| In May 2008, a six-year long battle for many | | | | mineral particles. |
| asbestosis mesothelioma victims ended, as a | | | | |
| legislative bill was finally introduced to | | | | * Develop recommendations to identify, |
| Congress. | | | | distinguish and measure these minerals and |
| | | | particles, which may or may not cause |
| The legislation, known as H.R. 3339, issued a | | | | diseases or adverse health effects. |
| proposal to ban the use of all asbestos and | | | | |
| increase federal funding for research of | | | | * Provide a description of these minerals and |
| treatments to fight against asbestos-related | | | | their ability to remain biopersistent in the |
| illnesses or conditions. The bill was | | | | human body. |
| introduced on August 2, 2007 and was part of | | | | |
| a six-year process for 54 co-sponsors of the | | | | * Provide a description of mesothelioma, or |
| bill, which will go on to the Committee on | | | | any other form of cancer or non-cancer form |
| Energy and Commerce. | | | | of disease that is caused by these minerals |
| | | | and particles. |
| The purpose of the bill is to add amendments | | | | |
| to the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) of | | | | * Develop improved sampling and analytical |
| the United States, which was passed in 1976. | | | | methods for non-asbestoform minerals and |
| Although the TSCA was amended several times | | | | elongated mineral particles. |
| in the last few years to address asbestos as | | | | |
| a hazardous material, the amendments did | | | | * The legislation would require that within |
| nothing as far as offering federally | | | | 18 months of this bill enacted into law, this |
| authorized funding directly for | | | | study, which has been seen as critical by |
| asbestos-related illnesses. | | | | supporters of this bill, be completed. |
| | | | |
| One of the amendments simply authorized the | | | | * The sponsors of the bill have also enacted |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the | | | | a portion of the bill to address the need for |
| authority to create requirements as far as | | | | public education and awareness program. |
| asbestos abatement in schools. H.R. 3339 has | | | | |
| also been referred to as the "Bruce Vento Ban | | | | * The public education program would be |
| Asbestos and Prevent Mesothelioma Act 2007." | | | | required to commence no more than one year |
| Vento, who was not only a state legislator | | | | after the date of enactment of the bill. |
| and a member of Congress representing the | | | | |
| Fourth District of Minnesota, he was also a | | | | * The program would require the Consumer |
| schoolteacher and a victim of pleural | | | | Product Safety Commission, Centers for |
| mesothelioma who died in late 2000. | | | | Disease Control and Prevention and the |
| | | | Secretary of Labor to work together to devise |
| Mesothelioma Victims Slipping through the | | | | a plan for a public-education campaign. |
| Cracks | | | | |
| | | | The bill requires the campaign to address the |
| While asbestos is considered a highly | | | | following: |
| carcinogenic contaminant, the United States | | | | |
| Geological Survey reported that 2,000 metric | | | | * Increase awareness of asbestos-containing |
| tons (approximately 4.4 million pounds) of | | | | materials, products and contaminants in homes |
| asbestos was used in 2006 with the Department | | | | and work environments |
| of Commerce also estimating that | | | | |
| approximately $100 million was spent on | | | | * Increase awareness of asbestos-induced |
| importing brake parts each year, with these | | | | conditions and illnesses |
| parts allegedly showing traces of asbestos. | | | | |
| | | | * Offer current and informative information |
| The following are facts and statistics of the | | | | on asbestos-related conditions to patients, |
| state of the asbestos industry in the United | | | | family members and health care providers |
| States currently and highlighted in H.R. | | | | |
| 3339: | | | | * Improve awareness of asbestos exposure |
| | | | dangers and the health effects of exposure |
| * There is no known safe inhalation level of | | | | |
| asbestos exposure. | | | | * Providing information on symptoms of |
| | | | asbestos exposure |
| * Products imported from foreign areas may | | | | |
| have little-to-no asbestos regulations | | | | * Increase publicity of research, treatments |
| causing asbestos-tainted products to be | | | | and clinical treatment trials for patients, |
| imported to the United States. | | | | family members and health-care providers |
| | | | |
| * New uses of asbestos were essentially | | | | Battling Mesothelioma |
| banned with the TSCA, but asbestos continues | | | | |
| to be imported and used in consumer and | | | | Patients who are currently suffering from a |
| industrial products. | | | | form of mesothelioma cancer or other |
| | | | asbestos-induced conditions are advised to |
| * The median survival period for mesothelioma | | | | contact an experienced mesothelioma law firm. |
| is a mere one-year after diagnosis. | | | | |
| | | | Developing mesothelioma litigation is a |
| * Europe had a widespread ban of asbestos in | | | | potential source for receiving monetary |
| 2005. | | | | compensation for the lengthy and expensive |
| | | | costs and bills associated with this |
| Asbestos Bill Breakdown | | | | asbestos-related illness. |
| | | | |
| Essentially, with H.R. 3339, supporters are | | | | Because of the severity of the condition as |
| hoping to develop an in-depth study that | | | | well as the short life expectancy upon |
| will: | | | | diagnosis, it's important for individuals |
| | | | suffering from this condition to act quickly |
| * Evaluate the health effects of | | | | and seek out the money deserved for this |
| non-asbestoiform minerals and elongated | | | | preventable disease. |