The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a significant step in protecting public health by announcing a final rule to ban the ongoing use of chrysotile asbestos, the only known form of asbestos imported into the US, under the Biden administration. This move aims to eliminate exposure to carcinogens and reduce the devastating impact of asbestos-related diseases.
A study titled “Development of the ‘National Asbestos Profile’ to Eliminate Asbestos-Related Diseases in 195 Countries” reveals that asbestos-related diseases claim the lives of nearly 40,000 Americans annually. Recognizing the urgent need for action, the EPA has utilized new authority granted by Congress in 2016 through the reformed Toxic Substances Control Act to successfully ban this substance, marking a significant milestone according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
Lawmakers have also addressed the issue of asbestos-contaminated talc in cosmetics. The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 directed the FDA to establish standardized testing methods to detect and identify asbestos in talc-containing cosmetic products.
Although the FDA was required to propose standards by December 2023, it missed the deadline.
The EWG has discovered asbestos in talc-based cosmetics, including a talc-containing eye shadow found in a children’s toy makeup kit. While certain asbestos-containing products such as wall compounds and insulation have been banned in the US, other items like brake pads could still potentially contain asbestos. The absence of a ban on imported products containing asbestos has raised concerns among consumers about the presence of asbestos in cosmetics and other purchases.
The EWG emphasizes that the lives affected by asbestos-related diseases represent a tragic public health crisis, and while nothing can undo the pain suffered by those who have lost loved ones, this action is a crucial step in ensuring that chrysotile asbestos never enters the US again for commercial use.
