A Short Regulatory Timeline of Asbestos in the United States
A concise look at the shift from widespread asbestos use to modern workplace controls, environmental oversight, and legacy risk management.
Asbestos was widely used in the United States because it resisted heat, corrosion, and wear. CDC notes that asbestos exposure in the United States peaked in the 1970s and later declined as mines closed and many asbestos-containing materials were withdrawn from the market. CDC
Workplace regulation
OSHA regulates asbestos exposure in general industry, construction, and shipyard work. These standards address monitoring, hazard communication, engineering controls, work practices, respirators, and protective measures where exposure may occur. OSHA
Environmental oversight and legacy use
EPA continues to address asbestos through environmental and chemical safety authorities. In November 2024, EPA released a supplemental asbestos risk evaluation that found certain legacy uses and associated disposals significantly contribute to unreasonable risk. EPA
Why the issue is still current
The modern asbestos story is less about broad new use and more about legacy materials, older buildings, renovation, demolition, and long-term health effects from past exposure. The decline in incidence reflects lower exposure overall, but exposure pathways have not disappeared entirely. CDC