On March 18, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) announced a final rule to prohibit ongoing uses of chrysotile
asbestos. Chrysotile asbestos, also known as “white
asbestos,” has several current uses, such as a disinfectant
for water treatment and in certain products, including gaskets,
automotive brakes, and linings. It is the only known form of
asbestos currently used in or imported to the United States.
The rule, proposed in April of 2022, is notably the first rule
to be finalized under the 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA). Under TSCA section 6(a) (15 U.S.C. 2605(a)),
the EPA may prohibit or otherwise restrict the manufacturing,
processing, or distribution in commerce of a chemical substance if
it determines that the substance presents an unreasonable risk of
injury to health or the environment under certain conditions of
use. Here, the EPA determined that chrysotile asbestos presents an
unreasonable risk of injury to the
