The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule on March 18, 2024, prohibiting ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only form currently used in or imported to the United States.
This ban is the first under the 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), aiming to address health risks associated with asbestos exposure, including various cancers.
The rule includes strict compliance deadlines for transitioning away from asbestos use, especially in the chlor-alkali sector. It also bans asbestos use in various products and requires workplace safety measures.
US EPA is also evaluating other types of asbestos fibers for further regulation.