EPA bans last form of asbestos used in United States – In a statement released on Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States announced that it is taking a “historic” move by prohibiting the continued use of asbestos, which has been linked for a long time to a variety of cancers. Chrysotile asbestos is the only type of asbestos that is currently being utilized in or imported into the United States, and the announcement of the final rule by the environmental agency applies to this type of asbestos.
It is the form of asbestos that is used the most frequently all over the world, and it is particularly prevalent in automobile components, such as aftermarket automotive brakes and linings, as well as other vehicle friction goods and gaskets. In addition, it is prohibited in fifty other countries. The naturally occurring material known as asbestos is a fibrous, thin substance that is resistant to heat, electricity, and corrosion.
It is also a resilient material. Due to the fact that it is affordable, manufacturers and builders have utilized various types of the material in a variety of products, including cigarette filters, hair dryers, and home insulation. As soon as scientists discovered that the fibers of asbestos could easily break apart into very small particles that may be absorbed into the lungs and cause damage, manufacturers began to reduce their use of asbestos.
Despite the fact that the usage of asbestos in the United States has been decreasing for decades, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that asbestos exposure is connected to more than 40,000 deaths in the country. Several types of cancer, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and laryngeal cancer, have been linked to asbestos exposure, according to academic studies.
Monday was the day that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) welcomed the shift, referring to it as a “major milestone” for chemical safety. This comes “after more than three decades of inadequate protections and serious delays during the administration that came before.”
It is abundantly obvious that asbestos is a proven carcinogen that has serious repercussions for the health of the general population. Vice President Biden is aware of the fact that this issue has been a problem for many generations and has had an effect on the lives of a great number of people. “That is why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is so proud to finalize this long-needed ban on ongoing uses of asbestos,” said Michael Regan, the administrator of the EPA, in a prepared statement.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established several timelines for various businesses to transition away from asbestos. When it comes to the automotive sector, the prohibition will take effect six months after the date of the final regulation, which is sixty days after it is published in the Federal Register. This includes brakes, linings, and other goods that cause friction in vehicles, as well as gaskets. In order to produce sodium hydroxide and chlorine, which the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) considers to be “critical” for disinfecting drinking water and wastewater, the chlor-alkali business, which is the primary supplier of chlorine worldwide, uses asbestos diaphragms. Despite the fact that the government stated that there are other ways to create chlorine, the eight factories in the United States that continue to utilize asbestos diaphragms will be required to find alternative ways to carry out their operations. At a minimum, they will be given an additional five years to complete this change.
A statement was released by the American Chemistry Council, which is a trade association that represents businesses that use asbestos products. The statement stated that the American Chemistry Council’s Chlorine Panel had provided the Environmental Protection Agency with data that suggested the agency required a transition timeline of fifteen years in order to “support an orderly transition and to avoid a significant disruption of chlorine and sodium hydroxide. It was said by the council that they have not seen the final rule.
When there is a phaseout that lasts for more than two years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said that it will demand stringent occupational safety measures to protect the health of workers. The AFL-CIO, which is the largest labor organization in the country and comprises unions, praised the ban that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) imposed because it offers “landmark protection” for workers.
According to a statement released by the federation, “This action once again demonstrates the profound commitment of the Biden administration to ensure that working people continue to remain safe and healthy while they are on the job.” Despite the fact that it is a significant step forward, the move that was taken on Monday does not eliminate all types of asbestos fibers and does not address “legacy” asbestos that is present in the country’s older buildings and infrastructure. According to a statement released by the American Federation of Labor and Industries (AFL-CIO), “We urge the EPA to move swiftly to address those risks as well.”
