WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the largest nonprofit in the U.S. dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure, eliminating asbestos-related diseases, and protecting asbestos victims’ civil rights; today praised the Senate for the unanimous passage of the 13th Annual Resolution establishing “National Asbestos Awareness Week” (S Res. 98). The Resolution was led by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and Senators Daines (R-MT), Durbin (D-IL), Feinstein (D-CA), Isakson (R-GA), Leahy (D-VT), Markey (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), and Warren (D-MA) as bipartisan co-sponsors. It seeks to “raise public awareness about the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure,” underscoring ADAO’s important mission of education, advocacy, and community to put an end to asbestos exposure. Linda Reinstein, President and Co-Founder of ADAO, issued the following statement:
“We are enormously thankful to Senator Tester, Resolution co-sponsors, and the entire Senate for unanimously passing the resolution creating the 13th Annual ‘National Asbestos Awareness Week’ during April 1 – 7. Each year, an estimated 15,000 Americans die from preventable asbestos-caused diseases, yet imports continue. Undoubtedly, the Resolution’s momentum and the forthcoming U.S. Surgeon General’s asbestos warning will raise awareness and save lives.
“Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to raise asbestos awareness to ensure the American public understands that this is not an issue of the past. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that asbestos-caused deaths are on the rise in the U.S., despite significantly decreased use since peak consumption in the 1970s. Further, the study reports that malignant mesothelioma deaths among patients aged 25-44 continue, indicating current and continued occupational, environmental, and secondary exposure risk.
“As the EPA begins its risk assessment of asbestos under TSCA, it is paramount that the Senate underscore what we’ve long known about asbestos — that it poses undue risk to human health and the environment and must be stringently regulated to avoid causing more harm. This has been the sentiment of the last 12 Senate Asbestos Awareness Resolutions as well as 12 warnings from the U.S. Surgeon General’s office, and just last summer President Barack Obama became the first sitting president to acknowledge asbestos as a deadly carcinogen. Especially with the onslaught of legislation aimed at eviscerating or limiting the powers of the EPA, this acknowledgement by the legislative branch sends a significant message.”
This year, ADAO is partnering again with UK-based public relations firm the McOnie Agency to take Asbestos Awareness Week global! Educational materials will be translated into 15 languages and distributed in more than 40 countries. In conjunction with the week, ADAO will hold its 13th Annual International Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference “Where Knowledge and Action Unite,” April 7 – 9, 2017 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Marriott in Arlington, VA, just outside of Washington, D.C. Global experts will speak on the latest advancements in asbestos disease prevention, treatment asbestos-caused diseases, and global asbestos ban advocacy.
Exposure to asbestos, a human carcinogen, can cause mesothelioma, lung, gastrointestinal, colorectal, laryngeal, and ovarian cancers; as well as non-malignant lung and pleural disorders. The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study of 2013 published in the renowned Lancet Medical Journal reported that 194,000 people globally die from asbestos-caused diseases every year, equaling more than 500 deaths per day.
About the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO is the largest non-profit in the U.S. dedicated to providing asbestos victims and concerned citizens with a united voice through our education, advocacy, and community initiatives. ADAO seeks to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure, advocate for an asbestos ban, and protect asbestos victims’ civil rights. For more information, visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.
