Asbestos Laws & Regulations
The Ongoing Challenges One Year After the U.S. Asbestos Ban
In March 2024, the United States took a historic step by banning the last remaining uses of chrysotile asbestos—the most commonly used form of the mineral worldwide. It was a big win for public health, but it didn’t mean the asbestos problem was over. A year later, it’s clear that putting the ban into action…
Read MoreAsbestos Laws in Pennsylvania
Asbestos was once widely used in building materials for its durability and heat resistance. However, it’s now known to be extremely hazardous to human health. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to serious diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. As a result, strict regulations exist at both the federal and state levels to…
Read MorePennsylvania Supreme Court Ruling Opens Door to Mesothelioma Claims Against Employers Beyond Statutory Limits
In a major victory for asbestos victims and their families, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently issued a powerful 5-2 opinion affirming the right of workers suffering from long-latency occupational diseases—such as mesothelioma—to pursue legal action against their employers even after the statutory limits of the state’s Occupational Disease Act (ODA) have passed. The decision marks…
Read MoreUnderstanding the FDA’s Proposed Asbestos Testing Rule for Talc-Containing Products
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently proposed a new rule aimed at protecting consumers from potential asbestos contamination in talc-containing cosmetic products. This initiative comes in response to growing concerns over the risks associated with asbestos exposure and its link to various health complications, including cancer. With the FDA’s proposed standardized testing…
Read MoreEPA Addresses Legacy Asbestos Risks
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken significant steps in addressing the risks associated with legacy uses of asbestos. In a newly released draft risk evaluation, the EPA identifies disturbing and handling asbestos in legacy applications as presenting an “unreasonable risk” to human health. This draft represents the second phase of the EPA’s risk assessment…
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