Sen. Boxer: EPA Should Include Asbestos in Top Priorities

Selecting the 10 most dangerous chemicals in the U.S. is the first order of business under the recently strengthened arm of the Environmental Protection Agency. “EPA must consider all forms of asbestos in this initial list of chemicals it acts on,” U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., wrote in an Aug. 26 letter to EPA administrator Gina McCarthy. President Barack Obama signed the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act into law in June, updating the antiquated Toxic Substances Control Act and granting the EPA more power to regulate toxic chemicals. Boxer, a ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, declared the top 10 list will dictate the agency’s agenda for the next several decades, making it crucial that asbestos lead the list. Asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma. The incurable cancer claims the lives of nearly 3,000 people in the U.S. annually. Boxer Sends EPA Asbestos Consumption & Deaths in U.S. According to Boxer’s letter, she said it’s necessary “to build confidence in the agency’s ability to deliver meaningful results for our children and families.” She cited several statistics from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and the Environmental Working Group for her recommendation: 15,000 annual asbestos-related deaths in U.S. 11,000 deaths from lung cancer Since 2006, a total of 23 U.S. ports received more than 8.2 million pounds of raw asbestos In 2015, the annual report of the United St...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: asbestos ban asbestos cancer asbestos diseases epa asbestos regulations mesothelioma asbestos cancer mesothelioma cancer senator barbara boxer Toxic Substances Control Act Source Type: news