketed to children, popular items on social media, and products flagged by third-party reports. In late 2024, the agency proposed a rule that would require standardized testing methods for detecting asbestos in talc-based cosmetics, though that rule was later withdrawn for further review. The lack of a finalized, mandatory testing standard means the cosmetics industry largely self-monitors for contamination.
Workplace Exposure Limits Still Apply
For workers who encounter asbestos in any of these settings, OSHA sets a permissible exposure limit of 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air, measured as an average over an eight-hour shift. There’s also a short-term ceiling of 1.0 fiber per cubic centimeter over any 30-minute period. These limits apply across all industries, from construction crews removing old insulation to chemical plant workers handling diaphragms.
The practical reality is that asbestos hasn’t disappeared from American life. New uses are being systematically eliminated, with the last industrial exemptions expiring in the 2030s. But the mineral remains embedded in infrastructure, older buildings, and industrial equipment throughout the country, and managing that legacy safely will take decades longer than the bans themselves.