Risk Evaluation for Asbestos
EPA evaluated asbestos under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and completed the final risk evaluation for asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos in December 2020. Subsequent to publishing the final Part 1 Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, EPA agreed to publish a final Part 2 of the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, which focuses on legacy uses and associated disposals, other types of asbestos fibers in addition to chrysotile, and asbestos-containing talc. EPA published the final scope for Part 2 of the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos in June 2022. EPA is also moving forward on risk management actions for part 1.
On this page:
- Background on/Uses of Asbestos
- Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos
- Risk Evaluation of Asbestos Part 2: Supplemental Evaluation including Legacy Uses and Associated Disposals of Asbestos
- Prior EPA Actions on Asbestos
On other pages:
- Learn EPA's actions to protect the public from exposure to asbestos including a partial ban and a rule to ensure products that are no longer on the market can't return without EPA's review.
- Find information about other chemicals undergoing risk evaluations under TSCA.
- Learn about risk management for chrysotile asbestos.
Background on/Uses of Asbestos
Although there are several known types of asbestos, the only form of asbestos known to be imported, processed, or distributed for use in the United States is chrysotile. Currently imported raw chrysotile asbestos is used exclusively by U.S. the chlor-alkali industry. Based on 2019 data, the total amount of raw asbestos imported into the United States was 100 metric tons. Certain asbestos-containing products, like sheet gaskets, brake blocks, aftermarket automotive brakes/linings, other vehicle friction products, and other gaskets, are also imported into the United States.
Risk Evaluation of Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos
In December 2020, EPA released the final Part 1 of the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, which shows that there are unreasonable risks to workers, occupational non-users, consumers, and bystanders from 16 out of 32 conditions of use under TSCA. EPA found no unreasonable risks to the environment. As with any chemical product, EPA strongly recommends that users carefully follow all instructions on the product’s label.
In March 2020, EPA released the draft risk evaluation for asbestos, part 1 for public comment and peer review.
Risk Evaluation of Asbestos, Part 2: Supplemental Evaluation including Legacy Uses and Associated Disposals of Asbestos
EPA originally adopted the TSCA Title II definition of asbestos and focused the scope of the TSCA risk evaluation for asbestos on ongoing uses of asbestos and excluded legacy uses and disposals. Because only chrysotile asbestos has ongoing uses, other fiber types included in the TSCA Title II definition were not considered. However, in 2019, a court ruled that the agency unlawfully excluded “legacy uses” and “associated disposal” from TSCA’s definition of “conditions of use,” resulting in the need to supplement the agency’s review of asbestos with a “part 2” risk evaluation. The latter focuses on legacy uses and associated disposals, which includes all fiber types included in the TSCA Title II definition. EPA entered into a consent decree to complete the final part 2 risk evaluation by December 1, 2024.
In August 2023, EPA released a for peer review a white paper that describes EPA’s quantitative approach for the human health assessment to be applied in Part 2. In June 2022, EPA released the final scope for Part 2 of the Risk Evaluation for Asbestos.
Learn more about the risk evaluation for asbestos, part 2.
Prior EPA Actions on Asbestos
In June 2017, EPA released the scope document for the risk evaluation for asbestos part 1, which included the hazards, exposures, conditions of use, and the potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations EPA expected to consider in its risk evaluation of asbestos conducted pursuant to TSCA section 6(b). In June 2018, EPA released the problem formulation for the risk evaluation for asbestos part 1, which refined the scope of the asbestos risk evaluation by clarifying the chemical conditions of use that EPA expected to evaluate and describing how EPA expected to conduct the evaluation.
- Read the problem formulation for the risk evaluation for asbestos, part 1.
- Read the scope document for the risk evaluation for asbestos, part 1 and the supplemental files.
After releasing the scope documents for each of the first 10 chemicals undergoing risk evaluation under TSCA, the dockets for each of these first 10 chemicals were open for public comments. Read EPA’s Responses to Public Comments Received on the Scope Documents for the First Ten Chemicals for Risk Evaluation under TSCA. This document addresses cross-cutting public comments received in response to the scope document.