EPA Asbestos Review Delayed Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency postponed indefinitely a peer review of the recent asbestos risk evaluation draft done by its Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals. A peer review virtual meeting was scheduled for April 27-30, but several independent scientific experts on the panel are no longer available. A Bloomberg Law article published this week explained that several health professionals serving on the committee could not attend because they needed to “give their full attention to the coronavirus crisis.” No date for the rescheduling was announced. “The agency believes that rescheduling for a time when more members are available is critical and will allow for a more robust review of the evaluation,” according to the EPA press release announcing the postponement. A peer review of the draft is a step toward the EPA’s final risk evaluation for asbestos, the ninth of the first 10 substances and chemicals to undergo increased scrutiny as part of the amended Toxic Substances Control Act. Written public comments, which will be presented to the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals, will be accepted until June 2. Evaluation of Asbestos Continues Once the SACC finishes the evaluation process, the EPA will have the option of proposing further regulations to prohibit or limit the manufacture, use, distribution, processing or disposal of asbestos. Asbestos, which was once used ubiquitously in America, is heavily regulated today because of its dangerous...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news