Report: U.S. Imported 705 Metric Tons of Raw Asbestos in 2016

New data from the Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission show the amount of raw asbestos imported to the U.S. nearly doubled from 2015 to 2016. The federal organizations estimate 705 metric tons of raw asbestos was imported last year — a significant and alarming increase from the reported 343 metric tons imported in 2015. Asbestos, a known carcinogen, is highly regulated but still used in the U.S., mainly by the chloralkali industry, which uses asbestos diaphragms in its chlorine manufacturing process. It is also found in imported clutches and brake linings, gaskets, cement corrugated sheets and other products. Mining asbestos in the U.S. is illegal, and the last domestic production of asbestos products ceased in 2002. But despite more than 60 countries around the world having comprehensive asbestos bans, the U.S. continues to import the toxic mineral in large quantities. “So many Americans believe asbestos is a problem of the past, but this is cold, hard, proof that it’s not only a current, but a growing issue,” Linda Reinstein, president and co-founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, told Asbestos.com. “Coupled with this increase in imports is concerning data from the Center for Disease Control from March 2017 that shows a nearly 5 percent increase in mesothelioma death rates.” Spike in Asbestos Imports Attributed to TSCA The surge in asbestos imports is attributed to the revamped Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: American Chemistry Council American Cleaning Institute American Petroleum Institute asbestos ban United States asbestos bans worldwide asbestos brake linings asbestos cement asbestos corrugated sheets asbestos diaphragms Asbestos Disease Source Type: news