The rate of mesothelioma cases has declined significantly since the 1990s. Currently, there are roughly 3,000 new diagnoses of mesothelioma in the U.S. each year. The sharp decline of cases is due to the restrictions on asbestos use and protections for workers. Despite the great strides made in worker safety due to these laws and regulations, however, the Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have refused an asbestos ban.
Why the EPA Refused an Asbestos Ban and Impacts It Will Have
Asbestos is a material that was used often in manufacturing and construction in the mid-1900s. The material is great for insulation and structural protections, including keeping buildings safe from the spread of fire. However, the chemicals that make up asbestos can lead to cancer in people who are exposed to it.
The Dangers of Asbestos
Asbestos is most dangerous when it is broken down or damaged. Once the material is damaged, chemical fibers from the asbestos can get into the air and expose people to the well-known carcinogen.
Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, a cancer that is generally found in the lung tissue and in other areas of the trunk of the body. Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, they travel to the pleura, which often results in inflammation and scarring. Damage to the cells’ DNA and uncontrolled cell growth can occur because of the scarring. If swallowed, asbestos fibers can reach the lining of abdomen and play a role in causing peritoneal mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma does not have a favorable survival rate. An asbestos ban could help protect people from the exposures of asbestos fibers by eliminating any new uses of the material in manufacturing or construction. The EPA and Trump administration refused an asbestos ban that could help to prevent thousands of deaths and countless illnesses and suffering by victims and their families.
Where Can Asbestos Be Found?
Asbestos was commonly used in construction, manufacturing, and shipbuilding. It was used to insulate homes, schools, and commercial buildings. The health risks of exposure to asbestos was unknown when the product was first being used; therefore, there was no need to monitor the use of the product.
Currently, the EPA doesn’t know how much asbestos contamination exists within the U.S. In addition to refusing an asbestos ban, the EPA has also decided that it will not examine where asbestos currently exists or where there are potentially high risks of asbestos exposure to the community.
If the Trump Administration Refused an Asbestos Ban, What Does This Mean for the Future?
Once the dangers of asbestos exposure were discovered, the use of asbestos material declined, and many companies stopped using it all together. Rates of deadly asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma have declined since the 1990s because of this shift.
The EPA refusing an asbestos ban means that we will not be able to determine who is at greatest risk of exposure. It means that restrictions will be removed on the use of asbestos and could potentially lead to an increased use of asbestos in construction. An increase in use of asbestos will likely mean an increase of asbestos exposure and a significant increase in mesothelioma cancers caused by that exposure.
The Trump Administration refused an asbestos ban, but that doesn’t mean that the risks of asbestos exposure can be refused. The attorneys at Nemeroff Law Firm are well aware of the dangers of increasing the use of asbestos. They have over 150 years of collective experience fighting to help victims of asbestos exposure. If you have been exposed to asbestos fibers, they will fight to recover what you and your loved ones deserve. Contact them at 866-342-1929 or via email.