From April 1 through April 7 every year, Sokolove Law joins mesothelioma survivors, warriors, families, and advocates in honoring Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW).
Now in its 22nd year, GAAW raises awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and the need for a global ban on the use of asbestos. The week is led by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), a nonprofit dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases through advocacy, education, and legislation.
In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a ban on chrysotile asbestos in the United States. However, while monumental, the rule was limited to only 1 type of asbestos, rather than all uses. The ban is now under judicial review due to industry challenges.
For this reason, the ADAO is using this year’s GAAW to prevent asbestos exposure, strengthen enforcement actions, build global partnerships, and push ahead on a ban on all uses of asbestos in the U.S. and around the world.
“More than two decades after we launched Global Asbestos Awareness Week, the message remains clear. Asbestos exposure is preventable, and prevention saves lives.”
– Linda Reinstein, ADAO Co-Founder and President
As a national mesothelioma law firm, Sokolove Law is proud to support the ADAO’s mission. We must all work together to educate people on the dangers of asbestos and urge legislators to finally make strides toward a complete ban on this carcinogen.
Why Support a Global Asbestos Ban?
Throughout the 20th century, asbestos was used extensively across a wide range of industries because of the mineral’s unique thermal resistance, durability, and affordability.
However, the dangers of asbestos began to be seen when people developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases as early as the 1930s.
Despite clear proof of the mineral’s dangers, manufacturers of asbestos-based products continued to hide these dangers and put millions at risk of developing life-threatening diseases like:
- Asbestosis
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Other asbestos cancers
Each year, asbestos causes nearly 40,000 deaths in the United States, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. However, many families remain unaware of these dangers.
Myth: Asbestos Has Been Banned and Is No Longer Used
Contrary to popular belief, asbestos is still not completely banned in the U.S. or around the world. Sadly, asbestos remains legal for use and importation in roughly 70% of the world.
Globally, only 72 countries have banned asbestos outright — a list that includes Australia, Canada, the entire European Union, and the United Kingdom.
The U.S. has one of the highest asbestos-related disease death tolls in the world, making the need for a complete ban even more urgent.
However, the chrysotile asbestos ban would give industries up to 12 years in some cases to move on to asbestos alternatives, leaving many families still at risk for quite some time. As long as there remains a demand for asbestos, the needless deaths it causes will not end.
Asbestos Is Dangerous Even in Small Amounts
Most people know asbestos is dangerous. But did you know that even a small amount of asbestos can be extremely dangerous? There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos-related companies worked hard to hide the truth about how dangerous the mineral really is. Along the way, many myths about the risks of asbestos exposure have spread, including the misbelief that asbestos is only dangerous in large amounts.
This is simply false. There is more than 100 years of research proving that asbestos exposure can be life-threatening. These are the facts. Anything that downplays the dangers of asbestos is fiction.
The Truth About Occupational Asbestos Exposure
Some jobs come with known dangers. Sadly, there are countless jobs that also come with a hidden danger: asbestos.
A common asbestos myth is that victims of asbestos-related diseases neglected to protect themselves while on job sites. In reality, many hard-working Americans have been exposed to asbestos through no fault of their own.
Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid the dangers of asbestos for years, putting profits ahead of people and creating the tragic asbestos legacy we see today.
Today, workers who handle asbestos wear hazmat suits to prevent exposure to the mineral. But before asbestos was regulated, they were largely unaware of the health problems related to exposure. It's not that they didn't care, but that they simply didn't know that asbestos is a carcinogen.
Asbestos May Be Hiding in Your Home
It’s scary enough to know that asbestos can cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. It’s even scarier to know that asbestos could be in your own home.
Prior to the 1980s, asbestos was widely used across dozens of industries, including construction. Asbestos was found in insulation, fireproofing, roofing, flooring tiles, pipe wrap, electric wiring, and dozens of other products.
The widespread use of asbestos in construction materials has left behind a hidden danger that lurks inside the floors, baseboards, ceilings, and walls of American homes.
People of All Ages Are at Risk of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma has a long latency period, meaning it can take 20-50 years after exposure to asbestos before a victim is diagnosed. While this makes mesothelioma more common in older individuals, people of all ages are still at risk.
Children as young as 13 years of age have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The youngest person to have died from this rare and aggressive form of cancer was just 18 years old.
Oftentimes, this is caused by secondhand exposure, which occurs when asbestos fibers are brought into a household on the clothes or tools of someone who worked with or around the mineral.
While mesothelioma does affect the elderly more than it does the young, it’s dangerous to believe that the younger you are, the more invincible you are. The scary reality is that anyone exposed to asbestos can one day be diagnosed with mesothelioma, regardless of age.
How to Get Involved in Global Asbestos Awareness Week
Because asbestos is still used across the world, supporting Global Asbestos Awareness Week is crucial to public health. Increased asbestos education can help people avoid exposure and build support for tighter regulations and bans on the dangerous mineral.
Ultimately, awareness can save lives, and you can join the global push for asbestos advocacy this year by supporting GAAW and its important initiatives.
Some ways you can help the efforts during GAAW 2026 include:
- Educate friends and family about asbestos, including where it can be found, how to avoid exposure, and how the EPA ban may still put people at risk of exposure
- Follow organizations like the ADAO on social media and interact with or share their posts
- Listen to stories and offer emotional support to those living with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases
- Share your own stories about how asbestos has impacted you and your family
- Write letters to your Congressmembers and local legislators urging them to support a full asbestos ban through the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act
- Participate in a candlelight vigil to honor those lost to asbestos-related diseases
“Global Asbestos Awareness Week reminds us that prevention is possible and that eliminating asbestos use is essential to protecting public health,” said Linda Reinstein of the ADAO.
Every small step can have a big impact as we continue to fight against asbestos. No matter how you choose to get involved, you can share your thoughts, stories, and photos throughout the week using the #2026GAAW tag.
Sokolove Law: Fighting for Asbestos Exposure Victims Since 1979
It’s even more heartbreaking that asbestos-related diseases are the result of corporations choosing profit over the health and safety of millions. Many mesothelioma deaths could have been prevented if companies had chosen to use safer alternatives.
For more than 45 years, the mesothelioma attorneys at Sokolove Law have fought for compensation to help the victims of asbestos-related diseases and their families. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible for compensation from a mesothelioma lawsuit.
Our team has recovered over $5.3 Billion in mesothelioma settlements and verdicts for affected families nationwide.
If you or a loved one has mesothelioma, you were exposed to asbestos — even if you don't know how you were exposed. We've helped thousands of families connect the dots around their exposure history and secure compensation.
Start your free case review to see if we can fight for justice on your behalf. We're available 24/7 to help families understand their rights and options.
