The Politics of Asbestos:
We often hear about asbestos and the cancers and illness asbestos exposure causes. More than 125,000 people are exposed to asbestos in the workplace globally and more than 100,000 people die from asbestos-related diseases every year. But why are people still getting sick from asbestos exposure if we know it’s such a dangerous substance? In this article we’ll discuss what asbestos is, why it’s dangerous, and how the politics of asbestos led to its use and restrictions today.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally in the environment. Its fibers are strong and heat resistant, which led to its use in a wide range of products, including building materials, heat-resistant clothing, car brakes, shingles, flooring, and insulation. Unfortunately, when asbestos is inhaled or ingested – through the manufacturing process or when asbestos is disturbed – it can lodge in the body permanently. Once in the lungs, asbestos causes scarring in lung tissue, which builds up over time, leading to a loss of lung capacity. Asbestos exposure can cause cancers such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer. Exposure to asbestos is the prime risk factor for mesothelioma, a cancer of the pleural lining of the lungs or abdomen.
History of Asbestos Use
While asbestos has been used for centuries, its use wasn’t commercialized until the Industrial Revolution in the 1800's. In the 19th century, Canada and Russia began mining asbestos on a commercial scale, giving rise to asbestos industries around the world. Asbestos mining in the U.S. reached its peak in the 1960's and 70's. However, by this time the medical devastation caused by asbestos exposure was well known.Once the dangers of asbestos exposure were more generally known, the U.S. did attempt to gradually limit its use, with a great deal of resistance from the U.S. asbestos industry:
- The Clean Air Act of 1970 classified asbestos as a hazardous air pollutant, banned the spray application of asbestos, and gave the Environmental Protection Agency the power to regulate its use and disposal.
- The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 gave the EPA the power to restrict the use of asbestos.
- In 1986, congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, requiring the EPA to set standards for inspecting and removing asbestos from schools.
- In July of 1989, the EPA issued the Asbestos Ban and Phase-Out Rule, banning most asbestos-containing products. Unfortunately, this rule was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. See Corrosion Proof Fittings v. Environmental Protection Agency, 947 F.2d 1201 (5th 1991). As a result, this rule only bans new uses of asbestos initiated for the first time after 1989. The rule also bans the use of asbestos-containing flooring felt; corrugated, commercial, or specialty paper; and rollboard.
The 1989 EPA rule remains the best attempt of the federal government to ban the use of asbestos in the United States.
Asbestos Today
Now,
asbestos is banned in 66 countries
, including Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the entire European Union.
Asbestos is still used in China, Russia, and the United States
, although its use is restricted in the U.S. In June of 2018, the EPA announced it would consider new uses of asbestos, over the objections of its in-house scientists and lawyers.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.
