In a landmark move by the Biden-Harris Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a decisive ban on the production and use of asbestos, a hazardous material long known for its links to cancer. The significant measure, which halts ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, represents the Administration's latest effort to diminish cancer rates and protect both families and workers from the dangers of such toxic substances.
The EPA's asbestos prohibition is part of President Biden's larger Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to slash the cancer death rate by at least half over the next 25 years. According to a White House statement, doing so could prevent "more than four million cancer deaths" while also striving to address cancer before its onset by minimizing community exposure to carcinogens like asbestos.
Cognizant of the fact that asbestos is frequently found in facilities situated disproportionately near communities with environmental justice concerns, the ban also furthers the Administration's commitment to environmental justice. Affecting workers and residents alike, this action symbolizes an acknowledgment of the historic disproportionate impact such substances have had on marginalized communities.
Aside from the recent asbestos ruling, the Administration has also accelerated proposals to limit exposure to other toxic chemicals. Among them, chemicals such as methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, perchloroethylene, and trichloroethylene, all associated with severe health risks, including cancer. Moreover, the EPA has moved to toughen the guidelines under which it evaluates risks from toxic substances. It has already proposed new rules, maintaining that it will expedite finalization to usher in new public health protections afforded by amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act in 2016.
The Administration's broader environmental health campaign includes actions against pollutants like ethylene oxide, a potent carcinogen. Just last week, the EPA tackled emissions from commercial sterilizing facilities, rolling out a final rule expected to cut EtO emissions by more than 90 percent. Efforts to fight PFAS, or "forever chemicals," have also been stepped up, with strategies in place to manage and prevent contamination, and initiatives to better understand the impact of PFAS on firefighters' health.
