St. Louis, MO (April 2014) –According to the February 2014 newsletter of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), miners, road construction workers and communities on import travel routes have a great risk of asbestos exposure due to the fact that asbestos is still imported into the United States. Though asbestos use is strictly regulated in the United States, the mineral has not been completely banned as in some countries.
This, along with more than 20 years of health research, has prompted Dr. Aubrey Miller, NIEHS Senior Medical Advisor, to call for an update to asbestos regulations which have not been amended since the mid-1980s. According to Miller, new research shows that much lower exposures to asbestos can cause disease.
“Asbestos regulations have not been updated since the mid-1980s,” said Neil Maune, partner at MRHFM. “We cannot ignore the medical research that shows continued exposure in the United States and the need for stricter regulations, if not a complete ban on the substance.”
During a March 2013 keynote speech at the annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference in Washington, D.C., Dr. Miller contended that asbestos health standards have not kept up with science, and that new realities such as the risks from environmental exposures now confront the public.
Dr. Miller provided the following suggestions for our government and regulatory bodies:
- Address unregulated materials, such as erionite
- Fund fundamental research to identify what is toxic about these materials
- Modernize techniques for sampling and analysis
- Push for lower exposure levels
- Test consumer products potentially contaminated with asbestos
- Update asbestos regulations, as soon as possible
If you or someone you know has been exposed to asbestos or involved in the transportation and importation of asbestos into the United States, contact your doctor immediately. For more information about mesothelioma, request a free copy of 100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma at http://www.mesotheliomabook.com or contact the legal team at MRHFM at 866-373-5000. MRHFM is the largest firm exclusively devoted to helping mesothelioma victims and their families.
About Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC
Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC is a mesothelioma law firm based in St. Louis, MO. With offices across the country, their size and exclusive focus on mesothelioma cases allows them to represent clients through the process as quickly as possible and maximize their clients’ recovery. The attorneys at MRHFM have represented thousands of victims exposed to asbestos. The firm has 29 attorneys across the country, 16 investigators, 7 client service managers, and additional support staff including paralegals and legal assistants. For more information about Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC, visit http://www.mesotheliomabook.com.
