Risk Management for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos
Below is information on EPA actions to manage risks from chrysotile asbestos. Although there are several known types of asbestos, chrysotile is the only known form of asbestos imported, processed or distributed for use in the United States. Raw chrysotile asbestos was imported into the United States as recently as 2022 for use by the chlor-alkali industry. Certain asbestos-containing products, like sheet gaskets, brake blocks, aftermarket automotive brakes/linings, other vehicle friction products, and other gaskets were also imported into the United States.
On this page:
- Managing risks found in the 2020 final risk evaluation for asbestos, part 1: chrysotile asbestos
- Opportunities for public and stakeholder engagement
On other pages:
- Learn how EPA manages unreasonable risks from chemicals currently on the market.
- View a list of all chemicals undergoing risk evaluation, including docket numbers and agency points of contact.
- Learn about risk management for asbestos, part 1: chrysotile asbestos.
- Learn more about part 2 of the risk evaluation for asbestos.
Managing Risks Found in the 2020 Final Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos
In March 2024, EPA announced a ban of ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos to protect people from lung cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, laryngeal cancer and other health problems caused by asbestos exposure.
EPA has set different compliance deadlines to transition away from each use of chrysotile asbestos, which are as soon as is practicable for each use while also providing a reasonable transition period, which the law requires.
EPA is banning the import of asbestos for chlor-alkali use immediately to close the door forever on the use of asbestos by this sector. The eight remaining facilities that use asbestos must transition to either non-asbestos diaphragms or to non-asbestos membrane technology, and the final rule ensures that six of the eight will have completed this transition within five years, with the remaining two to follow.
- EPA has determined that converting facilities from using diaphragms that contain asbestos to those that do not within five years provides both a reasonable transition time and is as soon as practicable without disrupting the supply of chlorine that is needed for water purification purposes. EPA also believes that five of the eight facilities likely plan to undergo such conversions.
- EPA has also determined that converting facilities from using diaphragms that contain asbestos to non-asbestos membrane technology requires extensive construction, additional permits, specialized expertise and parts for which there are limited suppliers EPA has therefore determined that a reasonable transition time for companies that plan to transition multiple facilities to non-asbestos membrane technology is five years to convert their first facility, eight years to convert their second and 12 years to convert their third, as long as they certify their continued progress with EPA.
The final rule also:
- Bans most sheet gaskets that contain asbestos two years after the effective date of the final rule, with five-year phase-outs for sheet gaskets to be used to produce titanium dioxide and for the processing of nuclear material.
- Allows asbestos-containing sheet gaskets to continue to be used through CY 2037 at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site to ensure that the safe disposal of nuclear materials can continue on schedule without unnecessarily exposing workers to radioactive materials.
- Bans the use of asbestos in oilfield brake blocks, aftermarket automotive brakes and linings, other vehicle friction products, and other gaskets six months after the effective date of the final rule.
EPA is requiring strict workplace safety measures to protect workers from asbestos exposure during any phaseout periods longer than two years. EPA is also ensuring that asbestos is disposed of properly, in line with industry standards, Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements, and the Asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. The agency is also requiring recordkeeping.
EPA completed the final TSCA risk evaluation for asbestos, part 1: chrysotile asbestos in December 2020. Part 1 of the final risk evaluation for asbestos determined that there are unreasonable risks to workers, occupational non-users, consumers, and bystanders for all ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos. EPA proposed a risk management rule in April 2022.
In March 2023, EPA released additional data related to the proposed risk management rule for public comment. These additional data concerned chrysotile asbestos diaphragms used in the chlor-alkali industry and chrysotile asbestos-containing sheet gaskets used in chemical production.
Opportunities for Public and Stakeholder Engagement
- View a list of all public and stakeholder engagement opportunities related to risk management.
- You can reach out to the EPA point of contact for this chemical, listed at the top, right of this page, for more information or to schedule a one-on-one meeting.
- You can also stay informed by signing for our email alerts or checking the public docket at www.regulations.gov.
Past Meetings, Webinars, and Other Engagement Opportunities
EPA held two identical consultation webinars, on June 1, 2021 and June 9, 2021, to consult with communities on risk management for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos. Materials can be found in the public docket.
On February 3, 2021, EPA held a webinar on the TSCA risk management process and the findings in the final risk evaluation for asbestos part 1: chrysotile asbestos.
EPA invited small businesses, governments, and not-for-profits to participate as Small Entity Representatives (SERs) to provide advice and recommendations to a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel for asbestos, part 1: chrysotile asbestos. The deadline for self-nominations was February 25, 2021. Learn more about the potential SBAR panel.