The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019 has passed the House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee and will now head to the House floor. The Act would institute tighter regulations on the manufacture and distribution of asbestos, a known carcinogen.

About the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019

The House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee passed the bill on November 19 with nearly unanimous support. If the bill is passed by the House, the Alan Reinstein Act would amend the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), a 1976 law enforced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that regulates the production and use of toxic chemicals and materials.

Under the TSCA, the manufacturing and use of asbestos has been limited but not banned. The Alan Reinstein Act would ban the mining, manufacturing, processing, and distribution of asbestos for commercial purposes. If the law passes, the ban on the carcinogen would go into effect one year after the passage.

Additionally, the Act would require the EPA to research and assess all known exposures to asbestos. Exposure to asbestos may result in the development of life-threatening cancers such as mesothelioma.

According to Linda Reinstein, the president of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and widow of Alan Reinstein who died from asbestos-related mesothelioma in 2008, “This comprehensive bill will protect workers, consumers, and children from being exposed to the deadly threat of asbestos and stop hundreds of tons of asbestos from entering the United States.”

About Asbestos

Asbestos is a known carcinogen that causes mesothelioma, a type of cancer that forms in the tissue lining the lungs, abdominal cavity, and heart. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that is naturally occurring and is mined for many commercial purposes.

Due to the mineral’s resistance to heat, as well as its strength, it has been used in many products including construction materials, brake pads and auto parts, textiles, ceiling and flooring tiles, and insulation. As the mineral often occurs naturally near other materials such as talc, asbestos is also found as a contaminant in many talc-based products.

When asbestos particles are inhaled, these microscopic fibers may settle in the lungs and lead to irritation and inflammation. Over time, this inflammation may lead to mesothelioma. As mesothelioma takes years or decades to develop, many people who have been harmed by exposure to asbestos are unaware of their exposure for many years.

Mesothelioma is a serious and often life-threatening cancer. Common symptoms of mesothelioma may include cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, weight loss, or loss of appetite.

Victims who have been exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma may be eligible to hire an attorney and file a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer of the asbestos products they were exposed to. Victims may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income, wrongful death, and other damages.