In 2009, the office of the U.S. Surgeon General urged every American to become more aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure and to take steps to protect their health.
ADAO met with the Surgeon General on March 26. During their meeting, ADAO presented a compelling and education slideshow on the dangers of asbestos. You can view the slideshow here.
In the U.S. alone, more than 10,000 people die each year from asbestos diseases, including mesothelioma cancer. Despite the proven medical link between asbestos and mesothelioma, banning the use of asbestos in the United States has been a difficult process. In the 1990s, many countries adopted bans on the use and importation of asbestos, except for the U.S. and Canada. Today, asbestos is banned in more than 55 countries, including all 25 nations in the European Union. Yet, the U.S. and Canada remain the only developed nations that have not passed a ban.
Why no ban you ask? Well, there was one…sort of.
In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule. However, seeing this as a serious threat to profits, some companies sued, and the rule was later overturned by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1991. Despite this, a short list of asbestos products remain banned under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Clean Air Act.
These products include:
- Corrugated paper
- Rollboard
- Commercial paper
- Specialty paper
- Flooring felt
- New uses of asbestos
As a result of the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule being overturned, the following asbestos–containing products are not banned in the U.S.:
- Asbestos-cement corrugated sheet
- Asbestos-cement flat sheet
- Asbestos clothing
- Pipeline wrap
- Roofing felt
- Vinyl-asbestos floor tile
- Asbestos-cement shingle
- Millboard
- Asbestos-cement pipe
- Automatic transmission components
- Clutch facings
- Friction materials
- Disc brake pads
- Drum brake linings
- Brake blocks
- Gaskets
- Non-roofing coatings
- Roof coatings
Baron and Budd is a sponsor of Global Asbestos Awareness Week and a 2012 platinum sponsor the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organziation.
