Even now, in 2019, people across the country, including here in Ohio, continue to suffer from illnesses such as mesothelioma, which is almost exclusively caused by a toxic substance that people have known causes conditions such as this for a long time. Asbestos exposure continues to occur each year, and the Environmental Protection Agency is now making a move to attempt to curb it for good. The question is whether it will work.
The agency cannot simply ban the use of asbestos in the United States. Instead, the EPA issued a new rule, the Significant New Use Rule, whose purpose is to ban asbestos throughout the country almost completely. The rule requires industrial companies to make a formal request for the EPA’s approval prior to importing or manufacturing asbestos.
The EPA claims the new rule closes a loophole used by companies for decades. Companies who make requests remain subject to safety reviews, along with adherence to restrictions and regulations. Opponents say this still allows for the possibility of asbestos use. It only requires a permit to do so, and many believe that no amount of exposure to this toxic substance is safe enough to make an exception.
Any asbestos exposure could lead to a number of illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer — to name a few. Victims here in Ohio and across the nation suffer debilitating health consequences, if not death despite the EPA’s efforts. They and/or their families could seek restitution to help with the financial impact their medical conditions will have on their lives.
