Removing Asbestos: Latest changes, potential impacts of phased ban for an industry still using it
(InvestigateTV) — You’ve probably heard of asbestos and how toxic it is. However, you might not realize that the deadly carcinogen is still being used in America today.
Efforts are underway to stop the use, but some industries are against bans on the naturally occurring fiber.
Asbestos has been widely used in products like roofing materials, automotive parts and the production of industrial chlorine for more than a century.
It was once deemed a ‘magic mineral’, but that all changed in the 1960s when researchers linked environmental exposure to severe health complications, including several different cancers.
Even so, asbestos continued to be imported and used. Now the U.S. s more than 60 countries in beginning a phased ban on some asbestos.
While many consider the move a win, opponents argue asbestos plays an integral role in keeping America’s water clean.
Reporter Heather Graf examines the latest changes and the potential impacts of the phased ban.
First responders are at greater risk when exposed to asbestos
There’s a group of first responders at particular risk of developing this deadly disease.
Research shows firefighters are twice as likely to develop mesothelioma compared to the general population.
Do you have asbestos in your home?
The EPA says the only way to be sure is to get it tested.
It recommends testing only if the material is damaged or if you plan a renovation.
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