| Everyone seems to think that Asbestos was banned. | | | | is a human carcinogen and is one of the most |
| I mean, we know it is a toxic substance which | | | | hazardous substances to which humans are exposed |
| causes deadly cancers and diseases like asbestosis | | | | in both occupational and non-occupational settings." |
| and mesothelioma. We know it kills people but why | | | | The EPA had it correct - countless tests, studies and |
| on earth would you think it was banned? Is it | | | | deaths already proved it. |
| possible that this deadly substance was never really | | | | So what happened? It sounded like the US was being |
| banned? Is it possible that asbestos containing | | | | the great Leader of the world, like it usually is, and is |
| products are still around us? | | | | banning and/or phasing out asbestos products. Well |
| Here are the facts: Asbestos kills over 10,000 men, | | | | the asbestos industry did not like the ban - it meant |
| woman and children every year. Still today, asbestos | | | | losing millions, or I should say billions of dollars. So |
| containing products are being manufactured and | | | | they filed lawsuits against the EPA and in 1991, the |
| imported into the country. During 1971 the | | | | U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the ban. |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed | | | | Where do we stand now? Political pressures from |
| asbestos as a Hazardous Air Pollutant. At that time | | | | various groups to keep asbestos products amongst |
| the EPA and OSHA started to restrict the uses of | | | | us and some strong politicians who are trying to ban |
| asbestos in products. Throughout the 1970's the EPA | | | | it are going on right now. Legislation and bills are being |
| and US Government wanted to ban asbestos | | | | created to finally ban ACB, Asbestos Containing |
| products but pressures from asbestos producers and | | | | Products. Will it pass and finally be banned? No one |
| the Canadian government sought to stop it. | | | | knows, but one thing is for sure; there are less |
| In 1989, the EPA said it would phase out and ban up | | | | products being made with asbestos. People are |
| to 94% of all products containing asbestos in | | | | learning the truth about this toxic substance and the |
| consumer products by 1997. The EPA said: "asbestos | | | | ban is closer to being realized than ever before. |