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Corrugated cement asbestos roofingCurrent Products that May & May Not Contain Asbestos
In the U.S., Asbestos is allowed in certain items and banned in others

This article describes products that might still, in 2023, be permitted to contain asbestos and which uses of asbestos remain banned.

Page top photo: corrugated fiber cement roofing. Most manufacturers can be expected to be selling fiber-cement roofing products like that above that are manufactured without using asbestos, but its use has not been banned.

To be confident about the use or avoidance of asbestos in products listed on this page, read the product specifications provided by the manufacturer.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Which U.S. Products May Still, in 2023, Contain Asbestos & Which are Banned?

Asbestos-containing Products that are not banned - still permitted to be produced and sold - are listed here following a table listing the banned asbestos products. - Last Update 2023/07/31.

Article Contents:

Update: 2022/07: Pending adoption of the 2022 EPA proposed rule - cited below and IF the rule is in fact adopted - the products listed on this page might contain asbestos.

Watch out: although this page lists products in several categories that may, legally, contain asbestos in the United States, that does not mean that a specific manufacturer's product does-so. Still, it would be prudent to treat any of the products listed on this page as "PACM" Presumed Asbestos-Containing Material.

In the U.S. the 1989 US EPA ban on asbestos manufacture, importati, processing and of course sale of asbestos-containing products. as well as new uses of asbestos-containing products Aug. 25, 1989 was challenged by manufacturers who wanted to continue using asbestos in various products, and the ban was eventually overturned in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals - - Corrosion Proof Fitting v EPA - cited in detail below.

The court clarified that the EPA's asbestos ban could continue and could be applied to asbestos products not being manufactured, processed or imported on July 12, 1989.

The corrugated cement asbestos roofing shown at page top is discussed

at CORRUGATED CEMENT ASBESTOS ROOFING

Asbestos Use is Currently Banned in These Products

The following table describes currently-banned asbestos-containing products in the U.S.

Asbestos Products Currenty Banned in the U.S.

Currently-banned Asbestos-containing Products

Asbestos artificial embers (e.g. gas fireplace logs)
Asbestos wall patching compound (e.g. joint compound, plaster, etc.)
Asbestos in medications (e.g.) asbestos filters in pharmaceuticals)
Spray-applied asbestos

Asbestos-containing products included in the partial 1989 ban
Corrugated asbestos paper (such as was used as pipe insulation)
Friable asbestos pipe and block insulation in/on facility components.
Flooring felt
New uses of asbestos
Rollboard
Specialty paper

Notes to the table above

...

Asbestos Use is Currently Permitted in These Products

Contemporary U.S. Materials that May Contain Asbestos
July 31, 2023

Automotive Products:

Automatic transmission components
Friction materials (Brake pads, shoes, blocks)
Gaskets

Construction Materials:

Fiber cement products:
Corrugated sheets
Flat sheets
Millboard
Piping
Fabrics:

Heat-resistant protective clothing
Plumbing Products:

Insulating pipe wrap
Fiber/asbestos cement pipe
Roofing products:

Fiber-cement shingles
Roof coatings, mastics
Roofing felt

Notes to the table above

Asbestos products Allowed Based on the 1989 TSCA

Asbestos containing vinyl asbestos floor tilesPhoto: green vinyl-asbestos floor tiles in a 1970s U.S. home. This flooring is discussed

at ASBESTOS FLOORING IDENTIFICATION

[Click to enlarge any image]

III. TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT (TSCA) Authority:

A. July 1989 EPA rule commonly known as the "Asbestos Ban and Phase out Rule" (40 CFR 763 Subpart I, Sec. 762.160 - 763.179)

NOTE: Much of the original rule was vacated and remanded by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1991. Thus, the original 1989 EPA ban on the U.S. manufacture, importation, processing, or distribution in commerce of many asbestos-containing product categories was set aside and did not remain in effect.

B. Federal Register, Nov. 5, 1993 (58 FR 58964), Factual determinations: "Continuing restrictions on certain asbestos-containing products."

In this FR notice, EPA stated its position regarding the status of its ban on various asbestos containing product categories. The status is briefly summarized below:

Asbestos-containing product categories no longer subject to the 1989 TSCA ban include:

  • asbestos-cement shingle
  • asbestos-cement corrugated sheet
  • asbestos-cement flat sheet
  • asbestos-cement pipe
  • asbestos clothing
  • automatic transmission components
  • brake blocks
  • clutch facings
  • disc brake pads
  • drum brake linings
  • friction materials
  • gaskets
  • millboard
  • non-roofing coatings
  • pipeline wrap
  • roofing felt
  • roof coatings
  • vinyl-asbestos floor tile

 


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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-11-27 by InspectApedia-911 (mod)

@Anonymous,

I and reluctant to comment about the accuracy of a third-party article by a law firm.

In my opinion it wouldould be best for you to contact the law office directly to ask for their supporting research to address your question.

On 2023-11-26 by Anonymous

[reposted by moderator without disallowed link] this articles suggest not just brake and gaskets, also in hood and interior in Ford, General motor and Chrysler today. is it true?

On 2023-11-04 by L

@InspectApedia Publisher, For the clothes can I just toss them into washing machine?

On 2023-11-04 by Anonymous - is there a lot of the aftermarket product contains asbestos

@InspectApedia Publisher, sorry, but now I know the car manufactures stopped using asbestos long ago, the true worry is foreign and aftermarket produce, so is there a lot of the aftermarket product contains asbestos or it is also rare?

On 2023-11-02 by InspectApedia Publisher

@jason L, and @Jack,

In my OPINION, there is no meaningful hazard in what you describe and there is nothing else I can add on this topic.

On 2023-11-02 by @jason L, and @Jack,

@InspectApedia Publisher, i did some research and found out there are no manufactures using asbestos in car component right now, and most of the asbestos car component are from aftermarket and old cars. But i didn't find any aftermarket product containing asbestos. I was told that today's brake pads and other material are more efficient both making and using, therefore there is no need of asbestos anymore even it is still legal. can you confirm?

On 2023-11-02 by InspectApedia Publisher

@jason L, and @Jack,

Thank you for the discussion and the questions about asbestos hazards from products that continue in current use.

We've explained an important distinction between intact undamaged materials that might contain asbestos and on the other hand significant dust levels from suspected or known asbestos containing materials that are significant in volume and are friable or otherwise made into high levels of airborne dust.

In the articles that we recommended and in our efforts to reply to your questions, I have said all I can find to say on this question.

In my OPINION there's no meaningful hazard from the cases about which you've continued to inquire.

On 2023-10-31 by jason L and Jack, (multiple questions from same reader)

@InspectApedia Publisher, i mistaken, it was not for auto shops it was suggedtion for diy works. so what you mean was cars using asbedtos pad would not release asbestos fibers to people sorrouding when driving? also do i have worry about asbedtos fibers goes into my car from brakes from other cars?

so there is a way to control the dust during the work of brake pads.

so did you inspect the air in cities for any ambient asbestos fibers?

i am still worrying about walking on the street and possible asbestos dust from car brakes, or those fibers goes into my cabin when i am driving.

On 2023-10-31 by InspectApedia Publisher - asbestos exposure and removal guidelines

@jack,

I don’t know what “move to an enclosed space” will solve with regard to asbestos exposure and removal.

Please see the Asbestos Handling Guidelines discussed at

ASBESTOS WETTING & CLEANUP GUIDELINES TO REDUCE HAZARD
https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos_Wetting_Procedure.php

On 2023-10-31 by Anonymous

@InspectApedia Publisher, that relax my worries, i heard from someone they said if asbestos is suspected they would move to an encllosed space for dust control is it true?

On 2023-10-31 by InspectApedia Publisher - is there asbestos dust in auto shops

@jack,

The auto repair shops that I've inspected no to no longer use compressed air to blow dust off brakes when they're working on them. In terms of actual risk of harm to you your far more likely to be injured fully down the stairs than by ambient airborne dust particles in the auto repair shop.

On 2023-10-31 by jack

sometimes i go to auto shops for maintenance, i am worried if asbestos dust is in the air in side the shop

On 2023-10-31 by InspectApedia Publisher

@jack,

Indeed the reason for this article is that there is some confusion about what asbestos containing products are or are not or were or were not ever banned in the US.

Best to take a look at the specific data and tables above on this page.

An answer to your remaining question about asbestos in ambient air in cities is to speculative to be useful without finding some credible scholarly research. Let's both look and see what we can find and report that here.

On 2023-10-31 by jack

did US gov permitted the use of asbestos in auto parts again? or it was never banned. Is it heavily regulated? does that result in asbestos fibers in ambient air in cities?

does today's car still contain asbestos material?

Are this uses toward general public, or speical use like in commercial setting?

 

...

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