6. Asbestos is still used in construction in the United States
Although its use is banned in most developed countries, asbestos is not completely banned in the United States, and is still used in some construction materials, including cement asbestos pipes. Buildings erected prior to 1990 are likely to have some asbestos containing materials within, and those built before the 1970s are likely to have several, unless they were removed during renovation or remodeling. Asbestos use in homes was widespread, one Australian manufacturer listed 54 different products featuring asbestos for use in home construction and furnishing. As recently as 1999 some manufacturers of stippling products used to produce a decorative effect on ceilings continued to use asbestos.
Floor and ceiling tiles were manufactured using asbestos, as were insulation materials, drywall, plaster, roof shingles, numerous adhesives and sealants, acoustic tiles (such as popcorn tiles), filters, sound isolation materials, texturing compounds, and heating and ventilation insulation. These are materials for the construction of a home, many of the furnishings and mechanical equipment within a home built before the 1990s also contained asbestos. At one time, the artificial snow used for Christmas decorations was manufactured with materials containing asbestos, sold to the consumer under the brand names of Pure White and White Magic. In the 1960s, Kent brand cigarettes offered a filter which it called “micronite”, which contained asbestos to shield the smoker from the heat of the lighted cigarette, said to have a detrimental effect on taste.