FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 22, 2024

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY EXPERTS URGE CONGRESS TO BAN ASBESTOS IN CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING

Speakers Highlight the Human Cost of Asbestos Exposure

WASHINGTON, DC — The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), an independent nonprofit dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure through education, advocacy, and community initiatives, today held its 19th Congressional Staff Briefing on the “Impact of Asbestos on Public Health, Environment, and Economy.” During the briefing, experts emphasized the urgent need for Congress to ban asbestos, a toxic chemical responsible for 40,000 preventable deaths every year in the United States.

“Congress has a duty to protect the public health and safety of Americans and end the decades of unnecessary suffering and death caused by asbestos, a deadly carcinogen,” said Linda Reinstein, co-founder and President of ADAO. “There is no safe or controlled use of this dangerous substance, especially when safer alternatives are readily available.”

Experts discussed the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act, which aims to ban all six asbestos fibers—chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite—along with Libby Amphibole (winchite and richterite) in all conditions of use. 

Nearly all U.S. chlor-alkali corporations support transitioning away from asbestos technology. One company, OxyChem, is the primary user of raw chrysotile asbestos and imported an estimated 300 metric tons of raw asbestos in 2022.

“Banning asbestos imports and use in the United States, as over 70 other countries have already done, is long overdue,” Reinstein said. “We will continue to push Congress to take action to save lives.”

The briefing featured the following experts who spoke on various aspects of the asbestos issue:

  • Amy J. Bahruth, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO
  • Brent Kynoch, Environmental Information Association
  • Linda Reinstein, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
  • Greg Russell, International Association of Fire Fighters
  • Bob Sussman, JD, Counsel for the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
  • James Williams, Jr., American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc.

The speakers discussed:

  • Health effects of asbestos exposure, asbestos-related diseases, and available treatments
  • Current asbestos imports, commercial uses, and consumer products
  • Legacy asbestos exposure in homes, schools, and buildings and highlighted the increased risk to teachers and first responders
  • Regulatory updates, including the limited EPA Part 1 Chrysotile Asbestos Final Rule and EPA Part 2 Legacy Asbestos Draft Risk Evaluation
  • The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (S.1069 and H.R.2402), a comprehensive commercial asbestos ban

The event was attended by a bipartisan group of congressional staffers.

In September, ADAO will host their annual conference in Washington, D.C. which staffers and lawmakers are also invited. The conference, “Exploring the Intersection of Asbestos Prevention, Policy, and the Law”, will take place Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 9 AM to 4 PM. Registration is now open.

Visit the 2024 Staff Briefing Resource Page for more details on the briefing, including expanded statements by the speakers.

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ABOUT ADAO
Founded in 2004, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is the largest independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the U.S. dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure and eliminating asbestos-related diseases through education, advocacy, and community initiatives.