Yep, you read that right. Even in 2012, the United States has still not banned the use of asbestos, even though it has been linked to deadly cancers, such as mesothelioma. Asbestos cancers take thousands of lives each year in the U.S., and the worst part is that these cancers are preventable.
Then—what gives?
It sounds simple enough –ban asbestos, help save lives. So, why doesn't the U.S. just ban asbestos already? Unfortunately, it's not that simple. The asbestos industry spends countless dollars on lobbying efforts to keep asbestos legal—and keep them in business. As we learned at the recent ADAO Asbestos Awareness Conference, one of the biggest reasons the U.S. has not banned asbestos is Canada. Canada continues to be a major exporter of asbestos—and they need a place for that asbestos to go. (BTW –according to the U.S. Geological Survey, approximately 90 percent of the asbestos imported into the U.S. in 2010 was from Canada.)
That doesn't mean there haven't been efforts in the U.S. to ban the deadly material. In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacted the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule, which banned most asbestos-containing products. It was a major step in the right direction—until the rule was overturned in 1991 by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. As you may have guessed, the asbestos industry was a major force behind the ruling. Under the court's decision, certain materials containing asbestos have been banned, including flooring felt, roll board and corrugated, commercial or specialty paper –and "new uses" of asbestos. However, the ruling allowed for the use of asbestos to continue in other products, such as roofing materials, gaskets, brake linings and numerous other products.
The mesothelioma lawyers at Baron and Budd, the law firm that sponsors this site, is dedicated to battling asbestos in and out of the courtroom. Our firm was one of the first the successfully handle a mesothelioma lawsuit in the 1970s and continues to fight today. Not just for mesothelioma patients, but to ban asbestos. To learn more about how our firm can help you, call us anytime at 1.866.855.1229 or fill out the form here. There is no cost for our review of your potential case.
Connect with others in the fight against asbestos and mesothelioma on our Facebook page, Fight Mesothelioma.
