As 30 Percent More Asbestos Was Imported Into The United States In 2020, Education, Awareness, And Regulation Of Asbestos Remains A Public Health Priority
WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / March 26, 2021 / The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), an independent non-profit dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure, today praised the Senate for passing the 16th Resolution (S. Res.145), establishing April 1 - 7 as "National Asbestos Awareness Week," while warning of the dangers of increased imports and use of the deadly carcinogen.
"The United States imported nearly 30 percent more asbestos in 2020 than in the prior year," said Linda Reinstein, mesothelioma widow and ADAO co-founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. "With this continuation of use and an increase in imports, awareness of the dangers of asbestos, and an eventual ban on imports and use, are more important than ever. Unlike the more than 70 countries that have banned asbestos, Americans remain at risk of asbestos exposure every day from a variety of places, including our schools, homes, workplaces, and from unsuspecting products on consumer shelves like toys and cosmetics."
It is a known fact that asbestos kills. For over a century, research has shown that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos.
"We are grateful to Congress for passing this resolution and once again putting the dangers of asbestos exposure on the national radar, but we must do more," said Reinstein. ADAO has advocated for a ban on asbestos and for critical regulatory oversight, including increased industry reporting, a study of legacy asbestos, and greater controls on consumer-facing products. Both Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have a critical role to play to protect the public from asbestos.
ADAO is grateful for the unwavering support for yesterday's bipartisan resolution led by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and cosponsored Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Dick Durbin (D-IL).
ADAO has hosted "Global Asbestos Awareness Week" from April 1-7 every year since 2005. From 2005-2020, the United States has paid $16,309,323 to import 16,497 metric tons of asbestos into the country. Nearly 40,000 people die each year from asbestos-caused illnesses, meaning that since 2005, an estimated 600,000 deaths in the United States were caused by asbestos. These deaths are entirely preventable.
For more information on the events of Global Asbestos Awareness Week, visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.
About the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO is the largest non-profit in the U.S. that is dedicated to providing asbestos victims and concerned citizens with a united voice through our education, advocacy, and community initiatives. ADAO seeks to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure, advocate for an asbestos ban, and protect asbestos victims' civil rights.
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Tracy Russo
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SOURCE: Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization