when was asbestos banned in california

1 day ago 7
Nature

Asbestos was banned in California in 1977. This state-specific ban means that the use of asbestos was prohibited from that year onward, although asbestos- containing materials still exist in older buildings constructed before the ban, especially those built between 1930 and 1950. Despite the ban, asbestos can still be found in some properties and poses a risk if disturbed. On a federal level, asbestos use in the U.S. has had a complex history. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a broad asbestos ban in 1989, but the ban was largely overturned in 1991 due to industry pushback. More recently, the EPA finalized a ban on chrysotile asbestos—the main form still used in the U.S.—in March 2024, setting phase-out timelines for some uses of asbestos nationwide. To summarize:

  • California banned asbestos use in 1977.
  • The EPA issued a national asbestos ban in 1989, but it was mostly overturned in 1991.
  • The EPA issued a new federal ban on chrysotile asbestos in March 2024.

The California ban means asbestos use was prohibited there decades before the recent federal ban was finalized.