Tara Strand Senior Content Writer

Jennifer Lucarelli Legal Advisor and Contributor

Asbestos companies use the mineral in products and/or the manufacturing process. Many of these asbestos companies have been named in lawsuits stemming from their use of the carcinogen. Notable asbestos companies include Johns-Manville, National Gypsum and Armstrong World Industries.

Asbestos was often used in manufacturing due to the mineral’s ability to resist heat, fire and chemical reactions. Companies in various industries, such as construction and chemical refining, may have used asbestos.

One of the most notable asbestos companies was Johns-Manville. The company produced asbestos construction products and operated its own mines.

Today, companies, such as Johns-Manville, are often named in asbestos lawsuits related to past use of the mineral.

According to reports, many companies were aware of the health risks associated with using asbestos. Companies chose to continue using asbestos despite the dangers for staff and consumers. The mineral was a cheap way to add strength and/or fire resistance to the manufacturing process and products.

Asbestos companies knowingly used the carcinogen for decades despite health risks. At the height of asbestos use, the mineral was in thousands of products.

Asbestos companies and manufacturers included asbestos in a wide range of products. In the United States, certain products may still contain up to 1% of asbestos.

Asbestos products infiltrated many industries, putting workers at risk of asbestos exposure. Workers may develop asbestos diseases from exposure on the jobsite.

By the 1970s, researchers discovered asbestos led to an increased risk for lung diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. For instance, in 1960, a historical mesothelioma study documented the connection between asbestos and the rare cancer.

Due to the more widespread knowledge of health risks, asbestos use in the United States became regulated in the late 1970s and 1980s. These asbestos regulations have helped restrict asbestos use and hold companies accountable. Regulations also help prevent further exposure of workers and consumers.

However, without a complete asbestos ban, certain products and industries may still use the mineral.

Are Asbestos Products Still Manufactured?

Asbestos products are still manufactured and sold in the United States. Certain products can contain ≤ 1% asbestos.

Asbestos is no longer legal to mine in the U.S. All asbestos used for manufacturing is imported.

What Countries Still Allow Companies to Use Asbestos?

Many countries have banned asbestos. However, there are still others that mine, export and manufacture with asbestos. Russia has not banned asbestos and was the sole exporter of the mineral to the United States in 2019.

Individuals diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases may file a lawsuit for compensation. The companies listed below are commonly named in asbestos litigation due to the widespread use of their asbestos products.

The majority of companies listed here are still solvent and in operation today. 

These companies often settle mesothelioma lawsuits before they go to trial. However, others may defend asbestos lawsuits until the end of the legal process.

The companies listed below have all filed for bankruptcy and established trust funds. Asbestos trusts compensate current and future asbestos exposure victims. Asbestos companies often file for bankruptcy when frequently named in asbestos claims.

Claimants must meet the specific trust fund’s eligibility requirements. Trusts pay successful claims according to set payment percentages.

The companies in this list all have more than 200 million dollars in assets. An individual can file asbestos claims with these trusts if they meet the appropriate criteria. These trusts will be compensating mesothelioma victims for many years to come.

*In 2021, J&J created a subsidiary called LTL Management LLC to handle talcum powder claims. This subsidiary immediately filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. If this restructuring is approved by the courts, an asbestos trust fund would be established. J&J would fund this trust with $2 billion.

The companies in this list all have less than 200 million dollars in assets. Individuals can file claims with these trusts if they meet the appropriate criteria. These trusts have limited funds available.

Individuals exposed to asbestos by one of these companies should speak to a mesothelioma lawyer at their earliest convenience.

The companies listed below have all been named in asbestos lawsuits. Some have been named more than others.

All the companies on this list are solvent and still in operation.

Asbestos use in the United States has waned in recent years. Today, 100% of the asbestos imported into the country is for use in the chlor-alkali industry. Those working within this industry may still be at risk of asbestos exposure. Workers in other industries may experience asbestos exposure through old asbestos materials still in use.

Asbestos laws continue to evolve as anti-asbestos advocates work towards a complete ban. Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently evaluated asbestos.

The EPA completed a Draft Risk Evaluation for Asbestos in 2020. However, a peer review committee found issues with the assessment and the EPA is drafting another version.

The EPA has the potential to enact stricter regulations on asbestos companies.

Asbestos companies can be held accountable for exposing workers and consumers to asbestos. Asbestos companies continue to be named in lawsuits stemming from use of the mineral.

As asbestos exposure victims continue to file claims:

Individuals who believe they have experienced exposure from an asbestos company should speak with an experienced mesothelioma law firm.

Spector M, Levine D. Special Report: Inside J&J’s secret plan to cap litigation payouts to cancer victims. Reuters. Updated February 2022.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. TSCA Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals Meeting Minutes and Final Report No. 2020-6.

U.S. Geological Survey. Mineral Commodity Summaries 2020. January 2020.

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Tara Strand Senior Content Writer

Tara Strand specializes in researching and writing about asbestos, raising awareness and advocating for a ban.

Tara Strand Senior Content Writer

Jennifer Lucarelli Legal Advisor and Contributor

Jennifer Lucarelli has been an advocate for mesothelioma patients and their families for 20 years and has helped over 1,000 victims. She is a Legal Advisor and Contributor for Mesothelioma.com.

Jennifer Lucarelli Legal Advisor and Contributor

Mesothelioma.com is dedicated to providing the latest medical information on mesothelioma, spreading awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and providing victims with free resources.

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Page last modified on May 13, 2022.