Posted on December 31, 2018

2018 has been an eventful year, to say the least, and whether it was a constitutional crisis or some other newsworthy event, your attention has probably been pulled in every direction this year. So much has happened that I doubt even the savviest among us could keep up with it all. So in the spirit of education, I’ve put together a cheat sheet of some of our movement’s most relevant stories of 2018. Take a look below and arm yourself with the knowledge to enter the new year swinging.   

  • One Step Closer to an Asbestos Ban – With the help of Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, ADAO was successfully able to introduce the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act in both houses of Congress! This legislation would finally ban the import and use of asbestos into the U.S. without loopholes or exemptions. We look forward to building on the momentum of 2018 as we reintroduce the bill to the 116th Congress. 
  • Global Asbestos Disaster – In a sobering report, Dr. Jukka Takala, revealed that estimates of mortality from asbestos-related diseases were much higher than previously thought. According to the report, the rate of mortality in the U.S. is nearly 40,000 asbestos-related deaths per year, up 167 percent than previously reported. This is an alarming updated figure that gives greater urgency to our cause.
  • Trump’s Stamp of Approval – Our Commander in Chief has long been vocal about his love of asbestos, and this year, one of Russia’s largest Asbestos manufacturers decided to return the favor. In a show of support, the company adorned packages of their product with his image like a stamp of approval. 
  • Asbestos in Schools–  In an August report by its Office of the Inspector General, EPA admitted that it had dropped the ball with enforcement of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) in our nation’s schools. The report detailed that schools in EPA’s jurisdiction were often found to be out of AHERA compliance and that the agency was regularly outperformed by state inspectors in the performance of school inspections. ADAO’s “One-third of American schools still contain asbestos. That’s unconscionable” Op-Ed was featured just days before the EPA OIG report was published. 
  • Imports Soar – Perhaps emboldened by this Administration’s habit of rolling back EPA rules and regulations, U.S. imports of asbestos reached new heights this year. Between July and August alone, we saw a staggering 2,000 percent increase in imports that amounted to 272 metric tons of the deadly carcinogen being brought into the country. 
  • A Right to Know – With the backing of five other public health and environmental non-profit organizations, ADAO submitted a petition to EPA in September demanding greater transparency from companies importing and using asbestos.  ADAO will continue to make use of legal petitions in our fight to ban asbestos. 
  • A Victory in Canada – In October, the Canadian government made good on its 2016 promise and introduced regulations that would make it the only North American country with an asbestos ban. Although it includes some questionable exemptions, the new ban may hopefully inspire its neighbors to the south to finally ban the deadly carcinogen within their own borders. 
  • Deadly Talc – ADAO has long warned of the dangers of asbestos in talc-containing products, but thanks to excellent reporting by Reuters, we now have proof that Johnson & Johnson tried to bury evidence of this risk for their popular baby powder products for decades. ADAO’s “Women: Exposed and Silenced by Asbestos” Op-Ed was featured just days before the Reuters report was published. 

2018 was a year full of positive change, and steps towards a ban on asbestos. We are armed and ready for 2019 and are confident this will be the best year to come in our ban asbestos movement. We can’t wait to take on the new year with you all.