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EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

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Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#51

Post by mywittyname »

crankylinuxuser wrote: post #44
gameswithgo wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not unbelievable, it is the stated stance of the GOP to reduce environmental and health regulations, and they are doing it. It is exactly what we voted for.

So, what exactly happened? The EPA was founded by a republican (Nixon). Yet environmental efforts are now attributed to democrats. And combined with that, is that republicans was to destroy the very org they made? What am I missing out of this? Why did the parties completely change their face?

The Reagan administration sold the GOP that all government agencies are incompetent.

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#52

Post by mywittyname »

acomjean wrote: post #34

Ever seen an ad for "mesothelioma" and wonder what is that about? Its generally law firms looking for people with asbestos related lung cancer (edit: see replies for better description of the illness). The Asbestos particles are so small your body's natural filters don't stop them from getting stuck in your lungs, where they can cause cancer. As this point I can't imagine the insurance liability to start using asbest…

The next step is tort reform to prevent victims from receiving compensation for their suffering.

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#53

Post by skummetmaelk »

ChrisRR wrote: post #17

This makes sense as asbestos only really causes harm when humans come into contact with it. For applications where it is safely enclosed or mixed with another material it may have its uses. I think analysis on a case-by-case basis is the right way to go.

Leaded paint is only really dangerous if you pry it off the wall and swallow it. Who would do that?

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#54

Post by cryoshon »

base698 wrote: post #25
baq wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the overall rating is 'Mostly true', though.

Mega misleading, it's not being used in the capacity it used to be. They aren't allowing anyone just anyone to use asbestos and none of the old use cases for it are allowed--only new ones.

new uses of asbestos. the use cases where we do not have evidence for its carcinogenicity. because we have never needed to look for it there before.

of course, we know that it is carcinogenic. the use case does not change that property of the material. the EPA is explicitly excluding environmental contamination risks, too. we know it is harmful to the environment, and, by proxy, us, again.

what a folly the EPA has made here -- for the profit of those who would prefer to make money even if it hurts people.

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#55

Post by sametmax »

CompelTechnic wrote: post #11

I imagine that whether or not the asbestos is frangible will be strongly considered during evaluation. Incidentally, I have also seen a good amount of evidence that the fiberglass we currently use to replace asbestos insulation is super bad for your health, but likely not as bad.

And wait for us to discover all the wonderful side effects of ingesting or breathing nano particles of anything.

They are everywhere now.

E.G: salt now often contains E551, which is silica nano particles. It's silica, so the laws says it's ok because the raw material is harmless. Except we have no idea how the shape of it affects us. It will be able to go into places it couldn't before, interact chemically differently, and so on.

A lot of fun is to come.

It's the same with GMO: the tech is superb, the potential is wonderful. Can we wait 30 years of testing, and do said testing by independent, interest-free entities before spreading it everywhere ? Can we make testing on interactions ? On long term exposures ? On complete ecosystems ? And for each product ?

Hell no: let's say it's safe by default because mouses didn't suffer from eating it for a few months. Then use illiterate facebook mum posts to make sure any critics is regarded as unscientific. We got this.

The thing is, human has always did that. It's not being evil. It's our natural way of doing things: try it out, and fix on the way. It's why we made so many cool stuff.

The problem is, we are arriving at a point were the destructive potential of our actions is reaching such a scale, this strategy is way too dangerous.

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#56

Post by shawn »

smt88 wrote: post #27
gameswithgo wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not unbelievable, it is the stated stance of the GOP to reduce environmental and health regulations, and they are doing it. It is exactly what we voted for.

The majority of us did not vote for this. Without gerrymandering or the electoral college, Congress and the White House would be overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats.

At least the system is working as designed.

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#57

Post by diminoten »

smt88 wrote: post #27
gameswithgo wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not unbelievable, it is the stated stance of the GOP to reduce environmental and health regulations, and they are doing it. It is exactly what we voted for.

The majority of us did not vote for this. Without gerrymandering or the electoral college, Congress and the White House would be overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats.

You trace it back though; we voted for the people who did the gerrymandering, and we voted for the electoral college (our ancestors did, anyway).

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#58

Post by mhaymo »

smt88 wrote: post #27
gameswithgo wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not unbelievable, it is the stated stance of the GOP to reduce environmental and health regulations, and they are doing it. It is exactly what we voted for.

The majority of us did not vote for this. Without gerrymandering or the electoral college, Congress and the White House would be overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats.

I think you're massively overstating the effects of gerrymandering.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026137941...

> while Republican and Democratic gerrymandering affects the partisan outcomes of Congressional elections in some states, the net effect across the states is modest, creating no more than one new Republican seat in Congress

Re: EPA is allowing asbestos back into manufacturing

#60

Post by jdietrich »

base698 wrote: post #3

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/is-epa-allowing-asbestos-p... The EPA has not changed anything about currently banned uses of asbestos, and any new uses would first be assessed by the agency.

The EPA already allows asbestos to be used in a huge range of products. I simply cannot see what justification could be made for allowing asbestos to continue to be used in cement sheet, floor tile and brake pads. It might pose no immediate hazard when installed, but it could become a serious hazard at any point during its lifespan. Cement sheets crack and crumble, floor tiles become worn and get replaced, brake pads are designed to wear down. When you install any asbestos-containing material, you're setting a deadly man-trap.

https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/us-federal-bans-asbestos

In the EU, there's a blanket ban on manufacturing or selling asbestos-containing products under the REACH regulations, with an exception only for replacement membranes in existing electrolysis equipment. Member states can add specific exemptions where there is a valid justification; in the UK, those exemptions apply only to used acetylene gas cylinders, heritage vehicles and museum artefacts.

https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/574c30dd-398d-b3ff-cc...

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/exemption.htm

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