International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) summer magazine ARBAN article on page 10.
Send your ARBAN support letter to Congress today.
Posted on October 31, 2023
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was honored that the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) summer magazine reiterated their support for the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act of 2023. IAFF has been a staunch supporter of ARBAN since the beginning, and we would not be where we are without their support.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen, with no safe level of exposure. Firefighters can be exposed to asbestos when it’s present in buildings or materials they encounter during emergencies. Exposure to asbestos can lead to serious health issues, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. According to IAFF, firefighters are 200 times more likely to develop asbestos-related illnesses than the general public.
IAFF’s and ADAO’s partnership dates back to the 2005 ADAO conference in Washington, D.C., and over the years, IAFF and ADAO have worked together tirelessly to raise awareness about asbestos exposure, advocate for safer firefighting practices, and support those affected by asbestos-related diseases.
This year, Greg Russell, IAFF, powerfully presented “Remembering the Fallen: Fire Fighters, Asbestos, and Advocacy” at ADAO’s 18th Annual International Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference.
More than 70 countries have already implemented a similar ban. If passed in the U.S., ARBAN would ban the import, use, and sale of the deadly carcinogen. It would require industries importing and using asbestos to transition to non-asbestos technology – a process already underway and proven to be economically feasible and environmentally beneficial. We are so grateful to work with IAFF to get this bill in front of Congress and made into law, and we thank IAFF for including ARBAN in their summer magazine.
With respect,
Linda Reinstein