Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Associated Press
Published on 2024-03-18 15:50:06
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made a significant announcement on Monday by imposing a comprehensive ban on asbestos, a known carcinogen that still finds its way into some chlorine bleach, brake pads, and other products, resulting in the death of thousands of Americans annually. This new regulation is part of a major expansion of EPA oversight following a 2016 law that revamped regulations governing tens of thousands of toxic chemicals present in everyday products.
The ban targets chrysotile asbestos, the only remaining form of asbestos still in use in the United States. This substance is commonly found in brake linings and gaskets and is used in the manufacturing of chlorine bleach and sodium hydroxide. EPA Administrator Michael Regan hailed the final rule as a significant stride in safeguarding public health, emphasizing the dangers posed by asbestos, a known carcinogen responsible for causing lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other cancers, leading to over 40,000 deaths in the U.S. annually.
Regan highlighted the relevance of this ban in advancing President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to eradicate cancer in the U.S. The support provided by Congress in amending the Toxic Substance Control Act in 2016 played a key role in enabling this historic ban on asbestos, a chemical banned in over 50 countries worldwide.
The EPA’s initiative aligns with the 2016 Frank Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act, which provided updated regulations for toxic substances that had been largely unregulated despite their cancer-causing properties. The 2016 law aimed to standardize regulations surrounding chemicals, rectifying the disparities caused by varied state rules governing chemicals and modernizing the Toxic Substances Control Act, which had remained unaltered for 40 years.
Although the EPA had previously banned asbestos in 1989, a 1991 court decision weakened the agency’s authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act in addressing health risks related to asbestos. The 2016 law mandated the EPA to assess chemicals and implement protective measures against unreasonable risks, leading to the current ban on asbestos in the U.S.
Despite asbestos being widely banned globally, the U.S. still imports chrysotile asbestos primarily from Brazil and Russia for use in products like bleach and caustic soda. The chlor-alkali industry, responsible for producing these products, is one of the few sectors still utilizing asbestos diaphragms for chlorine and sodium hydroxide production in just 10 plants located in Louisiana and Texas.
The EPA noted that the use of asbestos diaphragms has been diminishing over time and now accounts for around one-third of chlor-alkali production in the U.S. Additionally, most consumer products previously containing chrysotile asbestos have been discontinued. Regan reiterated the significance of this ban as a foundational step in protecting all American families, workers, and communities from toxic chemicals as the EPA continues its efforts in this direction.
In conclusion, the EPA’s ban on asbestos is a crucial milestone in promoting public health and underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the harmful effects of toxic chemicals on society.
