Dr. Rashmi Joglekar, Associate Director of Science, Policy and Engagement at the Program on Reproductive Health at UCSF, issued the following statement today.
On Monday, the Trump administration announced plans to stymie implementation of the EPA’s long-awaited ban on asbestos by threatening to delay and reopen the rule for reconsideration in a process that could take up to 30 months. This decision halts the first significant asbestos risk management action under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and opens the door to potential weakening or abandonment of the rule altogether.
This decision is an assault to public health. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and the science has been clear for decades, which is why dozens of countries have banned it. EPA itself acknowledged that exposure to asbestos is known to increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer.
For decades, EPA has tried to ban asbestos, but each time, industry sues, delays, and obfuscates. After years of delay, EPA finally took important steps to ban chrysotile asbestos last year in its final TSCA risk management rule. Now, the Trump administration is proposing to undo these protections, and the consequences are deadly. Continued asbestos use in the US translates to more sickness, suffering, and lives lost.
A dangerous precedent for chemical safety
This proposed rollback isn’t just about asbestos; it also sets a dangerous precedent for all future TSCA rulemakings. TSCA was reformed in 2016 to give EPA more power to protect people from toxic chemicals like asbestos, after years of bipartisan effort. However, if finalized risk management rules can simply be undone at the whim of a new political administration, then no chemical ban, no matter how scientifically sound or urgently needed, is safe from political or corporate interference.
This decision highlights how vulnerable TSCA remains, and the unmatched influence the regulated industry has on the regulatory process. It also underscores the urgent need for stronger safeguards for public health.
