As you may know, ADAO is facilitating an international sign-on letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), urging the agency to prioritize asbestos as a top 10 high-risk chemical for prioritized risk assessment and regulation. We’ve been gathering signatures from trade unions, health and safety professionals, NGOs and activists, and scientists from around the world — so far we have more than 150 signatures from 25 countries.
The deadline to sign on had originally been set for November 1, but due to high demand, we’ve extended the deadline until Thursday, November 3.
If you haven’t yet signed on, please do so using this Google form.
In unity,
Linda
SIGN ON LETTER:
Dear Administrator McCarthy,
On behalf of leading international trade unions, public health, and environmental individuals and organizations, we urge you to prioritize asbestos as one of the 2016 top ten high-risk chemicals for evaluation under TSCA, leading toward the prohibition of asbestos in manufacturing, processing, use, distribution in commerce, and disposal.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “All types of asbestos cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, cancer of the larynx and ovary, and asbestosis (fibrosis of the lungs),” and further, that “there is no safe level of exposure.”
Asbestos remains the poster child for the failure of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and now stands as the litmus test for the success and efficacy of The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. As we both heard, President Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to publicly acknowledge the dangers of asbestos: “the system was so complex, it was so burdensome, that our country hasn’t even been able to uphold a ban on asbestos—a known carcinogen that kills as many as 10,000 Americans every year. I think a lot of Americans would be shocked by all that.”
The facts are irrefutable. In 1971, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified asbestos as a hazardous pollutant. That same year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) jointly created the first standard for regulating asbestos exposure. In 1973, the EPA banned spray-applied asbestos-containing material for fireproofing and insulating purposes. And in 1976, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) listed asbestos as a human carcinogen, and NIOSH called for a ban on asbestos in U.S. workplaces.
The United States and Canada are the only two Western industrialized nations not to ban asbestos.
More than 55 countries have banned asbestos and now use economically viable safer substitutes, yet the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that in 2015, the U.S. imported 358 metric tons of asbestos “to meet manufacturing needs.” In fact, the chlor-alkali industry alone accounted for an estimated 90% of U.S. asbestos consumption and wants to continue its use despite the public health repercussions.
We are encouraged by your June 22, 2016 statement: “The updated law gives EPA the authorities we need to protect American families from the health effects of dangerous chemicals.” More than 200,000 Americans have died from preventable asbestos-caused diseases since the EPA’s failed 1989 attempt at an asbestos ban and imports have continued. Protection from this deadly mineral is something all Americans desperately need, and we can’t afford to wait any longer.
There is consensus. In addition to Senators Boxer, Tester, Feinstein, and Durbin writing open letters to the EPA, urging you to prioritize asbestos as you implement TSCA, leading organizations such as National Resources Defense Council (NRDC); the American Public Health Association (APHA); the Environmental Information Association (EIA); and Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families (SCHF); Environmental Working Group (EWG); Collegium Ramazzini (CR); and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) are in agreement that asbestos must be named on or before December 22, 2016.
We, the below signatories, urge the EPA to prioritize asbestos as one of the first 2016 ten high-risk chemicals for evaluation and regulatory action. The time is now to protect public health and the environment.
Signatories will be published on November 3, 2017
Dr. Xaver Baur, Germany, Charite University Clinic Berlin Birger G J Heinzow, Germany, State Agency for Social Services S.-H. Fiorella Belpoggi, Italy, Collegium Ramazzini Irene Hernandez, United States Nachman Brautbar, United States, California Society of Industrial Medicine and Surgery Christoph Hertrich, Germany, Company Doctor in Occupational Health Dr. Eduardo Carvalho, Brasil, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Andree Hillebrecht, Germany, University Kassel Dr. Barry Castleman, United States, Environmental Consultant Julia Hiller, Germany, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg Alexandra Caterbow, Germany, Health and Environmental Justice Support (HEJSupport) Dr. Ruediger Holtz, Germany Yeyong Choi, South Korea, Asian Citizen’s Center for Environment and Health Kim Hoover, United States, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) Dr. David Christiani, United States, Harvard University Darrell Hornback, United States, International Chemical Workers Union Council (ICWUC) Dr. Helen Clayson, New Zealand, Former Chair/Founder Cumbria Asbestos-Related Disease Support (CARDS) Vyvyan Howard, United Kingdom, Pathologist Eliezer João De Souza, Brasil, Associação Brasileira Dos Expostos Ao Amianto (ABREA) James Huff, United States, Chemical Carcinogenesis National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Research Earl Dotter, United States, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Bettina Hunger, Germany Graham Dring, United Kingdom, Asbestos Victims Support Groups’ Forum UK Manuela Hütten, Germany, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe Richard Duffy, United States, International Association of Fire Fighters Masayuki Ibe, Japan, Journalist John Flanagan, United Kingdom, Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group Helen Ingram, England, Unite the Union Dr. Arthur Frank, United States, Drexel University Yuyun Ismawati Drwiega, Indonesia, BaliFokus/Ina-BAN member Dr. Thomas Gassert, United States, Occupational & Environmental Medicine Todd Jailer, United States, Hesperian Health Guides Fernanda Giannasi, Brasil, Rede Virtual-Cidadã pelo Banimento do Amianto na América Latina David James, United Kingdom, Unite the Union and University and College Union (UCU) Wiranta Ginting, Indonesia, Local Initiative for OHS Network (LION) Indonesia Bengt Järvholm, Sweden, Umeå University Mohit Gupta, India, Environics Trust Mohamed Jeebhay, South Africa, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town Dr. Michael Harbut, United States, Michigan State University Kathleen Jenkins, Europe, European Work Hazards Network Marc Hindry, France, University Paris Diderot Jocelyne Jesenof, United States Kathleen Jenkins, Scotland, Scottish Hazards Detlev Jung, Germany, ZDF Dr. Tushar Josi, India, Indian Health Ministry Ron Kaminkow, United States, Railroad Workers United Tony Kent, United Kingdom, GMB Dagenham Heat & Frost Insulators Branch Sonja Kapelari, Austria, The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW) Dr. Joseph LaDou, United States, University of California, San Francisco Annamarie Kearns, United States, Mesothelioma Warrior Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, United States, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Karl Kelsey, United States, Brown University Kate Lee, Australia, Union Aid Abroad (APHEDA) Sandra Kinart, Canada, Victims of Chemical Valley for Asbestos and Occupational Disease Lukas Lee, Taiwan, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Erwin Kirtscher, Germany, Arbeitsmedizinisches Zentrum Allgäu David LeGrande, United States, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Reiko Kishi, Japan, Hokkaido University Dr. Richard Lemen, PhD, MSPH, United States, Assistant Surgeon General (Ret.) István Kiss, Hungary, Medical School, University of Pécs Phil Lewis, United Kingdom, Camden Union Mardel Knight, United States Dr. Celeste Monforton, United States, Milken Institute School of Public Health Jeong ok Kong, South Korea, SHARPS Richard Morgan, United Kingdom, GMB Jasper Kosters, Netherlands Susana Muhlmann, Argentina, University of Buenos Aires Thomas Kraus, Germany, RWTH Aachen University Gunnar Nordberg, Sweden, Umea University Vithaya Kulsomboon, Thailand, Health Consumer Protection Program Rory O’Neill, United Kingdom, Hazards Marlyn Landin, United States Dr. L. Christine Oliver, United States, Occupational Health Initiatives, Inc./Harvard Medical School Peter Lang, Germany, BMW Group Hilda Palmer, United Kingdom, Hazards Campaign Dr. Hellmut Lenaerts, Germany, Consult and Senior OHS Expert Jagdish Patel, India, Peoples Training & Research Centre Yehuda Lerman, Israel, Tel Aviv University Daniela Pelclova, Czech Republic, Charles University, Prague Philip Lewis, United Kingdom, London Hazards Trust Dr. Jorma Rantanen, Finland, University of Helsinki, Department of Public Health/Occupational Health Joan Lichterman, United States, University (of California) Professional & Technical Employees, UPTE-CWA 9119 Linda Reinstein, United States, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) Márcia Lima, Brasil, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Kathleen Ruff, Canada, RightOnCanada.ca Hester Lipscomb, United States, Individual Health and Safety Professional Ram Charitra Sah, Nepal, Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) Vera Lohrmann, Germany, Betriebsärztliche Praxis Dr. Colin Soskolne, Canada, University of Alberta Maria Lucia Nascimento do Carmo Lucia, Brasil, Abrea Rio de Janeiro Dr. Leslie Stayner, United States, University of Illinois Natasha Luckhardt, Canada, SEIU Larry Stoffman, Canada, Canadian Labour Congress of Canada Elaine Magalhães, Brasil, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Inoka Suraweera, Sri Lanka, Ministry of Health Lynsey Mann, United Kingdom, GMB Union Dr. Ken Takahashi, Japan, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan Élena Mazzeo, Brasil, PUC-PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA – FACULDADE DE DIREITO Dr. Jukka Takala, Singapore, International Commission of Occupational Health (ICOH) Melissa McDiarmid, United States, University of Maryland School of Medicine Dr. Benedetto Terracni, Italy, University of Torino Jamie McDole, United States, Communication Workers of America Dr. Jim teWaterNaude, South Africa, Diagnostic Research Neil McGlashan, Australia, Academic Peter Tighe, Australia, Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) Carrie McNamara, United States, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) David Trigg, United Kingdom, Derbyshire Asbestos Victims Support Team (DAST) Walter Meier, Germany, Verband der Betriebsärzre Deborah Vallance, Australia, Union Tina Melford, United States, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) Dr. Nico van Zandwijk, Australia, Asbestos Diseases Research Institute Jennifer Miller, United States Robert Vojakovic, Australia, Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Inc. Pamela Miller, United States, Alaska Community Action on Toxics Christine Winter, United Kingdom, Evelyn Monteiro, Brasil, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Dorothy Wright, Italy, Susana Muhlmann, Argentina, University of Buenos Aires Karim Abouzaki, United States, Schneider Laboratories Global, Inc. Jutta Müller-Nübling, Germany, Medical Doctor in Occupational Medicine Wael Al-Delaimy, United States, International Joint Policy Committee for Societies of Epidemiology Maria Lucia Nascimento do Carmo, Brasil, ABREA Rio de Janeiro Marilyn Amento, United States, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) Julia Nelson, United Kingdom Charles Anderson, United Kingdom, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Joan Nettler, United States Henry Anderson, United States, University of Wisconsin School Of Medicine and Public Health Mai Nguyen, Vietnam, Research and Training Center for Community Development John Andrews, United States, Physician Leah Nielsen, United States, Walk to Remember Victims of Asbestos Fran Ansley, United States, University of Tennessee Dennis Nowak, Germany, LMU München George Appleton, United Kingdom, Trades Unionist Mavis Nye, United Kingdom, Mesothelioma Support Group Anita Arif, Indonesia, BaliFokus Foundation Janice Nye, England Helena Auber, Germany, Occupational Health Gilbert Omenn, United States, University of Michigan Bernd Auber, Germany David Ozonoff, United States, University Professor Stefan Baars, Germany, Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate Darshan Parekh, India, Indian Sealing Association Vinicius Barbati, Brasil, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Jerome Paulson, United States Paul Bastian, Australia, Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union Mike Payne, United Kingdom, GMB – Britain’s General Union Glenn Bayliss, United Kingdom, Cheltenham & District Trades Council John Pencott, United Kingdom, Rail Maritime & Transport Union María Teresa Bernal García, Germany, Helmholtz Zentrum Munich Graciele Piantino, Brasil, ABREA B. Bersin, United States Robert Pointer, United Kingdom, Cumbria Asbestos Related Disease Support Group Nguyen Bich Diep, Vietnam, National Institute of Occupational & Environmental Health Jerry Poje, United States, SOEH Heinz Bicker, Germany, Verband Deutscher Betriebs- und Werksärzte Richard Poole, Canada, Personal – Asbestos Supervisor Trainer & Overseer Dr. Jakob Bickhardt, Germany, Dres. Bickhardt + Bader, Dresden Nrao Potturi, India, LEAD Foundation Jerry Bird, United Kingdom Alexandra Marita Preisser, MD PhD, Germany, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine Cordula Bittner, Germany, Institute for Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg Sabine Prof. Wicker, Germany, University Hospital Frankfurt Brad Black, United States, Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD) Relani Prudhomme, United States Leslie Boden, United States, Boston University School of Public Health Alessandro Pugno, Italy, AFeVA Ellen Böhm, MD, Germany, Praxis Laura Punnett, United States Lynne Borel, United States, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) Christina Raster, MD, Germany, Occupational Physician Benjamin Britz, Germany, Occupational Health Service Petra Reiche, Germany, Car Company Jean Buckland, United Kingdom Dr. Winfried Reimer, Germany, VDBW Petar Bulat, Serbia, University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine-Serbian Institute of Occupational Health Carol Rice, United States, University of Cincinnati Linda Capelo, Canada Tony Rich, United States, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) Carrie Cassidy, Canada, Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation Allison Riebel, United States Ludwine Casteleyn, Belgium, University of Leuven, Belgium David Roberts, United States, NATEC of Texas Inc. Adriele Castro, Brasil, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Ian Roberts, England, Midlands Disability Jia Chen, United States, Mount Sinai Medical School Hope Robertson, Scotland, Clydebank Asbestos Group Pau-Chung Chen, Taiwan, National Taiwan University Cindy Rombaut, United States, Finger Lakes Occupational Health Service Martin Cherniack, United States, University of Connecticut Kenneth Rosenman, United States, Michigan State University Edwin Christiawan, Indonesia, Federasi Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia (FSPMI) Jonathan Rowe, Canada, Sierra Construction Inc. Pierluigi Cocco, Italy, University of Cagliari, Italy Jeff Rowles, United Kingdom, Calcot Pietro Comba, Italy, Istituto Superiore di Sanità Konrad Rydzynski, Poland, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine Martin Cornish, United Kingdom, Unison Jan Sagkob, Germany, United Nations Ellen Costa, United States, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) Farzad Salehi, Canada, Self-Employed Ines Cramer, Germany, Hanza Hamburg Germany Sheldon W. Samuels, United States, AFL-CIO Carl Cranor, United States, University of California Riverside Mageswari Sangaralingam, Malaysia, Consumers’ Association of Penang Michael Crill, United States Maria Blandina Santos, Brasil, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Liliana Cuba, Australia, NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) Semra Şardaş, Turkey, Marmara University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology Naransukh Damiran, Mongolia, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences Joseph Sargent, England, Trade Union Khoat Dang Van, Vietnam, Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations Klaus Schmid, Germany, University Erlangen-Nuremberg Lelitasari Danukusumo, Indonesia, 4Life Occupational Health and Safety Services Dietmar Schneider, Germany, Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin Nga Dao Thi To, Vietnam, Medical Doctor, Internal Therapy & Pediatrician Specialist Petra Schwichtenberg, Germany, Werkarztzentrum Westfalen Mitte e.V. David De Vreede, The Netherlands, Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (FNV) J. Schwieder, Germany, Occupational Health Physician Kaija Debus, Germany Jens Udo Seelinger, Germany, Pharmaserv GmbH & Co. KG Dr. Davide Degli Esposti, France, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Rachel Sentes, Canada, Publicity Business John Dement, United States, Duke University Vinay Sharma, Canada, Unifor Dr. Matthias Demmeler, Germany, Joel Shufro, United States Dr. Andrew Dickinson, United Kingdom Luana Silva, Brasil, Anhanguera Educacional Dr. Andrea Dietlmeier, Germany, Health Physician Adalgisa Silva, Brasil, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Denny Dobbin, United States, Occupational Hygienist Naira Silva, Brasil, Naira Belo Andreas Doil, Germany, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Luana Silva, Brasil, ABREA Honor Donnelly, England, Unite the Union Clayton Sinyai, United States, Catholic Labor Network Michael Dr. Bestler, Germany, Institution Peter Sly, Australia, The University of Queensland Franz Dr. Szalasi, Germany, AMAS Consulting GmbH Deborah Smith, Canada Jan-Torsten Drenckhahn, Germany, Carl-Korth-Institut, Erlangen Allen Smith, Canada, UA Loc 213 Anke Duerholz, Germany, Consilius GmbH Morando Soffritti, Italy, Collegium Ramazzini Eileen Dwyer, United States Adarsh Sood, United Kingdom, NUT/UCU David Eastmond, United States Nascione Souza, Brasil, Crest- tx- bahia Tawnya Edwards, United States Rick Sprout, United States, Occupational Health Clinical Center of the Southern Tier Cassie Edwards, United States Ulrich Stoecker, Germany, Verband Deutscher Betriebs- Werksärzte e.V. Heribert Eisenkopf, Germany, Arbmed Claudia Strik, Germany, Berufsgenossenschaft der Bauwirtschaft Michael Ellenbecker, United States, University of Massachusetts Lowell Dr. Claudia Suchanek, Germany, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA Ernest Elliott, Canada, Mesothelioma Support Network Jaime Szeinuk, United States, Occupational and Environmental Medicine of Long Island Ingeborg Erichsen, Germany, ThyssenKrupp Helena Taskinen, Finland, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (retired) Fraunz Georg Eveslage, MD, Germany, Arbeitsmedizinische Praxis (Environmental Medicine) Fran Teplitz, United States, Green America Flávia Felisardo, Brasil, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) Annie Thebaud Mony, France, INSERM (National Institute for Health and Medical Research) Dr. Helmut Feth, Germany, Specialist in Occupational Medicine Marina Thorborg, Denmark, Soedertoern University Dr. Andrea Filler, Germany, Hospital Andrew Tin, Canada Lesley Finch, United States, United Automobile Workers (UAW) Geraldine Todd, United Kingdom Yoram Finkelstein, Israel, Shaare Zedek Medical Center Anna Tompa, Hungary, Semmelweis University Institute of Public health John Froines, United States, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Kjell Torén, Sweden, Researcher Brigitte Froneberg, Germany, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Song Hao Tran, Vietnam, EBHPD/Vn-BAN Aleksandra Fucic, Croatia, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health Hải Trần, Vietnam, Bộ y tế Mike Garcia, United States, Enviroscape Bettina Traumann, Germany, Physician Occupational Medicine Rebecca Garden, United States Ian Tuit, Australia, Citizen Omana George, Hong Kong SAR, Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC) Raymond Turpin, United States, The Safety and Health Training Center, Inc. Dr. Evelyn Glensk, Germany, Federal Association of Asbestos Victims Groups Thu ha Van, Vietnam, Organization Michael Gochfeld, United States, Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute Christian van de Weyer, Germany, Specialist in Occupational Medicine Dr. Michael Goldbeck, Germany, imland Klinik Rendsburg – Eckernförde Geertje van Leemputten, Belgium Tanja Goldbrunner, Germany, Institut für Arbeitsmedizin der LMU München Luciene Vasques, Brasil, INSS Joseph Graziano, United States, Columbia University Agustin Vega, Colombia, Universidad Distrital FJDC Renee Guay, Canada, Niagara Regional Labor Council Margrit von Braun, United States, TerraGraohics International Foundation and University of Idaho Dorothy Guay, Canada, Office of Worker Advisory of Canada Christoph von der Burg, Switzerland, Chief Medical Officer, Occupational Health Michel Guillemin, Switzerland, University of Lausanne, Switzerland Bill Walsh, United States, Healthy Building Network Eunhee Ha, Korea, Ewha Women’s University Gerhard Walter, MD, Germany, PIMA Health & Safety Michael Hagmann, Germany, Institute for Work Design of North Rhine-Westphalia Jung-Der Wang, Taiwan, National Cheng Kung University, College of Medicine Dr. Schuck Hans-Jürgen, Germany, Betriebsmediziner Yvonne Waterman, Netherlands, Stichting European Asbestos Forum Jörn Hansen, Germany, Neptun Umwelt-und Arbeitsschutz David Wegman, United States, University of Massachusetts Lowell Lennart Hardell, Sweden, University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden Dieter Weigel, Germany, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin Volker Harth, Germany, Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf Catharina Wesseling, Costa Rica, Institutet Karolinska Heidrun Hartmann, Germany Dorothy Wigmore, United States Anita Hassler, Germany, Occupational Health Hans-Joachimchim Woitowitz, Germany, Medical Faculty of Giessen the University of Giessen Alastair Hay, United Kingdom, University of Leeds Maryth Yachnin, Canada, IAVGO Community Legal Clinic Dr. Hartmut Heinz, MD, Germany, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Arbeitsmedizin und Umweltmedizin e.V. Irina Safitri Zen, Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia