The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced a sweeping ban on asbestos, targeting the last of the chemicals still in use in the United States.

Although asbestos was the first chemical banned under the 2016 Chemical Safety Act, which removed it from many consumer products, the carcinogenic material is still used in some chlorine bleach, brake pads and other products.

The type of asbestos now banned is called chrysotile, a carcinogen used in the chlor-alkali industry and imported mainly from Brazil and Russia. The industry mainly produces bleach, caustic soda and other products used in water treatment.

Along with banning imports, the new ban aims to phase in restrictions on chlor-alkali use over five years or more, aiming to facilitate what the agency calls a “reasonable transition period.”

The EPA first banned asbestos in 1989, but the rule was largely overturned by a 1991 appeals court ruling that weakened the agency’s ability to address the effects of asbestos and other chemicals on humans under the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. Powers over health risks.

Ahead of Monday’s announcement, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, which represents 350 publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities, expressed concern that an immediate asbestos ban could lead to shortages and higher prices for chlorine and other chemicals critical to water treatment and disinfection.

A ban on most other uses of asbestos, such as its use in the production of aftermarket car brakes, will take effect within two years.

“The science is clear – asbestos is a known carcinogen with serious public health impacts,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “That’s why EPA is so proud to finalize this long-term A ban on the continued use of asbestos is needed.”

The EPA also said the announcement is part of President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot, a government-wide initiative to end cancer in the United States. Exposure to asbestos is a known cause of lung cancer, mesothelioma and other cancers, killing more than 40,000 people in the United States each year.

Scott Faber, senior vice president of the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy group pushing for an asbestos ban, approved the EPA’s statement.

“For too long, polluters have been allowed to create, use and release toxins like asbestos and PFOS with no regard for our health,” Faber said. “Thanks to the leadership of the Biden EPA, those days are finally over. “

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals used in a variety of consumer products.

The EPA has been working on a separate initiative to determine the health effects of asbestos in older buildings.

Information for this report was obtained in part from Reuters and The Associated Press.