Wednesday, February 1, 2017

The Future of Asbestos Uncertain Under New Administration

Exposure to asbestos has been linked to numerous diseases.
Despite its widely accepted status as a deadly carcinogen and being outright banned by dozens of countries, asbestos remains legal in the United States, and this status may not change under the Trump Administration. President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, refused to commit to banning the substance during confirmation hearings.

Asbestos, once regularly used in the construction of houses, office buildings and other structures across the United States, including here in South Florida, can cause a number of diseases in people exposed to the substance. Health experts estimate that thousands of people die from asbestos-related diseases each year. The dangers associated with asbestos exposure have prompted many homeowners, businesses and government entities to hire environmental remediation companies to remove the material from buildings and structures throughout Southern Florida. People in places like Hollywood, Miami Beach, Miami, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton can hire licensed asbestos removal south florida companies to test for the presence of asbestos, and eliminate it.

Regardless of what political appointees may say about asbestos, medical professionals and health experts have long recognized the substance’s dangers. Exposure to asbestos, particularly long-term exposure, can cause cancers of the stomach and lungs, including a form of cancer only caused by asbestos called mesothelioma. Other health conditions tied to asbestos exposure include asbestosis, shortness of breath, lung cancer and other respiratory ailments. Firms that offer asbestos abatement broward services remove this dangerous building material from hospitals, apartment buildings, schools, courthouses, condominiums and other structures across Broward County.

Although previous presidential administrations took steps to phase out the use of asbestos, it remains to be seen whether the new administration will continue this trend. One would hope that common sense and public pressure will lead to the end of asbestos use in the near future.

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