EPA Evaluation Finds Asbestos Still An Unreasonable Risk

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released Part 1 of its Final Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, reaffirming preliminary findings from March that were roundly criticized for underestimating the dangers of exposure to this toxic mineral. Six ongoing use categories of asbestos were evaluated by the EPA, which found 16 conditions of use that presented unreasonable risk to human health through either occupational exposures or consumer uses. Part 1 of the evaluation, released in late December 2020, involved the chrysotile type of asbestos. Chrysotile is the only type of asbestos being imported, processed or distributed for use in the U.S. today. The Part 2 preliminary evaluation, which will become public in mid-2021, will include five other types of asbestos, along with legacy asbestos and associated disposals of chrysotile asbestos. “EPA found unreasonable risks to consumers and bystanders from all consumer uses of chrysotile asbestos,” the report stated. It also found unreasonable risks to workers and those “nearby but not in direct contact with chrysotile asbestos.” Part 2 of Risk Evaluation Will Bring More Scrutiny The EPA’s risk evaluation stemmed from the 2016 amendment of the Toxic Substances Control Act, which identified asbestos as one of the first 10 chemicals to be examined. After the Part 2 final evaluation, the EPA may propose increased regulations to further limit the processing, manufacturing or use of asbestos or asbestos products. As part of the TSCA...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news