The EPA declared a complete prohibition on asbestos, a cancer-causing substance that claims the lives of thousands of Americans annually, despite still being present in certain items such as chlorine bleach and brake pads.

The recent regulation represents a significant increase in EPA oversight in accordance with a pivotal law from 2016 that revised regulations for a multitude of harmful substances found in everyday goods, such as cleaning supplies, clothing, and furniture.

The updated regulation would prohibit the use of chrysotile asbestos, which is currently the only type of asbestos being used in the United States. This material is commonly found in brake linings and gaskets, and is also utilized in the production of chlorine bleach and sodium hydroxide (also called caustic soda), including those used for purifying water.

Michael Regan, the EPA Administrator, described the final rule as a significant measure to safeguard public health.

EPA has implemented a ban on a highly harmful chemical that has already been prohibited in more than 50 nations. According to Regan, this ban is a significant milestone that has been in the works for over three decades. The changes made in 2016 to the Toxic Substances Control Act, the primary U.S. legislation regulating chemical usage, played a crucial role in making this possible.

Exposure to asbestos has been proven to result in lung cancer, mesothelioma, and various other types of cancer. This harmful mineral has been responsible for over 40,000 deaths annually in the United States. According to Regan, putting an end to the continued usage of asbestos aligns with President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to eradicate cancer in the country.

“The evidence is conclusive: Asbestos is a recognized cancer-causing agent and has significant negative effects on public well-being. This action marks the initial steps in our effort to safeguard all American citizens, employees, and neighborhoods from harmful chemicals,” stated Regan.

In 2016, a new law was passed to lay down regulations for tens of thousands of harmful chemicals commonly found in consumer goods. This included well-known carcinogens like asbestos and trichloroethylene which had previously been overlooked by federal regulations. Named after Frank Lautenberg, the Chemical Safety Act aimed to streamline a patchwork of state regulations and modernize the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act from 1976.

In 1989, the EPA prohibited the use of asbestos. However, the ban was mostly reversed by a 1991 ruling from the Court of Appeals, which limited the EPA’s power under TSCA to manage potential health hazards related to asbestos and other current chemicals. Under a 2016 regulation, the EPA was mandated to assess chemical substances and enforce measures to prevent unreasonable health risks.

Asbestos, which was once common in home insulation and other products, is banned in more than 50 countries, and its use in the U.S. has been declining for decades. The only form of asbestos known to be currently imported, processed or distributed for use in the U.S. is chrysotile asbestos, which is imported primarily from Brazil and Russia. It is used by the chlor-alkali industry, which produces bleach, caustic soda and other products.

The use of chrysotile asbestos in many consumer products has been halted.

Though frequently utilized as a disinfectant in water purification processes, there exist only eight chlor-alkali facilities in the United States which continue to employ asbestos diaphragms for the purpose of manufacturing chlorine and sodium hydroxide. These facilities are primarily situated in the states of Louisiana and Texas.

According to the EPA, the use of asbestos diaphragms has decreased and now makes up less than a third of chlor-alkali production in the United States.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation will prohibit the importation of asbestos for chlor-alkali production upon its publication. However, the restrictions on the use of chlor-alkali will be implemented gradually over a period of five or more years, as stated by the agency, to allow for a manageable transition period.

A restriction on the majority of asbestos applications will take effect within two years.

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), representing 350 publicly owned wastewater treatment agencies, issued a statement expressing its support for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) actions to phase out asbestos products. NACWA also pledged to collaborate with the EPA to monitor the implementation of the rule. Prior to the announcement of the final rule, the association had cautioned against an abrupt ban on asbestos, citing potential shortages and price hikes for chlorine and other water treatment chemicals.

The largest lobbying organization for the chemical industry, the American Chemistry Council, stated that a 15-year adjustment phase is necessary in order to prevent a major interruption in the availability of chlorine and sodium hydroxide.

In six months, a prohibition on using asbestos in oilfield brake blocks, aftermarket automotive brakes and linings, and other gaskets will go into effect.

The EPA regulation permits the utilization of asbestos-containing sheet gaskets until 2037 at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina. This will ensure the timely disposal of nuclear materials can proceed as planned.

Scott Faber, the Senior VP of the Environmental Working Group, an organization that advocated for the ban of asbestos, praised the EPA’s decision.

“For too long, polluters have been allowed to make, use and release toxics like asbestos and PFAS without regard for our health,” Faber said. “Thanks to the leadership of the Biden EPA, those days are finally over.”

The EPA is also examining past uses of asbestos in aged structures like schools and industrial sites to assess potential health hazards. A concluding risk assessment is projected to be completed by the end of this year.

Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, stated that the United States is now making progress in addressing the issue of asbestos in line with the rest of the world. However, he believes that the effort should not stop there and that further steps need to be taken in phasing out other harmful forms of asbestos. He also emphasized the importance of Congress in providing stronger safeguards for our health in this matter.

___

Check out the AP’s reporting on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on their website: https://apnews.com/hub/us-environmental-protection-agency.