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Asbestos Attorney

Court Rulings on Asbestos-Containing Products

As recently as the late 19th century, asbestos appeared to be an ideal building / manufacturing component. It was resistant to heat, electricity, chemical damage, and had incredible tensile strength. Although the use of asbestos can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, it wasn’t until the mid 1980s that some of the hazards associated with asbestos lead to a widespread push to ban the material.

The danger of asbestos comes from its toxic fibers. When asbestos is inhaled, these fibers get into the lungs and can cause Mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis. Due to these risks, many countries began widespread banning of asbestos use in various products and manufacturing techniques.

The most significant legal development in the United States regarding the use of asbestos in commercial products came on July 12, 1989. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule-a final and decisive ban on the majority of asbestos-containing products.

However, this decision was short lived. Just a few years later, in 1991, the ban was overturned in the case of Corrosion Proof Fitting vs. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The ruling in this case made it legal for there to be trace amounts of asbestos in certain consumer products.

Following this court decision, additional limits on asbestos have been imposed by other government agencies. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set limits on the amount of asbestos that can exist in a given work space.

Contact a Mesothelioma Lawyer

If you would like more information on asbestos control, or if you know someone who has been affected by Mesothelioma or asbestos-caused lung cancer, contact the asbestos attorneys of Williams Kherkher today at 800-781-3955 to schedule a consultation.
