EPA Finalizes Blanket Ban on Asbestos

25 Jun

2024

The link between asbestos and cancer has been known for decades. While the U.S. has banned the use of most forms of asbestos, chrysotile asbestos is still in use. As of 2024, however, the U.S. has banned all types of asbestos.

Types of Asbestos

There are six types of asbestos:

Chrysotile
Amosite
Crocidolite
Tremolite
Actinolite
Anthophyllite

All six kinds of asbestos carry health risks. Chrysotile, the only one still in use in the U.S. as of 2024, is one of the more commonly used types. As it's pliable, chrysotile asbestos can be found in products including chlorine bleach and brake pads.

Belated Policy

In March 2024, the EPA issued a comprehensive ban on asbestos. This comes eight years after Congress revised the Toxic Substances Control Act. This law is intended to regulate thousands of toxic chemicals, and the EPA used these revisions for the new asbestos regulations.

Previous Ban

In 1989, the EPA issued a comprehensive ban on asbestos. However, a 1991 decision by the Court of Appeals largely overturned the EPA's 1989 law. This has allowed companies and others in the U.S. to use asbestos despite knowing its negative impact on health.

Asbestos-Cancer Link

Approximately 40,000 deaths every year are related to asbestos exposure. Those exposed to asbestos face a higher risk of cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestos has been linked to causing the following cancers:

Lung
Larynx
Ovary
Stomach
Colorectum

Some research indicates that the majority of mesothelioma cases relate to asbestos exposure.

How Asbestos Affects Health

Everyone is at risk when exposed to asbestos. While certain groups, such as nonsmokers, may have a higher cancer risk after exposure, asbestos is bad news for everyone. The greater the exposure, the greater the risk of long-term implications for a person's health.

The primary risk with asbestos comes from inhaling asbestos fibers. These particles can become trapped in the lungs and accumulate. Over time, these accumulations can result in scarring and inflation. This can lead to serious breathing problems and diseases, such as cancer.

What Other Health Conditions Can Asbestos Cause?

Even if not diagnosed with cancer, asbestos exposure can negatively impact a person's life. Other health conditions and disorders that are linked to asbestos:

Asbestosis
Nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders, such as:
- Pleural plaques
- Pleural thickening
- Benign Pleural effusions

Having one of these disorders may relate to an increased risk of lung cancer.

What Is Asbestosis?

Asbestosis is one of several health conditions that target the lungs and cause inflammation. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage.

The link between disease and asbestos isn't a recent discovery. Its negative health effects have been known for nearly four decades. While the comprehensive ban is good, it doesn't erase the damage to those who have already been exposed to asbestos.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos, the Madeksho Law team is here to help you. Initial consultations are always free, and we don't collect payment unless we win your case. Contact us today to discuss your case at 888-910-MESO (6376) or online.

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