Challenges and Progress in Mitigating Asbestos Exposure

From ADAO – Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

Each year, nearly 40,000 Americans die from preventable, asbestos-caused diseases, yet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency still hasn’t banned this toxic substance.

Asbestos, a known human carcinogen, can cause chronic lung disease as well as incurable respiratory diseases and mesothelioma, lung, gastrointestinal, laryngeal, colorectal and ovarian cancers. When handled, asbestos can separate into microscopic-sized particles that remain in the air and are easily inhaled. Medical experts agree that there is no safe or controlled use of asbestos. Due to the long latency period of asbestos-caused diseases, it can take between 10 to 50 years from the time of exposure to development of disease.

Read the full article on ADAO’s website here.