Barbara McQueen Urges Congress to Ban Asbestos in the U.S.

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 23 Sep 2012 - Updated: 1 Oct 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This report covers the 2012 push by Barbara McQueen, widow of actor Steve McQueen, for a complete ban on the sale and use of asbestos in the United States. McQueen died of mesothelioma at just 50 years old. Speaking at a House of Representatives staff briefing with the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, his widow urged lawmakers to support the Safer Chemicals Act of 2012. The report contrasts the U.S. position with the European Union, where every member nation has banned asbestos. It also explains that because mesothelioma can take decades to appear, people diagnosed today often struggle to trace where they were exposed. The story matters to older adults, retired tradespeople and anyone living in or renovating an older home, and it shows how a well-known name can bring public attention to a slow-moving public health issue.

At a Glance

• 1 - The World Health Organization classifies asbestos as a serious carcinogen.
• 2 - In 1989 the EPA tried to ban most asbestos uses, but the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the effort.
• 3 - Even while striking down the ban, the court acknowledged that asbestos is a potential carcinogen at all levels of exposure.
• 4 - Common asbestos products include insulation, roofing, gaskets, brake materials, furnace and pipe cement and heat-resistant clothing.

Topic Definition

Asbestos Ban

An asbestos ban is a law or regulation that prohibits the mining, import, manufacture, sale or use of asbestos and products that contain it. These bans are meant to stop new exposure to the microscopic fibers that cause mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. More than 50 countries, including every member of the European Union, have adopted full bans. In the United States, regulation has come in stages: early EPA efforts were partly struck down in court, and in 2024 the EPA issued a rule banning ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos. Bans apply to new products and uses. They do not require removal of asbestos already in place, which is instead governed by separate rules on inspection, handling and safe removal.

Overview

U.S. Considering Total Ban on Asbestos

The U.S. government is debating the passage of a total ban on asbestos and asbestos-containing products. Update: 1 October 2026 - The 2012 bill failed and the EPA finalized its chrysotile ban in March 2024.

Many people might remember actor Steve McQueen for his eponymous role in the movie Bullitt, where he performed what is widely considered to be one of the greatest car-chase scenes of all time. Off screen, though, McQueen garnered a more tragic notoriety when - like countless others of his generation - he died from mesothelioma. He was just 50 years old when the cancer, caused by exposure to asbestos, took his life.

Now, McQueen's widow, Barbara McQueen, is using the actor's legacy to try and convince federal lawmakers to finally ban the sale and use of asbestos in the United States.

In July 2012, Mrs. McQueen spoke at a House of Representatives staff briefing in an effort to generate support for the Safer Chemicals Act of 2012. She participated in the event as part of a contingent representing the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.

Asbestos: Deadly, Yet Common

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous mineral. It has long been valued for its pliability and heat-resistant properties, and it was used as a fire retardant for decades. That utility, however, comes at a very steep price. Working with asbestos releases microscopic fibers into the air which, when inhaled into the lungs, can cause mesothelioma, a devastating and incurable type of cancer.

The World Health Organization classifies asbestos as a serious carcinogen. Because of the extreme health risks surrounding asbestos use, the substance has been banned by every member of the European Union in 2005. The United States, however, has not followed suit.

In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency attempted to ban most uses of asbestos. Unfortunately, the agency's efforts were overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1991. The Court allowed the EPA to ban both new and outdated uses of asbestos, but prohibited the agency from banning existing uses. It did so even though it recognized that "asbestos is a potential carcinogen at all levels of exposure."

As a result, dangerous asbestos fibers can be found in all sorts of consumer products. Some of the most common asbestos-containing products include insulation, roofing materials, gaskets, brake materials, furnace and pipe cement and heat-resistant clothing. In addition, because asbestos-containing products were once so widely used in the construction industry, many older buildings and homes contain asbestos that can be extremely harmful if it is disturbed during demolition or renovation.

Securing Justice for Mesothelioma Victims

It is still unclear whether the asbestos ban will be passed or if it will again fail to garner adequate support. Even if it does, mesothelioma will be a sad reality for many years to come.

Mesothelioma has a very long latency period - often, the cancer does not appear until years or even decades after the initial exposure.

Because of this long gap between exposure and illness, many mesothelioma victims have a hard time identifying all potential sources of asbestos exposure. An experienced attorney can help in this regard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the Safer Chemicals Act of 2012 become law?

No. The bill did not pass, but its goals fed into the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, signed in 2016, which gave the EPA stronger authority to regulate dangerous chemicals including asbestos.

Is asbestos banned in the United States today?

In March 2024 the EPA finalized a rule banning ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only type still imported. Some industrial uses were given phase-out periods of several years, and asbestos already in buildings is not covered by the ban.

How many countries have banned asbestos?

More than 50 countries have banned asbestos, including all European Union members, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, which put its ban in place in 2018.

How was Steve McQueen exposed to asbestos?

McQueen believed he was exposed while removing asbestos pipe insulation aboard a ship during his time in the Marines. He may also have been exposed through asbestos-lined racing suits and brake parts used in auto racing.

What is the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization?

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization is a nonprofit founded in 2004 by Linda Reinstein after her husband was diagnosed with mesothelioma. It works to prevent asbestos exposure through education, advocacy and support for a full asbestos ban.

How many Americans die from asbestos-related diseases each year?

Researchers estimate that roughly 40,000 Americans die each year from diseases linked to asbestos exposure, including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

Is asbestos in an older home dangerous if left alone?

Asbestos materials that are intact and undisturbed generally pose a low risk. The danger comes when they are damaged, sanded, cut or removed, so testing by a licensed inspector before renovation is strongly advised.

What are asbestos trust funds?

Asbestos trust funds were set up by companies that went bankrupt over asbestos liability. They hold billions of dollars to compensate people with mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases, often without the need for a court trial.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: The Safer Chemicals Act did not become law, but the push for a ban did not end there. Congress reformed the Toxic Substances Control Act in 2016, and in March 2024 the EPA finalized a rule banning ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only form still being imported. Some industrial uses get several years to phase out. Even with a ban in place, asbestos already in homes, schools and workplaces does not disappear. It becomes dangerous mainly when it is disturbed during demolition, renovation or repair. That leaves homeowners, contractors and building managers with a lasting responsibility to test before they cut, sand or tear out older materials, and it means doctors will keep seeing asbestos-related illnesses from past exposures for decades.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.