Everyone seems to think that Asbestos was banned.  I mean, we know it is a toxic substance which causes deadly cancers and diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma.  We know it kills people but why on earth would you think it was banned?  Is it possible that this deadly substance was never really banned?   Is it possible that asbestos containing products are still around us?

Here are the facts: Asbestos kills over 10,000 men, woman and children every year.  Still today, asbestos containing products are being manufactured and imported into the country. During 1971 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed asbestos as a Hazardous Air Pollutant.   At that time the EPA and OSHA started to restrict the uses of asbestos in products. Throughout the 1970‘s the EPA and US Government wanted to ban asbestos products but pressures from asbestos producers and the Canadian government sought to stop it.

During 1989, the EPA said it would phase out and ban up to 94% of all products containing asbestos in consumer products by 1997.  The EPA said: “asbestos is a human carcinogen and is one of the most hazardous substances to which humans are exposed in both occupational and non-occupational settings.” The EPA had it correct - countless tests, studies and deaths already proved it.

So what happened?  It sounded like the US was being the great Leader of the world, like it usually is, and is banning and/or phasing out asbestos products.  Well the asbestos industry did not like the ban - it meant losing millions, or I should say billions of dollars.  So they filed lawsuits against the EPA and in 1991, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the ban.

Where do we stand now? Political pressures from various groups to keep asbestos products amongst us and some strong politicians who are trying to ban it are going on right now.  Legislation and bills are being created to finally ban ACB, Asbestos Containing Products.   Will it pass and finally be banned?  No one knows, but one thing is for sure;  there are less products being made with asbestos.  People are learning the truth about this toxic substance and the ban is closer to being realized than ever before.