EPA Ignored Scientists’ Calls for Ban on Asbestos:
We’ve heard about the dangers of asbestos. Its use is banned in
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countries across the world because it is a known carcinogen. Asbestos, a naturally occurring fibrous mineral, was once widely used in the United States. Because asbestos is heat and fire resistant, manufacturers incorporated the mineral into construction materials, auto parts, and even clothing. However, inhaling asbestos fibers causes mesothelioma, a deadly cancer of the pleural lining of the lungs and abdomen.
There is no amount of exposure to asbestos that is safe,
yet asbestos is still used in the United States. In this article we’ll discuss how asbestos is used and recent developments in the EPA regulations regarding asbestos.
How Is Asbestos Used?
In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency attempted to gradually ban the use of asbestos in the United States, issuing the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule. Unfortunately, the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit overturned part of the ban. While the rule still bans the import, manufacture, and distribution of some asbestos-containing products, other asbestos uses were allowed to continue, with the rule banning only uses of asbestos initiated after 1989. Asbestos production stopped in the United States in 2002, but the U.S. still operated under the “significant new use” rule until recently.
EPA Allowing New Asbestos Uses
In April of 2019, the EPA modified the significant new use rule, allowing new uses of asbestos in the U.S. if they are first evaluated by the EPA. While the EPA spins this as strengthening the new use rule, the New York Times reported that the EPA actually ignored scientists within the agency calling for a complete ban on the use of asbestos within the United States. “Rather than allow for (even with restrictions) any new uses for asbestos, E.P.A. should seek to ban all new uses of asbestos because the extreme harm from this chemical substance outweighs any benefit — and because there are adequate alternatives to asbestos,” wrote EPA staff members.
Pending Legislation
In March of 2019, the House and Senate introduced The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019. The legislation, named after Alan Reinstein, who died from malignant mesothelioma in 2006, would ban the use of asbestos in the U.S. within 12 months. If enacted, the bill would amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to “prohibit the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of asbestos and asbestos-containing mixtures and articles.”If you or a loved one have been exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation. For a FREE consultation, call the Madeksho Law Firm at 1-888-910-MESO (6376), or contact us here. We have decades of experience helping victims of asbestos-related diseases.
