March 28, 2022

ADAO’s Statement of Principles to Protect the American Public Health from Deadly Asbestos

Each year, it is estimated that over 40,000 Americans die from preventable asbestos-caused diseases, yet asbestos imports and use continue in the United States. Research has shown that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos, which causes numerous debilitating and fatal diseases including mesothelioma, lung, larynx and ovarian cancer  and non-cancerous lung diseases such as asbestosis.  Elimination of exposure is the only prevention. 

Five critical principles must guide policy for banning asbestos: 

  1. The asbestos ban should prohibit the commercial manufacture, processing, and distribution of  asbestos and asbestos-containing mixtures and articles  within one year of enactment. 
  2. For purposes of the ban, asbestos should mean the asbestiform varieties of—
    1. chrysotile (serpentine);
    2. crocidolite (riebeckite);
    3. amosite (cummingtonite-grunerite);
    4. anthophyllite;
    5. tremolite;
    6. actinolite.
  3. Winchite and richterite, known as the Libby Asbestos Amphibole, should be banned.
  4. Chlor-alkali plants using asbestos diaphragms should convert to non-asbestos technology following a limited transition period determined by Congress.
  5. Importers, processors and distributors of asbestos and asbestos-containing products should report and disclose to the public how much asbestos is in U.S. commerce, where and how it is used, and who is exposed.