Posted on September 28, 2023
ADAO Unveils 8th Political Cartoon: Spotlight on OxyChem’s Asbestos Imports and Use
Posted on September 28, 2023
In our eighth political cartoon, we spotlight the chlor-alkali industry, the sole importer and user of asbestos. The cartoon showcases the serious issue of the primary industry’s continued asbestos importation and use. In 2022 alone, over 300 metric tons of raw chrysotile asbestos were imported from Brazil and China, posing a significant and lethal risk to public health. The last remaining company to import and use asbestos is Occidental Chemical Corporation, or OxyChem.
A Persistent Problem
Since 2016, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has collaborated with renowned cartoonists Dr. Jack and John Curtis from South Africa to develop political cartoons that vividly depict the alliance of money, power, and politics that enables the continued importation and use of asbestos. A known human carcinogen, asbestos can cause devastating diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and various cancers, including those of the lung, larynx, and ovaries.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified the unreasonable risk asbestos poses to workers across various industries, yet it continues to be imported and used, mainly by the chlor-alkali industry. The danger is not just limited to workers; even occupational non-users face severe health risks from inhaling chrysotile asbestos. Furthermore, the families of these workers and members of the communities where asbestos is used are put at heightened risk from this dangerous substance.
The Role of Cartoons in Awareness
OxyChem is now the sole asbestos importer in the United States and we are thrilled to collaborate once again with John Curtis who has highlighted one of the final battles we must win to get to an asbestos-free world.
These artful political cartoons are essential tools for enlightening the most at-risk communities about asbestos exposure, reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding public health. Asbestos claims over 40,000 American lives annually. Quite simply, there is no safe level of exposure and no reason to continue to use this deadly substance when safer, economically feasible options exist for industry players like OxyChem to use in their plants.
Our Cartoon Series: A Visual Chronicle
From 2016 to 2023, our cartoons serve as a powerful visual commentary:
- Asbestos: a Killer on the Loose (2016)
- EPA and the Chlor-Alkali Monster in the Room (2016)
- Prevention is the Only Cure (2016)
- The Chlor-Alkali Monster Returns (2022)
- Asbestos Inc: Dirty Money (2022)
- A Toxic Environment (2022)
- Biden’s Moonshot: Prevention is a Cure (2022)
- On a Short Leash (2023)
The Latest Addition: “On a Short Leash”
Our newest cartoon with John Curtis and Themba Siwela, “On a Short Leash,” concentrates on OxyChem and the American Chemistry Council. OxyChem is the only chlor-alkali company importing and using raw chrysotile asbestos as Olin and Westlake no longer import asbestos.
The Way Forward: Ban Asbestos Now
Our call remains constant: instate an immediate and total asbestos ban. The re-introduction of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (S. 1069) by Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici was a significant step forward in this effort, and we urge Congress to move it forward today. On Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2023, Rep. Don Bacon signed on to ARBAN as a co-sponsor, making history as the first Republican co-sponsor of this life-saving legislation and officially making ARBAN a bipartisan bill.
Read the ARBAN Act of 2023 here.
Join the Movement
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to John Curtis and Themba for their contribution. Let’s unite in this essential cause to ensure a safer, asbestos-free future for all.
Support the Cause – Send your letter to Congress Here
Your support and advocacy are crucial. Share this blog post, the cartoons, and information about the dangers of asbestos to help raise awareness.
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Linda Reinstein