Posted on August 18, 2025
For ADAO, September is Mesothelioma Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, remember those we’ve lost, and take action to prevent asbestos exposure. Our mission is clear: eliminate mesothelioma and all other asbestos-caused diseases. Throughout the month, ADAO will share facts, resources, and opportunities to get involved.
Asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, are nearly 100% preventable. Education is the first step toward prevention. That’s why we’ve compiled 30 irrefutable facts to share each day in September. We encourage you to post, share your story, and amplify our content to protect your community. Whether you participate for one day, one week, or the entire month, your voice matters.
Follow the conversation by connecting with @Linda_ADAO on X/Twitter. Together, we can make change happen.
Thirty Irrefutable Asbestos and Mesothelioma Facts
DAY 1: September is Mesothelioma Awareness Month! Thirty Irrefutable Facts for Thirty Days.
DAY 2: Vinyl floor tiles, brake linings, ceiling tiles, and spray-on coatings can contain asbestos.
DAY 3: Asbestos is a known human carcinogen.
DAY 4: There is no safe or controlled use of asbestos.
DAY 5: Each day, an estimated 100 Americans die from preventable asbestos-caused diseases.
DAY 6: The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act would ban the importation, manufacture, processing, and distribution of all forms of asbestos.
DAY 7: Asbestos kills an estimated 40,000 Americans every year.
DAY 8: Russia is the leading producer of asbestos, followed by Kazakhstan, China, Brazil, and Zimbabwe.
DAY 9: About half of all occupational cancer deaths are caused by asbestos.
DAY 10: All types of asbestos cause asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and cancers of the larynx and ovary.
DAY 11: Asbestos is found in homes, schools, workplaces, consumer shelves, and the environment.
DAY 12: Today begins Day One of the ADAO Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference in NYC.
DAY 13: Today is the 2nd Day of the ADAO Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference in NYC.
DAY 14: Celebrities Warren Zevon, Steve McQueen, Paul Gleason, and Merlin Olsen are among many lost to asbestos-related disease.
DAY 15: All six types of asbestos are human carcinogens.
DAY 16: While research advances, prevention remains the only cure for asbestos-caused diseases.
DAY 17: The U.S. Geological Survey confirms numerous substitutes exist for asbestos.
DAY 18: Only three U.S. corporations — Olin, Westlake Chemical, and Occidental Chemical — still use asbestos diaphragms in chlor-alkali plants.
DAY 19: The chlor-alkali industry is the only sector importing and using raw asbestos in the U.S.
DAY 20: Today is the annual Alton Miles for Meso Race — raising mesothelioma awareness and funds for ADAO
DAY 21: Non-asbestos diaphragms and membrane cells last longer, are more efficient, and produce a higher-quality product.
DAY 22: Nearly 80% of U.S. chlor-alkali plants have transitioned to non-asbestos technology.
DAY 23: Two-thirds of asbestos diaphragm plants are located in or near communities of color facing higher cancer risks from toxic releases.
DAY 24: OxyChem imported over 300 metric tons of raw asbestos in 2022 for its plants.
DAY 25: Mesothelioma symptoms can take decades to appear. The latency period for mesothelioma is typically 10 to 50 years, meaning symptoms often develop many years after initial asbestos exposure.
DAY 26: Today is Mesothelioma Awareness Day — a day of unity, remembrance, and action.
DAY 27: The U.S. Surgeon General warns: “If you think you have been exposed to asbestos, speak to your health care professional.”
DAY 28: WHO reports that one in three occupational cancer deaths is caused by asbestos.
DAY 29: The United States is the only Western industrialized nation that has not banned asbestos.
DAY 30: People living near asbestos mines or factories may inhale fibers released into the air, and natural disasters or industrial incidents can disturb asbestos in the environment.
