November 29, 2022 Following decades of pressure from advocates, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is cracking down on the use of asbestos, a toxic substance linked to cancers, serious diseases, and the loss of thousands of lives each year.
A naturally occurring mineral, asbestos was used in thousands of commercial products before its health hazards became widely known in the 1970s. Decades of research has shown that exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the chest and stomach lining, as well as lung cancer and asbestosis, which causes permanent lung damage. According to the World Health Organization, about 125 million people worldwide are exposed to asbestos at the workplace, resulting in roughly 107,000 occupational exposure deaths annually. It is estimated that asbestos exposure kills 40,000 Americans every year.
Previous efforts to ban asbestos use in the United States have been unsuccessful, but the EPA is now proposing a full ban on the christoline asbestos, the only type that is still allowed to be imported into the United States. The new rule also requires comprehensive reporting on asbestos. Manufacturers and processors would have to report asbestos use and exposure information to the agency.
While a 1989 ban on asbestos made the use of the material in many products illegal, some uses were still allowed. Since then, asbestos has continued to be imported into the United States and used in the manufacturing of many products. The products that would be affected by the new ban include:
- Asbestos diaphragms
- Sheet gaskets
- Oilfield brake blocks
- Aftermarket automotive brakes/linings
- Other vehicle friction products
- Other gaskets
Asbestos Danger Still Lurks
According to experts, even with new regulations in place, asbestos exposure will continue to be a problem for years to come.
The substance is believed to linger in hundreds of thousands of public and commercial buildings in the United States, including homes and schools. About 500,000 of those buildings are believed to contain at least some damaged asbestos. Additionally, asbestos will also remain in products manufactured prior to the new ban.
While advocates applaud the EPA’s efforts to introduce new regulations, many say they don’t go far enough in addressing “legacy” asbestos. This refers to asbestos that’s been used over many decades and continues to pose a significant threat, especially to those most vulnerable to exposure, such as construction and maintenance workers and firefighters.
In fact, in 2019, a judge ruled that the EPA was wrong in only considering new uses of asbestos and ordered the agency to also take older uses of the substance into account.
While the EPA said it would ban chrysotile, one type of asbestos fiber, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization maintains the EPA should ban all six asbestos fibers, along with all uses of the material. The new EPA regulation would only ban six uses of asbestos.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos refers to a group of six types of minerals that are made up of very small fibers that are naturally resistant to heat, fire, electricity, and chemicals. Asbestos was widely used in the United States until health concerns led to some uses being banned along with some voluntary phase outs. Use of asbestos has declined substantially since the 1970s.
Although there’s been a drop in asbestos production worldwide, some countries – including the U.S. – have increased importation of asbestos.
What are the Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure?
Exposure to asbestos is linked to cancerous and noncancerous diseases. Cancers caused by asbestos exposure include mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and laryngeal cancer. Noncancerous diseases caused by asbestos exposure include asbestosis, pleural plaques, and pleural thickening.
Symptoms of asbestos exposure include:
- Shortness of breath
- Dry cough or wheezing
- Chest pain or tightness
- Respiratory complications
- Pleural effusion
How We Help Victims of Asbestos Exposure
Seek justice with the help of our experienced asbestos attorneys. Our asbestos law firm has represented individuals like you affected by asbestos exposure for over 20 years, aggressively fighting the corporate giants responsible for their dangerous products. If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos or suffer from a disease caused by asbestos, like mesothelioma, we can help.
