Despite decades of warnings about its links to serious health complications, asbestos remains a present threat in Hawai'i and across the United States. For those who have suffered from asbestos-related diseases, understanding where exposure still occurs today is critical to protecting yourself and your loved ones.
Is Asbestos Still Used in the United States?
Asbestos is still used today in the United States. Unlike many industrialized nations that have implemented complete bans, the U.S. permits asbestos in certain products. In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency outlawed chrysotile asbestos, which is the only form of asbestos still imported and used in the U.S. The ban established a phase-out period of up to 12 years for some industries.
Asbestos exposure can also be caused by products containing talcum powder. Talc and asbestos are both minerals, often found together in underground mineral deposits.
We can help.
What Products is Asbestos Still Used in Today?
Commercial products that may contain asbestos include:
- Automotive brake pads and clutch plates
- Gaskets and packing materials
- Roofing shingles and felt
- Cement products
- Friction materials
- Fireproofing materials
How Does Asbestos Form?
Asbestos minerals form through geological processes involving magnesium-rich rocks that undergo metamorphic changes. The most common type of asbestos fiber, chrysotile, forms through serpentinization, in which water creates hydrothermal solutions within ultramafic igneous rocks. Amphibole asbestos minerals develop under high temperatures and pressures within iron-rich and magnesium-rich formations.
What Are the Properties of Asbestos?
The properties of asbestos made it highly desirable for industrial and construction applications:
- Exceptional resistance to heat and fire
- Chemical durability
- Electrical insulation capabilities
- Flexibility and strength when formed into fibers
- Ability to be woven into fabrics
- Long-lasting durability
These same properties make asbestos dangerous. The microscopic fibers are extremely durable and resistant to breaking down in the human body, remaining in lung tissue indefinitely after inhalation. Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a deadly cancer of the lining of lungs and internal organs.
What Was Asbestos Used for in Construction?
In Hawai’i’s construction industry, asbestos was extensively used throughout the 20th century. Military sites like Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard used asbestos in shipbuilding from the 1930s through the early 1980s. Hawaiian Electric Company power plants, sugar mills, and countless buildings incorporated asbestos materials.
Construction applications included pipe and boiler insulation, joint compound and wallboard, floor tiles and adhesives, roofing materials, ceiling tiles and acoustical plaster, and siding.
Is Asbestos Still Used in Hawai’i Today?
In Hawai’i, the threat extends beyond new products. The state’s Department of Health confirms that residents are “living in and around it constantly,” as nearly every building constructed before 1980 contains asbestos in ceiling tiles, floor tiles and drywall.
While highly regulated, asbestos use is still allowed in certain products in Hawai’i. The state has implemented strict regulations through Hawai’i Administrative Rules Title 11, Chapters 501-504, governing asbestos handling, removal, and certification. However, these regulations cannot eliminate the extensive legacy of past asbestos use.
A 2024 Environmental Pollution report found asbestos fibers present in soil at the former Honolulu vermiculite processing site—40 years after it closed. The recent Lahaina wildfires released asbestos from burned structures into the ash, requiring ongoing monitoring by the Department of Health.
Hawai’i veterans face particular risk from Pearl Harbor exposure, while renovation work continues to disturb asbestos-containing materials in older buildings. Even mainland renovation projects demonstrate how asbestos complications persist decades after initial installation.
How We Help Victims of Asbestos Exposure in Hawai‘i
Seek justice with the help of our experienced Hawai‘i asbestos attorneys. Our mesothelioma law firm has represented Hawai‘i residents like you affected by asbestos exposure for over 40 years, aggressively fighting the corporate giants responsible for their dangerous products. If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos or suffered from a disease caused by asbestos, like mesothelioma, we can help.
