Posted on February 1, 2022

The asbestos facts are irrefutable, and they have been for decades. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and there is no safe level of exposure. Yet, asbestos mining and use continues to this day, and far too many people remain in the dark about their risk of exposure.

Since our founding in 2004, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has made it our priority to correct the dangerous misconceptions about asbestos and offer lifesaving awareness and education to the public. In 18 years of working toward this goal, ADAO has become the global leader in asbestos awareness, prevention and policy, and a powerful voice in Washington, DC. With hours of educational content now available online, ADAO is seen nationally and internationally as the expert to turn to when it comes to asbestos. 

One of the greatest accomplishments to ADAO’s name is the development of the Global Asbestos Awareness Week, held April 1-7 every year. Thanks to bipartisan support in Congress and our amazing community around the nation, we were able to turn what started as just a throw-away day of recognition into a powerful phenomenon that reaches thousands across the globe.

Creating a Campaign for Change

In 2005, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid offered to champion ADAO’s request for the first Asbestos Awareness Day. Our organization was exhilarated, but challenged, as we began to draft the language for the first Resolution. When the resolution passed unanimously in the Senate, our celebration could have been heard around the world. We are forever grateful to Senator Reid for being a champion of asbestos awareness, and we are so grateful that he helped us pass the first resolution, as it truly was the original stepping stone to ADAO becoming the organization we are today. 

ADAO was still determined to build greater asbestos awareness and in 2007, the U.S. Senate listened to our plea and extended the day to a week-long awareness event. It didn’t take long for this idea to catch fire with the members of our asbestos community. Everyone from victims to health and safety professionals asked to share our graphics and materials.

This was when we knew we’d found an approach that resonated with people — storytelling and educational materials— and this was only the beginning. As we expanded from a day to a week, we collaborated with experts from around the world to help us create enough fresh content to fill seven days. In doing so, we transformed the week of awareness into a worldwide discussion and built an unparalleled library of educational asbestos materials online, including contributions from distinguished medical, health and safety, and scientific professionals, which you can access below.

In 2021, we had a successful virtual global asbestos awareness week. Knowing that our voice becomes exponentially louder when we collaborate, we partnered with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Environmental Information Association, British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), and the Mavis Nye Foundation; our International Partners: Fundación Colombia Libre de Asbesto (Colombia asbestos Free Foundation)SOS AMIANTO – Grupo português de Apoio às Vítimas do Amianto (SOS ASBESTOS – Portuguese Asbestos Victim Support Group), Association nationale des victimes de l’amiante et autres polluants, Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI) who shared our press release in five different languages.

From Awareness to ACTION

As we at ADAO know, awareness is a crucial and necessary first step to achieving our lifesaving asbestos prevention and policy goals. After years of growing GAAW, we can see the actionable impact it’s starting to have. These years of awareness-raising efforts have paved the way for political gains, such as President Obama’s acknowledgement of asbestos as a carcinogen, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to designate among the top 10 high-risk chemicals requiring priority regulatory action. Every Senate resolution that’s passed is entered into Congressional Record, making it impossible for Washington politicians to hide from the truth: that asbestos kills.

Let’s Keep Growing

This year, the Global Asbestos Awareness Week campaign will feature key influencers, experts, and Partners for Prevention featuring facts, art, movies, and more from all around the world. There will be videos shared in six different languages. Be sure to save the dates — April 1-7, 2022 — and watch for updates from ADAO and your local leaders. We are closer to an asbestos ban than we have ever been before, with bicameral legislative support to ban asbestos.

We at ADAO know very well that we cannot succeed alone. We are depending on our community to be innovative, be bold, and be outspoken to make the 2022 Global Asbestos Awareness Week the loudest call to action yet! Save the date and watch for updates from ADAO and your local leaders, about the week, contributors, and content. Be sure to follow the conversation with our GAAW hashtag: #2022GAAW.

Together, we make change happen.

Linda Reinstein

ADAO’s Social Networks

U.S  Surgeon General Warning Statements

S.Res.145 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2021 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.145 — 117th Congress (2021-2022) All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] | 
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 03/25/2021
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]* 03/25/2021
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]*  03/25/2021
Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]* 03/25/2021
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/25/2021

S.Res.92 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2019 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.92 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] | 
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 03/04/2019

S.Res.98 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2017 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.98 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] | 
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]* 03/27/2017
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 03/27/2017
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]* 03/27/2017
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/27/2017
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]*  03/27/2017
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]* 03/27/2017
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 03/27/2017
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 03/27/2017

 S.Res.449 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2018 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.449 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] |
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]* 03/22/2018

S.Res.125 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2015 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.125 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] | 
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]* 03/26/2015
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]* 03/26/2015

S.Res.376 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2016 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.376 — 114th Congress (2015-2016)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] | 
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]*  02/25/2016
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 02/25/2016

S.Res.66 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2013 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.66 — 113th Congress (2013-2014)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] | 
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 02/28/2013
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]* 02/28/2013
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 02/28/2013
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 02/28/2013
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 02/28/2013
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 02/28/2013

S.Res.336 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2014 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.336 — 113th Congress (2013-2014)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] | 
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]* 01/16/2014
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 01/16/2014
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 01/16/2014
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 01/16/2014
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 01/16/2014
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 01/16/2014

S.Res.63 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2011 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.63 — 112th Congress (2011-2012)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] | 
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 02/17/2011
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 02/17/2011
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 02/17/2011
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 02/17/2011
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 02/17/2011
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]* 02/17/2011
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 02/17/2011

S.Res.389 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2012 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.389 — 112th Congress (2011-2012)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] | 
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 03/06/2012
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 03/06/2012
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/06/2012
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 03/06/2012
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 03/06/2012
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 03/06/2012
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]* 

S.Res.57 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2009 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.57 — 111th Congress (2009-2010)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] | 
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA] 03/03/2009

S.Res.427 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2010 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.427 — 111th Congress (2009-2010)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] | 
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 03/01/2010

S.Res.462 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2008 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.462 — 110th Congress (2007-2008)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] | 
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]* 02/27/2008

S.Res.131 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2007 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
Cosponsors: S.Res.131 — 110th Congress (2007-2008)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] 
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 03/28/2007
Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]* 03/28/2007
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 03/28/2007
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/28/2007
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 03/28/2007
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 03/28/2007
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 03/28/2007

S.Res.402 – A resolution designating the first day of April, 2006, as “National Asbestos Awareness Day”
Cosponsors: S.Res.402 — 109th Congress (2005-2006)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV] | 
No cosponsors.

S.Res.43 – A resolution designating the first day of April 2005 as “National Asbestos Awareness Day”
Cosponsors: S.Res.43 — 109th Congress (2005-2006)All Information (Except Text)
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV] | 
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] 03/07/2005