The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a comprehensive ban on asbestos, a known carcinogen that continues to be used in various products, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans each year. This new rule is a significant expansion of EPA regulation under a law from 2016 that aimed to overhaul the regulations governing toxic chemicals in everyday products.
The ban specifically targets chrysotile asbestos, the only ongoing use of asbestos in the United States. This substance can be found in products like brake linings, gaskets, chlorine bleach, and sodium hydroxide. EPA Administrator Michael Regan emphasized the importance of this ban in protecting public health and preventing the harmful effects associated with asbestos exposure.
Asbestos exposure is known to cause serious health issues, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other forms of cancer. The substance is responsible for more than 40,000 deaths in the U.S. annually. By banning the ongoing uses of asbestos, the EPA aims to support President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative, which seeks to eliminate cancer in the country.
The EPA’s decision to ban asbestos is a result of amendments made to the Toxic Substance Control Act in 2016, which empowered the agency to regulate chemicals more effectively. The law authorized new rules for toxic chemicals found in everyday products, addressing substances like asbestos that have been known to cause cancer for years but were not adequately regulated.
While asbestos was banned in the U.S. in 1989, a court decision in 1991 weakened the EPA’s authority to address health risks associated with the substance. The 2016 law provided the necessary framework for the EPA to evaluate chemicals and implement protections against unreasonable risks, leading to the comprehensive ban announced this week.
Asbestos is banned in more than 50 countries, and its use in the U.S. has been decreasing over time. Most consumer products containing asbestos have been phased out, with the main remaining use being in the chlor-alkali industry for producing bleach and caustic soda. The EPA noted that the use of asbestos diaphragms in this industry has been on the decline and now accounts for a smaller portion of production.
Overall, the EPA’s ban on asbestos is a crucial step towards protecting public health and reducing the risks associated with exposure to this harmful substance. By implementing this comprehensive ban, the EPA is working towards creating a safer environment for all Americans and preventing the devastating health effects caused by asbestos.