The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently announced that it would be re-evaluating its decision to ban chrysotile asbestos, the last form of asbestos still in use in the United States. At the time, the EPA hailed it as a victory to end the use of the highly carcinogenic substance. However, under the new administration, it is reconsidering this ban, saying that the ban may have overreached the authority granted to the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Trump Administration to Re-Evaluate Asbestos Ban
The EPA under the Trump Administration, as part of its broader effort to roll back environmental regulations, has begun to re-evaluate the ban on asbestos. In particular, it has been to question the validity of a ban of chrysotile asbestos, which is used in certain industrial and manufacturing processes, and which was the last type of asbestos still in use in the US. Although the ban was finalized in 2024, the EPA has now said in a court filing that it would be reconsidering the decision over the next 30 months.
EPA Decision Attracts Criticism
The announcement has sparked criticism from environmentalist groups, who saw the ban on asbestos as one of the great environmental and health victories under the Biden Administration. While initial efforts to ban asbestos date back to the 1970s, every attempt has faced extensive legal and political battles, despite the known health issues associated with it. With the ban potentially being rolled back, people may once again be placed at increased risk of asbestos exposure.
The Dangers of Asbestos
Asbestos is a material that was widely used in both construction and manufacturing for decades, due to being cheap and resistant to fire and heat. However, the fibers that break off the material are highly dangerous when inhaled, causing medical conditions such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Despite having been banned in construction for decades, tens of thousands of people still die of these conditions every single year across the United States.
The Potential Impact of This Decision
If the current administration goes through with reversing this ban, it will help preserve the last vestiges of the asbestos industry in the country, at the cost of increasing the chances of asbestos exposure. That means more people suffering from cancer and other preventable illnesses that might not have occurred if the ban was permitted to stay on the books. It may also mean continuing litigation far into the future from people who have been harmed due to asbestos exposure.
Williams Cedar is a law firm dedicated to helping clients with personal injury, environmental law, and civil rights cases. We specialize in assisting clients who have been injured due to exposure to environmental toxins, including veterans and their loved ones. If you need legal assistance due to toxic exposure or other related matters, please give us a call at our New Jersey and Pennsylvania offices at (215) 557-0099, or visit our contact page.