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Is Asbestos still used in any currently manufactured parts, brakes or others? Specifically asking about the USA & Canada, but info on anywhere else in the world is good too.

If it's not still used, what year did Asbestos stop being used? - Just in case there's "new old stock" parts from years ago still sitting around.

I know that brake dust is never safe to breathe even without asbestos, but would like to know what year's parts / vehicles could be especially dangerous or contain equally "bad stuff."


The first few google hits, like this link http://www.asbestosnetwork.com/High-Risk-Occupations/Auto-Mechanics.shtml (with the fine print "Attorney Advertising © 2016 by Brayton Purcell LLP") seems to imply asbestos is still in "millions of vehicles," but I tend to doubt the veracity of "Attorney Advertising."

Xen2050
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Brake pads manufactured in China are notorious for containing asbestos. It won't be on the label either, so no way for the Man to keep them out of the country.

https://www.startpage.com/do/search?query=china+brake+pads+asbestos&cat=web&pl=chrome&language=english

Moab
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tlhIngan
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As @ Paulster has stated most of us assumed that the asbestos issue went away years ago. I would like to believe that the EPA has regulated asbestos out of the US automotive manufacturing market. Even if you could legally make asbestos brake pads, the industrial controls needed to meet dust containment would likely be too costly for a $25 set of brake pads. However we live in a global economy. Parts can come from anywhere in the world. The regulations governing those parts are only as strong as local enforcement

mikes
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