Mesothelioma Awareness Day was observed this past weekend. Events held across the nation brought renewed calls for Congress to ban asbestos once and for all, with the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) leading the effort. The powerful advocacy organization marked the day with its 21st annual Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference in Washington, D.C., where leaders urged swift passage of the bipartisan Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act of 2026.
Mesothelioma Advocates Press Congress on the ARBAN Act
Though mesothelioma is the deadliest of the diseases caused by exposure to asbestos, it is far from the only one. More than 40,000 Americans die each year from preventable asbestos-related illnesses, including nearly 3,000 from mesothelioma. According to Linda Reinstein, the President and Co-Founder of ADAO, ” Every 13 minutes, we lose someone in the United States to an asbestos-caused disease such as mesothelioma. These deaths are preventable, and prevention remains the only cure.”
The ARBAN Act (S. 5235 and H.R. 5373) is named for Reinstein’s husband Alan, who died of mesothelioma in 2006. If passed, the bill would put an end to manufacturing, processing, use, and distribution of all commercial asbestos. It would cover eight different types of the carcinogenic material and close the gaps the organization sees in the EPA’s 2024 chrysotile rule. Despite nearly 70 nations having banned asbestos, lobbying by the chemical industry has meant the United States still allows it to be imported and used in some ways.
Mesothelioma Experts Gather in Washington
This year’s ADAO conference saw mesothelioma patients and their families, physicians, researchers, attorneys, labor leaders, and policymakers come together. The event’s theme was “Asbestos: Awareness, Prevention, and the Law,” and after opening with a celebration honoring healthcare and policy advocates, it continued with a full-day academic program featuring dozens of experts.
The program’s sessions focused on a wide range of topics, including mesothelioma treatment, prevention, policy, and litigation. Speakers reviewed two decades of advocacy efforts and celebrated advances in diagnosis and treatment. They also discussed strategies for turning awareness into action and legal and legislative developments. The weekend closed with an awards dinner and candle-lighting ceremony that honored leaders engaged in prevention, research, patient advocacy, and justice.
Organizations like the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization are doing important work that benefits mesothelioma victims, their families, and those who are at risk of being diagnosed with the disease in the future. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and need information or assistance, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
