By Matthew Daly -
The Associated Press
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this Monday the total ban on asbestos in the United States, a carcinogenic mineral that is still used in chlorine bleaching products, car brake pads and others, and that kills thousands of Americans each year. .
The EPA's move marks a wholesale expansion of its 2016 regulation, when a landmark law changed rules governing tens of thousands of toxic chemicals in everyday products, from household cleaners to those used to make clothing and furniture.
Specifically, the regulations prohibit asbestos known as
chrysotile
, the only asbestos currently used in the United States.
This mineral is found in products used to make chlorine bleach and sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan called the move an important step to protect public health.
“With today's ban, EPA finally slams the door on a chemical
so dangerous that it has been banned in more than 50 countries
,” Regan stated.
“This historic ban has been more than 30 years in the making, and is made possible by amendments Congress made in 2016 to fix the Toxic Substances Control Act,” the main US law governing the use of chemicals, he added.