Asbestos Causes Cancer, But Now the Government is Opening the Door to its Comeback

Asbestos is a known carcinogen. It’s been in the news lately because of proposed new regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency that may allow the chemical to be used in manufacturing again. A lot of Americans are concerned, and for good reason. Asbestos was widely used in commercial products in the U.S. until the 1970s, when reports linked it to cancers like mesothelioma. Dr. Joseph Friedberg, Head of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said mesothelioma’s survival rate is generally no longer than one to two years, and it is one of the deadliest cancers.

According to NBC News, the EPA proposal, released in June, details how “companies can find new ways to use asbestos that will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Some of the products that may now involve asbestos in the manufacturing process include adhesives, sealants, pipeline wrap, and several others.”