Former Brayton Purcell client, Linda Reinstein, is making strides towards a ban on asbestos in the United States. Within the last month the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the 25th National Asbestos Awareness Week Resolution (April 1-7). Mrs. Reinstein also introduced the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019 to the House and Senate with nearly 40 co-sponsors. Additionally, the House of Representatives held two hearings regarding the risk of asbestos exposure and the EPA’s failure to protect workers from asbestos and other toxins.
Mrs. Reinstein was also recently featured on a PBS NewsHour segment called “The stunning truth about asbestos use in the U.S.” Mrs. Reinstein fights for the right for all to have clean air free from contaminants. A ban on asbestos products will be a step in the right direction to accomplish this.
Asbestos in the Environment
Asbestos is still used in the U.S. and is present in 30 million homes. It can also be found in consumer products like makeup, hygiene products, and toys.
Imported asbestos causes a large threat to U.S. residents, but so does asbestos that is naturally occurring in the soil. In Libby, Montana, there is an epidemic of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses plaguing people in the area from naturally-occurring asbestos. Nearly 10 percent of the residents in the area have been killed by asbestos that was stirred up from a defunct mine in the town.
Asbestos in the U.S. Economy
In 1989, the EPA issued a ban on manufacturing, importation, processing, and sale of products containing asbestos. The chemical industry overturned this ban in 1991. The Obama administration enacted an updated Toxic Substances Control act in 2016 which would give the EPA more ability to regulate asbestos. Now the Trump administration believes that the fireproofing qualities of asbestos outweigh the dangers it poses to people.
We Can Help
If you or a loved one was recently diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we may be able to pursue a case on your behalf. Our law firm has over 35 years of experience and no other office can match our legal team’s ability to take a case through trial and receive the same results. Our record of success includes numerous multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients throughout the nation. We know that time is of the essence and with that in mind, we dedicate ourselves to securing a trial date as quickly as possible and pursuing the compensation our clients deserve.