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 20th consecutive 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 organization dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases through education and legislation advocacy.
This year, GAAW follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) March 2024 announcement banning chrysotile asbestos in the United States. However, even after this monumental moment in asbestos regulations, there is still more to be done to ban all six types and uses of asbestos around the world.
For this reason, the ADAO is using this year’s GAAW to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos, help people understand the details of the recent EPA ban, and urge Congress to pass the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act.
“Global Asbestos Awareness Week is the perfect time to educate Americans and the world about why the EPA’s chrysotile asbestos rule does not go far enough, and why we still need Congress to pass a ban.”
– Linda Reinstein, ADAO Co-Founder and President
ARBAN has been championed by the ADAO and endorsed by both the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the American Public Health Association.
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 heavily in a wide range of industries because of the mineral’s unique temperature resistance, durability, and affordability. However, the dangers of asbestos began to be seen when people developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers as early as the 1930s.
Despite the 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.
Contrary to popular belief, asbestos is still not completely banned in the U.S. or around the world.
Globally, only 67 countries have banned asbestos outright — a list that includes Australia, Canada, the entire European Union, and the United Kingdom. Sadly, asbestos remains legal for use and importation in roughly 70% of the world.
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 can 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.
So long as there remains a demand for asbestos, the needless deaths it causes will not end.
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 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
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 #2024GAAW tag.
Sokolove Law: Decades of Helping Those Impacted by Asbestos
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 $4.9 Billion in mesothelioma settlements and verdicts for families nationwide.
Call (800) 995-1212 now or start your free case review to see if we can fight for justice on your behalf.
