The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Thursday a call for public feedback on important technical details for a revised asbestos risk assessment. This reassessment comes as part of an agreement with health and environmental groups that challenged the adequacy of a previous evaluation under the Trump administration.
Enhanced Scrutiny and Broader Assessment
In response to a 2019 Ninth Circuit ruling that mandated consideration of both outdated and current chemical uses in risk assessments, the EPA has pledged a more thorough review of asbestos and its health impacts. This commitment forms part of a 2021 settlement with organizations such as the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and the Center for Environmental Health, which criticized the earlier assessment for its exclusions.
Michal Freedhoff, Assistant Administrator of the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, emphasized the urgency and significance of this initiative.
“More than thirty years after EPA first proposed a ban on asbestos, too many people are still exposed to this cancer-causing chemical,”
Freedhoff stated. The EPA aims to address these concerns comprehensively through the new risk evaluation process.
Expanding the Scope of Asbestos Risk Evaluation
The EPA’s white paper, which was published in the Federal Register, outlines the methodological approach for the upcoming human health assessment of asbestos, focusing specifically on types and exposure routes not previously considered.
The revised evaluation will include all forms of asbestos fibers and potential non-cancer effects, broadening the scope significantly beyond the inhalation-related cancers examined in the 2020 review.
Advocacy Support and Public Health Concerns
Linda Reinstein, President and Co-founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, welcomed the EPA’s renewed effort. She highlighted the critical need for a more expansive approach to protect public health against asbestos, a known carcinogen responsible for up to 40,000 American deaths annually.
The EPA has scheduled the release of a draft risk review early next year, with the final review expected by December 2024. Additionally, the Biden administration has implemented further regulations on asbestos, including mandatory reporting by manufacturers and a proposed ban on chrysotile, the most common form of the mineral.
