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