Despite stringent regulations and a widespread ban on its use, asbestos continues to be a significant health risk, posing a silent yet formidable challenge to public health and safety. This persistence of asbestos-related issues underscores a complex legacy of past use, difficulties in eradication, and ongoing exposure risks.

The EPA’s Comprehensive Asbestos Ban: A Major Advancement in Public Health Protection

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently taken a monumental step in public health protection by announcing a comprehensive ban on asbestos; a decision that aims to put an end to the use of a carcinogen responsible for tens of thousands of American deaths annually. Despite being banned in over 50 countries, and despite its well-known dangers, asbestos has continued to be utilized in certain products, including some types of chlorine bleach, brake pads, for example, and more.

This groundbreaking regulation stems from the landmark 2016 law that significantly overhauled the oversight of tens of thousands of toxic chemicals present in daily-use products; the final rule targets chrysotile asbestos (found in specific products such as brake linings, gaskets, and is instrumental in the production of chlorine bleach and sodium hydroxide), marking the cessation of its use in the United States.

A historic achievement – long overdue

EPA Administrator Michael Regan highlighted the significance of this ban, emphasizing its role in safeguarding public health and contributing to President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative; the ban not only addresses the ongoing use of chrysotile asbestos, but also marks a significant stride towards mitigating exposure to toxic chemicals across American families, workers, and communities.

The historical context of asbestos regulation reveals the challenges the EPA faced in the past, with a 1989 ban being largely overturned in 1991. The 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act empowered the EPA to reevaluate and impose necessary protections against chemicals like asbestos, known for their health hazards yet remaining largely unregulated under federal law for decades.

As the only form of asbestos still imported, processed, or distributed in the US, the new ban on chrysotile asbestos addresses a critical gap. 

The phase-out process for its use, especially in the chlor-alkali industry, introduces a transition period aimed at minimizing disruption. The industry, concentrated in states like Louisiana and Texas, has been moving away from asbestos use, with less than one-third of chlor-alkali production currently relying on asbestos diaphragms.

A Historical Perspective on the EPA’s Latest Ban on Asbestos

Asbestos, a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals, was once hailed for its heat resistance, tensile strength, and insulating properties; it was extensively used in construction materials, automotive parts, and even household products, making it a ubiquitous presence in buildings and machinery until the late 20th century. However, its carcinogenic properties, specifically leading to lung diseases such as mesotelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer, prompted strict regulations and eventual bans in many countries starting in the late 20th century.

The Legacy of Past Use of Asbestos

The primary reason asbestos remains a problem today is its extensive use before the health risks were fully acknowledged and regulations were put in place. Millions of buildings worldwide still contain asbestos materials, from insulation and roofing to tiles and piping; the age of these materials means they are now deteriorating, releasing asbestos fibers into the air, where they can be inhaled by occupants and workers involved in renovation or demolition projects.

The insidious nature of asbestos-related diseases, with their long latency periods, means that diagnoses can continue to emerge decades after initial exposure; this delayed manifestation underscores the prolonged danger associated with asbestos, where even minimal exposure instances, such as childhood contact with a parent’s contaminated work clothing, can later result in serious illnesses, including cancer. The latency period allows for these diseases to develop silently, often catching individuals unaware until symptoms become apparent and diagnosis is made in adulthood.

The legacy of asbestos use is further complicated by these ongoing diagnoses, challenging public health systems to manage and respond to cases that trace back to exposure periods long before current safety regulations were established.

Challenges in Eradication

Completely removing asbestos from the built environment is a monumental task. Asbestos abatement, the process of safely removing asbestos materials, is costly, time-consuming, and requires specialized skills to ensure fibers are not released into the air during removal. In many cases, the risk of exposure during abatement is deemed higher than leaving the material undisturbed if it is in good condition. Consequently, many buildings still contain asbestos, managed through encapsulation or simply left in place until it becomes necessary to remove it.

Ongoing Exposure Risks

Asbestos exposure is not just a relic of industrial history but a pervasive risk that extends well beyond the confines of jobs traditionally associated with high exposure levels, such as construction or manufacturing. This material was a common component in nearly all buildings constructed up until the mid-1980s, finding its way into homes, offices, hotels, and other structures people frequent daily; its applications were vast, from insulation, wallboard, and flooring to ceilings, roofs, and even the adhesive that holds components together.

The hidden danger of asbestos lies in its invisibility and ubiquity, as asbestos fibers, when disturbed, can become airborne and are too small to see or taste, making them easy to inhale without knowing; this risk is heightened during renovation or demolition projects where materials containing asbestos are cut or broken, releasing fibers into the environment. Awareness of the presence of asbestos is critical, necessitating professional testing to determine whether asbestos is present and if remediation is necessary.

Handling asbestos requires specialized knowledge and equipment; if asbestos is found, it’s imperative that certified abatement professionals are tasked with its removal. Improper handling of asbestos can lead to the fibers becoming airborne, posing a health risk to not just the workers involved in the removal. but also to individuals in the vicinity; furthermore, there’s the potential for legal liabilities for building owners and tenants, including businesses that may unwittingly expose their employees to these hazards.

Exposure to asbestos can have long-lasting health implications, with diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer sometimes taking decades to manifest; such a long latency period can obscure the link between exposure and illness, complicating diagnoses and underlining the importance of medical testing for those who suspect they’ve been exposed.

Moreover, the risk of asbestos exposure is not limited to direct contact. Office workers and administrators in industries known for asbestos use, such as refineries, shipyards, and mines, often worked in proximity to hazardous areas, including in trailers or temporary office structures on site. This proximity extends the risk to those not directly involved in handling asbestos materials but who work or live nearby, including through second-hand exposure from contaminated clothing or the building’s dust.

Asbestos’s legacy is a problem that spans beyond exposición ocupacional. Communities located near asbestos mines or manufacturing plants, and even those who live with individuals working in high-risk jobs, can face exposure risks.

Regulatory Challenges

While over 60 countries have implemented asbestos bans, many still have not, allowing continued mining, import, and use of asbestos in construction and other industries. This discrepancy in regulation not only perpetuates the risk in countries where asbestos is still used but also complicates global efforts to eliminate enfermedades relacionadas con el asbesto. Furthermore, illegal use of asbestos and improper disposal of asbestos waste continue to be issues, even in countries with strict bans.

The Path Forward

Addressing the asbestos problem requires a multifaceted approach. Continued efforts to ban asbestos worldwide and enforce existing regulations are critical. Additionally, public and private sectors must invest in safe asbestos removal and disposal methods, and in the development of alternative materials that can replace asbestos in industrial applications. Public awareness campaigns can also play a vital role in preventing exposure and advocating for the resources needed to tackle this issue.

Concerted Global Effort Needed

The persistence of asbestos as a public health issue, despite its ban, reflects the complexities of dealing with a legacy of widespread use, challenges in eradication, and the ongoing risks of exposure. If you’ve suffered due to asbestos exposure, various opciones de tratamiento y compensation avenues exist to assist with healthcare expenses and additional financial burdens.