Asbestos Products
Table Of Contents
Asbestos products include brake pads, gaskets, joint compound and roofing materials. Many older building materials used asbestos, including adhesives, flooring, insulation, plumbing and roofing shingles. Some home goods, such as appliances, cosmetics and talc products, may also contain asbestos.
Written by: Michelle Whitmer | Scientifically Reviewed By Sean Fitzgerald, PG | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: November 15, 2024
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Products and Materials Containing Asbestos
U.S. companies no longer produce asbestos products that end up on the U.S. market but still import some. These products include aftermarket brakes, gaskets and some building materials.
Talc products can also contain asbestos. In recent years, baby powder, children’s makeup and toys, personal hygiene products and cosmetics have tested positive for asbestos.
Asbestos building materials were common in homes, schools and offices until the late 1970s. It was used in flooring, roofing, insulation and plumbing. As these products age or get disturbed during renovations, they can release harmful fibers into the air. This poses a risk of asbestos exposure.
Asbestos was widely used in various industries from the late 1800s to the 1980s. This includes chemical refining, construction, manufacturing and power generation. In the 1970s, regulations limited its use in the U.S. Some imported products, such as automotive brakes and gaskets, may contain asbestos.
Common Industrial and Commercial Asbestos-Containing Products
Manufacturers used asbestos in various construction materials, including cement products, ceiling and floor tiles and roofing shingles. Some coatings, friction products, gaskets and heat-resistant fabrics also contained asbestos.
Construction workers were exposed to asbestos while working on homes and buildings. This happened when they handled pipes, insulation, electrical panels and more. Auto mechanics face exposure from brakes and clutches.
Industrial and Commercial Asbestos Products
Asbestos exposure was common in industrial, construction and automotive industries. However, there are surprising sources, too. For instance, workers were exposed to asbestos during the manufacture, operation and repair of pizza ovens.
The chlor-alkali industry is the only U.S. business that still imports raw asbestos fibers. They use raw chrysotile asbestos to make diaphragm filters. As the U.S. Geological Survey reported, the industry imported 224 tons of raw chrysotile asbestos in 2022 and consumed 150 tons in 2023. Other industries still import asbestos-containing products like gaskets and brakes. In March 2024, the Biden-Harris administration finalized regulations to ban chrysotile asbestos over the next 12 years.
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Common Home and Consumer Asbestos-Containing Products
Many home products made before 1980 contain asbestos. These products include insulation, spackling compounds, paint and some appliances. Popcorn ceilings installed before that date had asbestos. Some paint products contained asbestos, such as those from now-closed Kelly-Moore Paints.
“If you’re buying a house built before the 1980s, hire professionals to inspect for any asbestos,” says registered nurse and oncology writer Sean Marchese. “If those materials become damaged, asbestos can be released, exposing your family to toxic fibers that can cause diseases many years later.”
Appliances came lined with asbestos for insulation and fireproofing. Examples include ovens, stoves, heaters, dryers and toasters. Most home appliances did not present a serious asbestos exposure risk unless they were damaged or taken apart. Hair dryers were an exception because they could release asbestos fibers into the air stream.
Home and Consumer Asbestos Products
Contaminated talc products can result in exposure for cosmetics consumers and children. In March 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported asbestos-contaminated talc in nine of 52 randomly tested cosmetic products, including a Johnson’s Baby Powder container.
Through the addition of asbestos-contaminated talc, asbestos has ended up in toys, crayons, modeling clay, and makeup. In 2020 and 2018, asbestos was found in children’s makeup sold by Claire’s. It was first found in 2017 in several children’s makeup sold by retailers Claire’s and Justice. Tests in 2015 detected asbestos in several brands of crayons and amateur crime lab kits sold in the U.S.
What Is Asbestos Used For?
Asbestos is used to control friction in imported products such as gaskets and brake pads. In 2020, the U.S. EPA found asbestos in products used in certain industries or available on the U.S. market. These products include chlor-alkali diaphragms, sheet gaskets and other gaskets, brake blocks, aftermarket automotive brakes/linings and other vehicle friction products.
Most uses of asbestos in the U.S. have been phased out. It was a very popular additive for industrial and building products to increase strength and fire resistance. Asbestos was widely used in fireproofing and insulation. It was part of the military’s shipbuilding boom in the 20th century. This was a common source of asbestos exposure for veterans.
Reasons for Using Asbestos
- Abundant: Asbestos occurs naturally in mineral deposits around the world.
- Durable: Asbestos is resistant to heat, electricity and chemical corrosion.
- Fibrous: Asbestos ore pulls apart with a wooly consistency that works like other types of fiber.
While asbestos has useful qualities, it’s also highly carcinogenic. The body cannot effectively break down or expel all inhaled asbestos fibers. Over time, these fibers can cause chronic inflammation, scar tissue and cancer.
The 1970s saw an increase in lawsuits holding asbestos manufacturers liable for health complications from exposure. Many workers with mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer sued for medical costs and lost wages.
Are Asbestos-Containing Products Banned?
A March 2024 ban on chrysotile asbestos ends U.S. imports and production of the last product that contains it. Only the U.S. chlor-alkali industry still imports asbestos. They use it to make diaphragm filters to produce chlorine, sodium hydroxide and hydrogen.
No other industry in the U.S. continues to manufacture a product with asbestos. But other industries import asbestos-containing products. These include the chemical, oil, automotive and aerospace industries. Companies have 12 years to comply with the new ban. They can still use, manufacture and import chrysotile asbestos during this time.
It’s a step in the right direction. They need to ban all forms of asbestos. The government can save more lives than I can if they just do the right thing.
Dr. Raja Flores, chairman of thoracic surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center
Regulations also include the Clean Air Act and the Consumer Product Safety Act that ban several types of asbestos products. Regulatory agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency monitor and restrict asbestos use in consumer products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is evaluating talc safety.
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Get Help NowCommon Questions About Asbestos Products
- Where are asbestos products commonly found?
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Common sources of asbestos in homes include cement, roof shingles and floor tiles. Examples of products containing asbestos in schools include ceiling tiles, wallboard and HVAC ductwork.
Homeowners fixing older homes might inhale asbestos fibers and dust. Those repairing floors and insulation in homes built before 1990 face high risks. Working on cars with aftermarket brake pads and clutch linings also poses an asbestos risk.
- Is asbestos still used in products?
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New asbestos products found in the U.S. are usually imported. American consumers remain at risk of asbestos exposure through aftermarket automotive brakes, linings and certain gaskets. Workers in certain industries still handle new asbestos products. Examples include chemical production workers who handle sheet gaskets and oil industry workers who use brake blocks.
- What older products contain asbestos?
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Old sources of asbestos in home goods include fabrics, stoves, dryers and coffee pots. Contaminated talc is another source of exposure. Reports also show asbestos in makeup and toys, such as crayons and crime lab kits.
- What are the health risks if I have asbestos in my home or building?
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Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath often take decades to show up after long-term exposure. Most people who get sick worked for years around asbestos or lived with someone who did.
