Workers' Compensation: Toxic Legacy: Unmasking Asbestos's Dangerous Past and Present

Asbestos has long been a significant public health concern, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to take decisive steps to evaluate and mitigate its risks. The recent Notice of Availability for the Action: Notice Asbestos Part 2 Supplemental Evaluation (Docket ID #: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0254) represents a crucial milestone in addressing this persistent environmental and health challenge.

What is the Supplemental Evaluation?

The EPA's latest evaluation goes beyond previous assessments by comprehensively examining legacy uses and associated disposals of asbestos. This supplemental study is conducted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), demonstrating the agency's commitment to a thorough and systematic approach to understanding asbestos risks.

Key Highlights of the Evaluation:

Broadened Focus: In contrast to earlier assessments, this evaluation adopts a more comprehensive approach by examining historical and legacy uses of asbestos. It involves exploring current applications and the complete range of potential exposure risks.
Comprehensive Risk Assessment: The EPA is conducting an in-depth analysis of how asbestos has been used in various industries and how its disposal methods might continue to pose environmental and health risks.
Public Health Focus: The primary goal of this evaluation is to protect public health by identifying potential exposure pathways and risk factors associated with asbestos.

Implications for Workplace Safety and Occupational Exposures

Supplementary evaluation is critically essential because asbestos remains a potent carcinogen. Despite significant restrictions, legacy uses continue to pose potential health risks through:

Older building materials
Industrial sites
Contaminated disposal sites
Historical manufacturing equipment

What This Means for Stakeholders

For workers: Increased transparency about potential asbestos exposure risks
For industries: Potential new guidelines for handling and disposing of asbestos-containing materials
For environmental professionals: More comprehensive data for risk mitigation strategies

Next Steps

Interested parties can review the entire document in the EPA's official docket (EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0254). The agency will likely use the findings to inform future regulatory actions and public health protective measures.

A Continuing Commitment

This supplemental evaluation underscores the EPA's ongoing commitment to identifying and mitigating environmental health risks. By examining legacy uses and disposal methods, the agency is proactively protecting public health.

Conclusion

The Asbestos Part 2 Supplemental Evaluation is critical to understanding asbestos risks. It highlights the importance of continuous, comprehensive environmental health assessments and the need to address historical occupational challenges.

Related Articles:

US Bans Asbestos 3/18/24

New EPA Rule Will Lighten the Burden of Proving an Asbestos-Related Disease Claim 10/20/2023

Asbestos: Strict Liability Imposed Against Product Manufacturers for Ordinary Product Life 6/6/2020

Recommended Citation: Gelman, Jon L., Toxic Legacy: Unmasking Asbestos's Dangerous Past and Present, www.gelmans.com (11/30/2024) https://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/2024/11/toxic-legacy-unmasking-asbestoss.html

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*Jon L. Gelman of Wayne, NJ, is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters). For over five decades, the Law Offices of Jon Gelman 1.973.696.7900
jon@gelmans.com has represented injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational illnesses and diseases.