"Advocates are reiterating calls for a national ban on one of the world’s most notorious carcinogens, with data showing imports for asbestos are on the rise this year despite ongoing regulatory action.

Tracking by the U.S. International Trade Commission shows that 114 metric tons of raw chrysotile asbestos have been imported in the first three months of 2022 — a number exceeding the 100 metric tons imported during the entirety of last year. Those imports are driven by the chlor-alkali industry, which uses asbestos diaphragms to make chlorine. Chrysotile asbestos, or “white” asbestos, accounts for the overwhelming majority of asbestos brought into the United States.

In a joint statement this morning, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and the Brazilian Association of People Exposed to Asbestos (ABREA) slammed the uptick as “deeply disturbing.” The surge comes as EPA is proposing to ban the industry’s use of asbestos within the next two years, and ADAO President Linda Reinstein questioned the timing of the upward trend.

“These companies are clearly banking on stopping the proposed ban so they can continue to use this deadly substance despite the availability and widespread use of economically viable nonasbestos technologies,” said Reinstein."

E.A. Crunden reports for E&E News May 12, 2022. [2]