Lawmakers Push for Total Ban on Asbestos in U.S.

Citing ProPublica’s reporting, lawmakers on March 30 reintroduced a bill that would ban the use of asbestos in the U.S., bringing it in line with dozens of countries that have outlawed the carcinogenic substance.

Even though asbestos is known to cause deadly diseases, the U.S. still allows companies to import hundreds of tons of the raw mineral. It is primarily used by two chemical manufacturers, OxyChem and Olin Corp., in the production of chlorine.

The legislation called the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2023, would ban the import and use of all six types of asbestos fibers. It would give OxyChem and Olin two years to transition its asbestos-dependent chlorine plants to newer, asbestos-free technology.