Today is Mesothelioma Awareness Day, and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) marked it by sending a letter to the U.S. Congress calling for swift passage of the bipartisan Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act of 2025. It also launched the Asbestos Action Navigator, the first mobile tool for asbestos prevention, exposure tracking, and care management. This action follows the organization’s milestone 20th Annual Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference held this past week in New York City.
Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Advances Take Center Stage
The ADAO’s mission is to raise awareness of mesothelioma, promote health equity worldwide, build momentum for comprehensive asbestos reform, and achieve a complete ban on this deadly substance. In addition to the letter to Congress and introduction of its new app, the ADAO began the week with its annual conference: This year’s theme was “Building on Dr. Selikoff’s Legacy in Asbestos Science, Prevention & Justice.”
The meeting brought together nearly 40 distinguished speakers from four countries to advance the fight against mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Attendees of this year’s conference, including mesothelioma patients and their families, received encouraging news during comprehensive academic sessions, including information on groundbreaking treatment options and clinical trial innovations from Mount Sinai, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and other prestigious institutions. Five detailed sessions traced the journey from Dr. Irving Selikoff’s pioneering 1964 work to today’s cutting-edge advances in diagnosing and treating asbestos-related diseases.
Mesothelioma Conference Addresses Prevention and Honors Advocates
Mesothelioma prevention got special attention at the gathering, as experts addressed contemporary exposure challenges ranging from 9/11 firefighter screening to wildfire toxicity in Lahaina and Los Angeles. Speakers Chris Carberg and ADAO founder, President, and CEO Linda Reinstein presented innovative digital tools and strategies for reducing asbestos exposure, while other sessions explored the suppression of science and the ongoing fight for transparency in public health protection.
ADAO’s annual awards ceremony honored the efforts of several individual mesothelioma advocates and organizations. The Alan Reinstein Award was given to John Feal in recognition of his tireless advocacy for 9/11 first responders, while the Dr. Irving Selikoff Awards were presented to Dr. Claudia Henschke, Dr. David Yankelevitz, and Dr. Brad Black for their groundbreaking contributions to asbestos-related disease research and treatment.
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization is committed to extending its mesothelioma education efforts to worldwide audiences, and to that end, the conference will be accessible globally at no cost via the organization’s YouTube channel, with session videos expected to be uploaded in mid-November. The ADAO’s provision of unrestricted access demonstrates its ongoing commitment to ensuring that life-saving public health information remains free and available to all. It is a fitting way to celebrate another Mesothelioma Awareness Day.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
