Understanding the EPA’s Asbestos Ban and Your Rights to Compensation

Ward Black Law | | Asbestos Disease Claims
Asbestos Exposure Sites in North Carolina

For decades, asbestos posed severe health risks that went unaddressed despite its known dangers. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finally took definitive action by banning the import and use of this toxic substance. However, countless people have developed and will develop asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma while the authorities waited to act.

Ward Black Law is one of only a handful of law firms in North Carolina that handle asbestos cases. If you have developed an asbestos-related disease, we want you to have all the information you need to assert your legal rights. With asbestos banned in the U.S., the landscape has finally changed after decades. Here’s what you need to know about the EPA’s recent ruling in plain language and how you can seek compensation if you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness.

What Is Chrysotile Asbestos, and Why Is It Banned?

The term “asbestos” refers to a group of naturally occurring minerals, including chrysotile asbestos. Many industries used these minerals to make insulating products because of how well they resist heat.

So, why has the EPA banned asbestos? Unfortunately, in addition to its flame-resistant properties, asbestos poses a grave threat to human health. When asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they become trapped in the lungs, stomach, and other parts of the body. The human body can’t break these fibers down. Instead, they cause inflammation that eventually disrupts normal bodily functions, leading to a range of serious illnesses. Asbestos producers knew about these dangers for decades before they became widely known in the 1970s when many industries began to phase out the use of asbestos.

While the use of asbestos – a known carcinogen – has decreased across the U.S. for decades, it was not entirely banned until recently. In March 2024, the EPA announced a ban on many ongoing uses of asbestos products. The EPA ban focuses on chrysotile asbestos, the only known form of asbestos currently being used or imported in the U.S. Research estimates that asbestos-related illnesses cause over 40,000 deaths every year nationwide. The EPA asbestos ban could save many lives in years to come, but tragically, many individuals have been and continue to be exposed to dangerous asbestos fibers.

 Health Dangers Posed by Chrysotile Asbestos Exposure

Exposure to asbestos is linked to many severe illnesses, including:

  • Mesothelioma – A type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin lining surrounding the internal organs, including the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) and covering of the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma)
  • Other cancers – Including lung cancer, stomach cancer, ovarian cancer, pharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, and colon cancer
  • Asbestosis – A respiratory condition that causes scarring of lung tissue
  • Pleural plaques or thickening – Thickening in the pleural membrane surrounding the lungs, which may lead to chest pain and breathing problems

How to Seek Compensation After Asbestos Exposure

Patients may have many claims under three main methods for recovering compensation for an asbestos-related illness:

  • Workers’ compensation claims – If you developed an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma from workplace exposure, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, including medical treatment and replacement of a portion of lost wages.
  • Asbestos trust claims – Many companies that manufactured asbestos products established bankruptcy trust funds. If you can show your illness stemmed from their products, you can file one or more claims to receive compensation from these trusts depending on your case.
  • Personal injury lawsuits – In some cases, you can also sue companies or property owners responsible for your asbestos exposure and illness. A lawsuit allows you to seek money for your medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.

Importance of Working with an Experienced Asbestos Exposure Attorney

If you developed an asbestos-related illness, Ward Black Law can represent you in your fight for fair compensation from every available source. Asbestos claims are a core component of our practice, and we have extensive experience representing clients nationwide in these complex cases. We’ll handle all the complicated legal procedures while you focus on your medical treatment.

Call Ward Black Law now or reach out online for a free case review.