FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2025
Registration Opens for ADAO’s Landmark 20th Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference — September 12–13, 2025, in New York City
Experts Unite to Build on Dr. Selikoff’s Legacy in Asbestos Science, Prevention & Justice
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the largest U.S. nonprofit dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure through education, advocacy, and community initiatives, is proud to announce that registration is now open for its 20th Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference (AAPC), to be held in New York City on September 12–13, 2025.
This year’s conference, themed “Building on Dr. Selikoff’s Legacy in Asbestos Science, Prevention & Justice,” commemorates the 24th anniversary of the September 11th attacks and honors the ongoing public health crisis affecting first responders and recovery workers exposed to asbestos at Ground Zero. Firefighters and first responders who bravely risked their lives that day and in the days of clean-up and recovery following the attack were also unknowingly exposed to asbestos. This conference honors their sacrifice and works towards a safer future for our firefighters and first responders, as well as the general public.
Conference Schedule
Friday, September 12, 2025
Evening of Remembrance and Recognition
- 4:30 PM | Candlelight Vigil at the World Trade Center Memorial
A solemn tribute honoring those lost to asbestos-related diseases, particularly 9/11 responders who continue to suffer from long-term health effects. - 6:00 PM | Awards Dinner
Celebrating champions of prevention and policy with keynote remarks, tributes, and musical performances.
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Academic Conference
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |Academic Conference, Mount Sinai Hospital, Stern Auditorium
Session topics include:
- From Then to Now: Selikoff’s Vision and Our Journey Forward
- Diagnosing and Treating Asbestos-Related Diseases
- Prevention Is the Cure: Strategies for Exposure Reduction
- Dr. Irving Selikoff, Paul Brodeur, and Beyond
- 9/11 Heroes and the Ongoing Health Crisis: Lessons from Ground Zero
- Asbestos and the Law
The full-day conference will feature more than 30 experts in medicine, science, law, and policy who will present on the latest advancements in diagnosing, treating, and preventing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and other cancers. We will give special attention to international policy developments, civil justice, and the enduring health impacts of 9/11.
“Our annual conference is a place to exchange life-saving knowledge, honor those we’ve lost, and galvanize our efforts to ban asbestos and prevent exposure,” said Linda Reinstein, ADAO Co-Founder and President. “Gathering together in New York City is especially meaningful as we reflect on the legacy of Dr. Selikoff and the sacrifices of 9/11 responders.”
“Mount Sinai has been at the forefront of caring for patients with 9/11-related and asbestos-related illnesses for more than two decades,” said Dr. Raja Flores, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai. “This conference is an important opportunity to share our research and reaffirm our commitment to the health of those affected.”
Despite being a known carcinogen, asbestos remains legal and in use in the United States. More than 40,000 Americans die each year from preventable asbestos-caused diseases. The attacks on September 11, 2001, created one of the most extensive occupational health disasters in U.S. history, underscoring the urgent need for prevention and policy change.
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