Posted March 17, 2026
Two Years After the EPA Chrysotile Asbestos Rule: Why the Fight to Prevent Exposure Continues
On March 18, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a historic rule banning the existing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only type of asbestos still imported into the United States. The decision marked the first time the agency used its strengthened authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to prohibit an existing chemical because it poses an unreasonable risk to human health.
Two years later, the rule remains a major milestone in U.S. asbestos policy. Yet it is also facing judicial review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, underscoring how complex and contested asbestos regulation remains.
At the same time, recent concerns about asbestos management during the demolition and renovation of the White House East Wing illustrate a larger reality: even when new uses are restricted, the United States continues to face significant risks from legacy asbestos exposure.
Understanding the significance of the EPA’s chrysotile asbestos rule requires examining both the progress it represents and the challenges that remain.
What Is the EPA Chrysotile Asbestos Rule?
The EPA chrysotile asbestos final rule, announced on March 18, 2024, prohibits several ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos in U.S. commerce.
Chrysotile asbestos, often called “white asbestos,” is a known carcinogen linked to mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. For decades, it remained the only form of asbestos still imported into the United States for limited industrial uses.
Under the rule, the EPA determined that chrysotile asbestos presents an unreasonable risk to workers and public health.
The regulation phases out the use of chrysotile asbestos in products such as:
- Asbestos sheet gaskets
- Oilfield brake blocks
- Aftermarket automotive brakes and linings
- Other specialized industrial applications
The rule represents one of the most significant federal actions addressing asbestos exposure in decades.
Why the EPA Rule Matters
The United States has reduced asbestos use dramatically since the late twentieth century. However, unlike nearly 70 countries that have banned asbestos, the U.S. has continued to allow limited imports and uses.
The EPA’s rule aimed to close that gap by targeting the last remaining commercial uses of chrysotile asbestos.
The decision followed years of scientific research documenting the dangers of asbestos exposure. Public health experts widely agree that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.
Globally, asbestos is responsible for more than 200,000 deaths each year, and 40,000 deaths a year in the United States.
Because diseases such as mesothelioma can take decades to develop, preventing exposure remains the most effective strategy for protecting public health.
Why the Rule Is Being Challenged in Court
Shortly after the rule was finalized, industry groups filed petitions challenging the regulation in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
The litigation focuses on several issues, including the EPA’s interpretation of risk under the Toxic Substances Control Act and the scope of the agency’s regulatory authority.
Judicial review is common for major environmental regulations. Courts frequently evaluate whether agencies have followed statutory requirements and properly supported their decisions with scientific evidence.
The outcome of the Fifth Circuit case could influence not only asbestos regulation but also the implementation of future chemical safety rules under TSCA.
Legacy Asbestos Exposure Remains a Major Risk
Even as the EPA moves to eliminate remaining uses of chrysotile asbestos, a far larger challenge persists: legacy asbestos already present in the built environment.
Millions of tons of asbestos remain in older buildings, schools, factories, and infrastructure across the United States.
When these materials are disturbed during demolition, renovation, natural disasters, or aging infrastructure failures, asbestos fibers can be released into the air.
Recent questions surrounding asbestos management during the White House East Wing demolition highlight the difficulty of controlling these risks, even in projects involving historic federal facilities.
These events reinforce an important lesson. Once asbestos has been installed in buildings and industrial materials, managing the risks becomes impossible.
Why Prevention Is the Only Effective Strategy
Asbestos-related diseases often appear 20 to 50 years after exposure, making prevention critical.
Thousands of Americans continue to be diagnosed each year with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases linked to exposures that occurred decades earlier.
For this reason, many scientists and public health advocates emphasize that prevention remains the only cure for asbestos-related diseases.
Policies that eliminate the use of asbestos, improve transparency during demolition projects, and strengthen worker protections are essential to reducing future exposure.
Looking Ahead
The second anniversary of the EPA chrysotile asbestos rule offers an opportunity to reflect on both progress and unfinished work.
The regulation represents an important step toward addressing the final ongoing uses of asbestos in the United States. At the same time, the Fifth Circuit litigation and continuing concerns about legacy asbestos exposures show that the issue remains far from resolved.
As policymakers, scientists, workers, and advocates continue to confront the legacy of asbestos use, one principle remains clear.
Preventing exposure today is essential to protecting the health of future generations.
Linda Reinstein
