Thousands Support Petition to Ban Asbestos; No Loopholes or Exemptions
Nearly a decade after the launch of the Change.org petition titled “Ban Asbestos in the U.S. Now — Without Loopholes or Exemptions,” nearly 150,000 supporters continue to stand behind one simple demand: a complete U.S. asbestos ban with no industry exemptions.
Petition supporters have consistently demanded three things: no exemptions for chrysotile asbestos, no loopholes for legacy asbestos already embedded in U.S. infrastructure, and no industry-driven delays or carve-outs.
On June 1, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit will hear oral arguments on the EPA’s 2024 Part I chrysotile asbestos rule. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is defending the rule against industry efforts to weaken protections under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The petition’s “no loopholes” message reflects the public mandate behind that legal defense. ADAO has also filed legal action after the EPA failed to meet its statutory deadline to evaluate legacy asbestos and Libby Amphibole exposure risks. Legacy asbestos, the material already in place in older buildings, pipes, insulation, and infrastructure, remains one of the largest unaddressed gaps in U.S. asbestos regulation, and petition signers have been clear that partial protections are not enough.
The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN) remains the clearest path to a comprehensive federal ban. ARBAN would ban all forms of asbestos and finally close the regulatory loopholes that have allowed exposure to continue for decades..
Asbestos exposure continues to cause approximately 40,000 deaths each year in the United States from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other preventable diseases. Nearly 70 countries have already banned asbestos, but the United States has not.
In a newly published 2026 study in The Lancet Regional Health, researchers analyzed asbestos-related cancers including: mesothelioma, lung, laryngeal, and ovarian cancers, from 1990 to 2023. The analysis identified two diverging trends: countries with stronger asbestos regulations and phase-out policies are seeing declining mortality and disability rates, while regions with continued asbestos use or weaker protections are experiencing a worsening disease burden. High-income North America, which includes the United States and Canada, continues to carry the highest overall asbestos-related cancer burden, while the sharpest increases have appeared in Tropical and Southern Latin America, particularly among women in Argentina and Brazil.
The study also highlights rising asbestos-related disease among women, regional disparities across the Americas, and a stronger link between ongoing asbestos use and rising cancer rates. Lung cancer remains the leading asbestos-attributable cancer, while mesothelioma continues to serve as one of the clearest signals of past exposure. Researchers emphasize that risk now extends from traditional occupational settings to aging infrastructure, schools, homes, and demolition sites. Taken together, the findings reinforce what advocates and medical experts have argued for decades: there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, prevention is the only reliable defense, and a comprehensive federal ban remains essential to protecting future generations.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or another asbestos-caused illness, you do not have to face the legal and financial fallout alone. For decades, Goldberg, Persky & White, P.C. has represented workers, veterans, and families harmed by asbestos exposure, holding negligent manufacturers and employers accountable and helping clients pursue the compensation they deserve.
