After decades of delay and inaction, the EPA has finally closed the door on asbestos in America. The agency has announced a total ban on the ongoing use and import of chrysotile asbestos. This is the last remaining form of the known carcinogen allowed in the US. The decision fulfills its longtime mission of protecting public health above private interests.
In this article, we will look at everything you need to know about asbestos.
What Is Asbestos?
A class of six naturally occurring mineral fibers known as asbestos has advantageous qualities for use in construction and industries. The fibers are ideasforeurope flexible, lightweight, heat resistant, fire resistant, chemically resistant, and conductors of electricity. These traits make asbestos useful for construction and industrial applications.
However, breathing in asbestos fibers can cause serious lung issues. This is why asbestos use has been banned in over 60 countries, with the U.S. being among the most recent.
As per WebMD, commercial production of asbestos in North America began in the late 1800s and peaked during and after World War II. It was commonly added to building materials for homes, schools, and offices, as well as in shipbuilding and car parts. It was also used in textiles due to its properties.
Once the health risks became widely known in the 1970s, workplace safety regulations were implemented, and asbestos usage began decreasing.
Long-Term Health Impacts of Asbestos
Long-term inhalation of asbestos fibers results in the chronic, progressive lung illness known as asbestosis.
Over time, the fibers accumulate and scar the lungs, resulting in fibrosis that makes them stiff and inflexible. This impaired lung function can lead to shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and low oxygen levels in the blood. Symptoms tend to worsen over decades. Asbestosis has no cure and can ultimately cause respiratory failure.
Asbestos exposure has been linked to various types of cancer due to asbestos fibers remaining in the lungs for decades. A study in 2023 was also conducted aiming to evaluate malignancy incidence and potential risk factors in patients diagnosed with asbestosis in China.
Researchers conducted a prospective cohort study of patients exposed to chrysotile asbestos. The study focused on those diagnosed with asbestosis between January 2007 and December 2019 at a hospital in Beijing, China. The incidence of cancers was determined for this group of asbestosis patients.
As per NIH, Cox regression analysis was used to study the relationship between clinical variables and the occurrence of asbestosis combined with cancer diagnoses. The variables included age at first exposure, duration of exposure, and smoking. Eligible patients were those who had been sequentially diagnosed with asbestosis at this hospital during the study period.
Lung cancer risk is elevated from asbestos exposure, often not appearing for many years after the exposure. While occasional exposure may not raise risks greatly, long-term or high levels of asbestos inhalation can initiate cancerous changes in the lungs.
The thickening or scarring of the pleura, the membrane that surrounds the lungs, is referred to as pleural disease. Asbestos is known to cause pleural plaques or widespread pleural fibrosis visible on X-rays. While not cancerous, these changes reduce lung capacity. Fluid may also accumulate around the lungs.
A rare cancer strongly linked to asbestos exposure is called mesothelioma. Better Health says it damages the lining of the abdomen and lungs and develops 20–40 years after exposure. Most exposed people do not get mesothelioma, but the risk remains even decades after exposure.
Pursuing Justice for Asbestos-Related Illnesses
Many people who have been diagnosed with serious illnesses caused by asbestos exposure are frequently filing lawsuits. They want compensation to make up for the damage their exposure caused.
Families of those who passed away from such diseases have the right to file wrongful death lawsuits. The aim here is to hold companies responsible for not protecting people from the demonstrated health risks of asbestos.
As per Asbestos.com, the history of asbestos lawsuits dates back to the 1960s. It remains one of the longest-running areas of mass tort litigation in the United States legal system.
Claims are typically made under legal theories of product liability, negligence, and personal injury. With the help of an asbestosis lawyer, victims and families seek justice for corporate negligence and asbestos hazards. Thousands of new asbestos claims are filed each year. Past awards have reached millions to compensate for suffering. However, determining a settlement for a case is complex, as outcomes depend on specific circumstances.
According to TorHoerman Law, payouts for asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other health issues due to asbestos exposure range from $5,000 to over $100,000. The amounts vary greatly based on case details and state law.
United States Finally Bans Deadly Asbestos Fiber After Decades of Lobbying
The United States Environmental Protection Agency recently took action to ban the use of chrysotile asbestos. This is the only form of asbestos that was still allowed for certain limited applications.
As per NPR, most other countries banned asbestos decades ago. The U.S. ban faced significant opposition from industry groups that argued for maintaining certain uses of chrysotile asbestos. Past regulatory efforts to restrict asbestos failed due to pushback from these lobbyists, who claimed a ban would be too costly.
The new EPA rule will fully prohibit chrysotile asbestos in nearly all products. A few minor exceptions are made for existing stocks or diaphragms used in the chlor-alkali industry.
Public health advocates consider this a major victory that will help prevent future exposure and illness from asbestos. The ban could also curb some asbestos imports, as companies will no longer be able to use the material in manufacturing legally.
FAQs
When was asbestos use significantly restricted in the United States?
A: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health declared in 1980 that there are health concerns associated with asbestos exposure at all levels. It may result in illnesses connected to asbestos, they claimed. Later that year, in response to this, the Environmental Protection Agency issued the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule. This has restricted many common uses of asbestos-containing materials.
When did the U.S. Navy begin asbestos removal efforts?
A: By the late 1970s, the severe health hazards of asbestos were well-established in medical research. As a result, the U.S. Navy stopped using asbestos in new shipbuilding. They started extensive asbestos abatement projects to remove existing asbestos insulation and fireproofing from its fleet of vessels.
How can you determine if a material contains asbestos?
A: Visual identification of asbestos is difficult and unreliable. The only conclusive way to determine if a material contains asbestos is to submit a sample for laboratory testing. This must be done by an accredited asbestos inspector or testing facility. Home testing kits are not definitive. Asbestos sampling is only recommended if the material is damaged or disturbed during renovation.
Though damage has already been done and litigation will continue, removing asbestos from our products and workplaces is crucial. It ensures that no more lives are impacted by this harmful material.
In taking this long overdue action, the EPA has prioritized people over profits and chosen to uphold its mission of protecting public health. Only time will tell the full extent of lives saved by this ban on asbestos in America.