Toward an Asbestos Ban in the United States

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Richard Lemen, Emory University; Philip J. Landrigan, Castello di Bentivoglio via Saliceto
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-11
• Publisher: MDPI
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2017 by the authors.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14111302
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• ISSN: 1661-7827
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 11
• Start Page: 1302
• End Page: 1302
• Grant/Funding Information: We would like to acknowledge the Heads of the Asbestos Coordination Authorities (HACA), Australia, for funding the open access publication of this special issue.
• Keywords: mesothelioma; asbestos; regualtion
• Research Categories: Environmental Sciences; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Many developed countries have banned the use of asbestos, but not the United States. There have, however, been multiple efforts in the US to establish strict exposure standards, to limit asbestos use, and to seek compensation through the courts for asbestos-injured workers’. In consequence of these efforts, asbestos use has declined dramatically, despite the absence of a legally mandated ban. This manuscript presents a historical review of these efforts.