March 12, 2024

Is Asbestos Still Used In The U.S.? The Dangerous Truth

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Asbestos
Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma
Eric B. Abramson

Legally Reviewed and Fact Checked by: Eric B. Abramson , President, Shareholder & Trial Attorney

Is Asbestos Still Used in America Today?

Despite decades of scientific evidence linking asbestos exposure to deadly cancers, asbestos is still used in America in 2024. Any reasonable person might expect asbestos use to have disappeared from the American landscape by now, especially since the connection between asbestos exposure and cancer was scientifically established in Dr. Richard Doll’s landmark 1955 study.

Today, scientists universally agree that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. While progress has been made in regulating its use across various industries, there is still no comprehensive national asbestos ban in the United States — meaning American workers continue facing real risks of breathing toxic asbestos fibers and developing life-threatening illnesses like mesothelioma.

Why Asbestos Remains Legal in America

The process of reducing asbestos use in America has been frustratingly slow. It wasn’t until the 1970s — decades after asbestos was known to cause cancer — that the U.S. government began taking regulatory action. In 1989, the EPA ordered a ban of over 90% of asbestos-containing products, but this comprehensive ban was later overturned by industry challenges.

Currently, asbestos is only banned in fewer than a dozen product types in the United States, along with restrictions on new uses in products that haven’t historically contained asbestos. This limited approach stands in stark contrast to over 50 countries worldwide that have implemented complete asbestos bans. The continued legal use of asbestos in America exposes millions to a known carcinogen that has caused irreparable health damage and death for thousands of Americans.

Industries and Workers Still at Risk for Asbestos Exposure

People most vulnerable to asbestos exposure today include workers across numerous industries and trades:

  • Automotive technicians and mechanics
  • Maritime workers and shipyard employees
  • Military servicemen and veterans
  • Railroad workers
  • Plumbers and pipefitters
  • Millwrights and maintenance workers
  • Electricians
  • Construction and demolition crews

Family members of these workers also face secondary asbestos exposure risks through contaminated work clothing and equipment. If you or a loved one have received a diagnosis for an asbestos-related illness, understanding your legal rights is crucial for securing compensation and justice.

Asbestos-Related Diseases and Health Consequences

Despite causing catastrophic damage to human health, the root cause begins with surprisingly small particles. When exposed to asbestos, people inhale microscopic airborne fibers. As the body attempts to eliminate these particles from the lungs, chronic inflammation occurs, with fibers reaching even the smallest, most distant parts of respiratory tissue. This inflammatory process can result in several severe and irreversible conditions:

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, with scientists agreeing that virtually all cases stem from inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. While this aggressive cancer remains relatively rare, heavily industrialized states like Michigan experience disproportionately high case rates. Pleural mesothelioma, the most common form, affects the lung lining, though mesothelioma can also impact the heart, abdomen, and other organs.

Lung Cancer

Medical studies have definitively linked asbestos fiber inhalation to increased lung cancer risk. Factors affecting individual risk levels include exposure dose size, duration of exposure, and the specific chemical composition of asbestos fibers encountered.

Asbestosis

This progressive respiratory disease develops when asbestos fiber inhalation causes lung tissue scarring, resulting in breathing difficulties, chest pain, and reduced lung function. Asbestosis can eventually progress to mesothelioma or lung cancer development.

Aging Infrastructure and Ongoing Asbestos Exposure Risks

Even if America implemented a complete asbestos ban today, millions would remain in danger due to legacy asbestos installations. Asbestos-containing materials installed decades ago persist in old buildings, factories, railway systems, and ships nationwide. The work required for proper asbestos abatement and replacement represents an immense undertaking requiring specialized expertise and significant resources.

Because mesothelioma has a latency period of 10 to 50 years, thousands of new cases receive diagnoses annually among individuals exposed during their careers. Unlike smoking-related lung cancer, mesothelioma risk does not decrease over time after asbestos exposure ends, making past workplace exposures a continuing health threat.

Current Regulatory Efforts and Limitations

Recent EPA initiatives to examine and rehabilitate asbestos-containing buildings show promise but have primarily focused on schools and public buildings. A currently proposed ban on specific asbestos import types would limit some exposure risks but wouldn’t address the substantial workforce across America still encountering asbestos in existing insulation and equipment.

As of 2024, Michigan has not enacted comprehensive state-level asbestos ban legislation. As a Michigan-based law firm, Serling & Abramson, P.C. has witnessed repeatedly how this regulatory gap has affected Michigan residents and workers throughout our state.

Legal Help for Asbestos Exposure Victims

If you or a loved one believe you’ve suffered harm from asbestos exposure, several compelling reasons exist to contact Serling & Abramson, P.C.:

  • 50+ years of specialized experience in asbestos and mesothelioma law
  • Local representation — we don’t transfer cases to out-of-state attorneys
  • Urgent action awareness — we understand asbestos case statutes of limitations and act quickly
  • Free case evaluation — we’ll review your situation at no charge
  • Proven track record securing compensation for asbestos exposure victims

While the United States may not be moving quickly enough to ban asbestos and eliminate its harmful effects, the experienced attorneys at Serling & Abramson, P.C. won’t hesitate to provide expert legal guidance and pursue the compensation you deserve for your losses.