The first asbestos ban in the United States occurred in 1977 but was limited to very specific uses of the substance. In 1989, the federal government banned virtually all use and manufacture of asbestos in the country, including its use in building materials.
The ban on asbestos was partially overturned in 1991, but asbestos it is still banned in new products. Under federal law, any compound containing more than 1 percent asbestos must encapsulate it in a binder so that it cannot become exposed to the air as dust. The Toxic Substances Control Act bans the use of asbestos in many paper, flooring felt and rollboard products.
