Mesothelioma is just one of several diseases directly linked to asbestos exposure. While most people think that the mineral’s use has been banned, it continues to be used — and to pose significant health risks — to those working in certain industries. The last several years have seen the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) move to regulate this use of chrysotile asbestos, only to have the agency under the Trump Administration suggest delaying making changes, but now, the agency has withdrawn the motion it filed a few weeks ago. The rapid shift highlights the struggle between industrial interests and public health protection in the fight against this deadly carcinogen.
Mesothelioma Concerns Drive Efforts to Ban Asbestos
Asbestos causes numerous diseases, including the rare but aggressive form of cancer known as mesothelioma. Roughly 3,500 Americans are diagnosed with the disease each year, and though the link between the material and these diseases has been well established, many industries continue to use the toxic mineral. Several years ago, the EPA considered banning asbestos use as one of its first tasks in fulfilling the rules of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), but almost immediately faced pushback from those industries. Still, in 2024, the agency under President Joseph Biden issued a final risk management rule.
Then, to the dismay of mesothelioma advocates, on June 16, 2025, the EPA filed a motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit requesting a six-month delay in litigation over its 2024 final risk management rule. This request suggested that the agency intended to initiate new rulemaking procedures to reconsider certain provisions of the existing regulation.
Mesothelioma Victims and Advocates Object to EPA Action
Mesothelioma victims and advocacy groups watched closely, led by opposition to the motion from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. The organization issued a statement that echoed the concerns felt by the thousands of people affected by asbestos-related diseases. These conditions, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer, can develop decades after initial exposure, making regulatory delays particularly concerning for public health advocates.
Now, the long-awaited mesothelioma prevention regulations may be back on track, as the EPA withdrew its controversial motion on July 7th. The agency requested instead that the court establish August 8th as a deadline for filing motions for further proceedings. The agency says it reversed its position after “further reconsideration” of the challenged rule, stating that it “no longer intends to conduct notice-and-comment rulemaking to evaluate potential changes at this time.” Instead, the EPA is reconsidering workplace protection requirements for asbestos-containing sheet gaskets in non-titanium dioxide chemical production and chlor-alkali operations, industry uses that represent continuing risks among workers.
Advocates hope that the EPA’s most recent approach of exploring guidance rather than regulatory changes will be a positive step toward preventing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. If you or someone you love has been impacted by asbestos and you need help, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
