At the height of asbestos use in the United States (from 1950 – 1980), over 3,500 products contained asbestos.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned asbestos use in 1973. However, the only products that were banned from manufacturing, use or importation were Sprayed-on Fireproofing, Pre-fabricated Pipe Insulation and certain types of Felts.
A proposed EPA ban of 1989, to eliminate approximately 1,500 asbestos products was overturned and never implemented. A labeling requirement was instituted requiring all Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) to be labeled with asbestos content. Currently in the U.S., it is estimated that over 1,800 ACM are manufactured, used or imported.
ACM is defined by the EPA as materials that contain more than 1% asbestos by Polarized Light Microscope (PLM).
For a visual guide to identify typical building materials that may contain asbestos, click here.
