Asbestos banned

[LadyStanley]

EPA bans asbestos, a deadly carcinogen still in use decades after a partial ban was enacted

The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced a comprehensive ban on asbestos, a carcinogen that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year but is still used in some chlorine bleach, brake pads and other products. The final rule marks a major expansion of EPA regulation under a...

www.yahoo.com

EPA bans asbestos. No imports, etc. Some usage in water treatment plants and in making chlorine bleach.

Last paragraph:

Separately, the EPA is also evaluating so-called legacy uses of asbestos in older buildings, including schools and industrial sites, to determine possible public health risks. A final risk evaluation is expected by the end of the year.

Which does not address the thousands of old homes with asbestos in tiles, drywall and sheet rock.

And what of fire protection equipment/clothing? I was under the impression that asbestos was one of the few substances that could stand the heat to protect firefighters.

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[JMCx4]

... And what of fire protection equipment/clothing? I was under the impression that asbestos was one of the few substances that could stand the heat to protect firefighters.

This blog from a U.S.-based injury law firm explains: "Firefighter gear is mostly comprised of Nomex, Kevlar, plastic, and other fibers now. Federal law does not ban asbestos, but it outlines strict regulations regarding its use. Small percentages of asbestos are still allowed in certain products, though most clothing manufacturers no longer use it."

It seems from recent web reports that the health focus within the firefighting industry has been diverted to the presence of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS - aka, "forever chemicals") in turnout gear ... e.g., Your Gear, Your Life: Firefighter PPE Toxins and What to Do About Them | Fire Engineering

Who'da thunk the PPE designed to save our saviors held such threats to them?