The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a comprehensive ban on all forms of asbestos.
- It is a carcinogen that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year but is still used in some chlorine bleach, brake pads and other products.
- A recent rule, bans chrysotile asbestos, the only ongoing use of asbestos in the United States.
- The substance is found in products such as brake linings and gaskets and is used to manufacture chlorine bleach and sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda, including some that is used for water purification.
- Asbestos was widely used in the construction of homes and offices throughout the USA and many other parts of the world until the later half of the 20th century, given that it is a very good electrical and heat insulator, and is strongly fire and corrosion resistant.
- Besides mesothelioma or cancer of the outer layer of organs, asbestos inhalation also leads to asbestosis which produces scar tissues in lungs.
- Despite a ban imposed on the mining of asbestos in India, a type of asbestos called chrysotile is imported, processed and used.
- India enacted a ban on mining asbestos in 1993, but there is no law in the country that prevents its use in construction, import, or trade.
