The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has wanted to ban all uses of asbestos since 1979, and this year it’s closer to succeeding than ever before. In a recent policy speech, EPA administrator Lisa Jackson said that reforming the regulation of dangerous materials and chemicals was one of her department’s top priorities. The focus of their reform is the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act. The EPA is working with New Jersey senator Frank Lautenberg on legislation that he will introduce to update and toughen that law.

The original law assumed that all chemicals were benign until proven otherwise, and placed the burden of proof on the EPA. The new legislation will reverse this arrangement: manufacturers will be required to prove that their products are safe. All chemicals and materials will now be evaluated against current standards for human health and environmental safety. The revised legislation also requires that the standards be based on valid scientific research. Continue reading ‘EPA Takes Aim at Asbestos’ »

The litigation surrounding asbestos and Mesothelioma has been legendary. It represented the little guy against huge corporate entities. The entities prevailed for a very long time, but ultimately the fact asbestos exposure was causing Mesothelioma and lung cancer could not be avoided. Eventually, the government moved to ban asbestos in products and then the controversy started.

The great asbestos wars of the 1960s, 70s and 80s were iconic. The issue of whether asbestos in products caused health problems was highly disputed. The manufacturers claimed that it didn’t. Workers claimed that not only did it, but the manufacturers had known it did and still released it in products. This created a war of lawyers unlike any seen in a long time. Continue reading ‘Mesothelioma – The Asbestos Ban That Wasn't’ »

The litigation surrounding asbestos and Mesothelioma has been legendary. It represented the little guy against huge corporate entities. The entities prevailed for a very long time, but ultimately the fact asbestos exposure was causing Mesothelioma and lung cancer could not be avoided. Eventually, the government moved to ban asbestos in products and then the controversy started.

The great asbestos wars of the 1960s, 70s and 80s were iconic. The issue of whether asbestos in products caused health problems was highly disputed. The manufacturers claimed that it didn’t. Workers claimed that not only did it, but the manufacturers had known it did and still released it in products. This created a war of lawyers unlike any seen in a long time.

Eventually, it became clear that the manufacturers of asbestos were in the wrong. As is often the case, the government took its sweet time doing anything but finally did. The response finally occurred on July 12, 1989 when the EPA issued a final ruling effectively banning asbestos in the vast majority of products whether they be building materials, brake pads, insulation or whatever. The story, however, was not at an end. Continue reading ‘Mesothelioma – The Asbestos Ban That Wasn’t’ »