US Veterans Deserve Better Than a Reconsidered Asbestos Ban

Time Business News

24-07-2025

Asbestos remains one of the most well-documented and dangerous toxic substances in the country. Linked to cancer and other deadly illnesses, this natural mineral has left a trail of suffering among numerous veterans, industrial workers, and their families who were exposed over decades of unregulated use. While most asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) have already been prohibited since 1989, and the last mining operation ceased in 2002, one form—chrysotile—continued to be legally imported and utilized across various industries. This changed, however, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the ban on this kind of asbestos in 2024, marking a long-overdue milestone in public health.
Unfortunately, that progress may not stand unchallenged for so long. Just this June 2025, the federal agency—now under the Trump administration—informed a federal appeals court that it intends to reconsider the last restriction implemented against chrysotile. Although this move may be favorable to certain manufacturers, it does not serve the public interest. Revisiting the regulation of a known carcinogen not only undermines decades of scientific consensus but likewise reopens the door to preventable harm in communities that have already paid the price of inaction. Furthermore, for thousands of veterans in New York and nationwide, this rollback is a reminder of a painful history that risks repeating itself and putting more service members in peril.
The Danger of Reconsidering the Asbestos Ban
Throughout much of the 20th century, asbestos—a naturally occurring mineral—has been vital to the US military, primarily due to its affordability, durability, heat resistance, and fireproofing capabilities. Among its various forms, chrysotile, also known as white asbestos, became the most extensively used, finding its way into nearly every branch of the armed forces. The demand for asbestos especially intensified during World War II, as the military rapidly expanded shipbuilding and base construction, embedding the material in vessels, aircraft, barracks, and vehicles.
The problem is that this heavy reliance has borne devastating consequences. When disturbed, friable asbestos disperses microscopic fibers into the air, which can become embedded in the lungs or other internal organs once inhaled or ingested. The accumulation of this mineral in the body can lead to deadly illnesses, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other respiratory diseases. And because these conditions notoriously have a long latency period, many veterans were diagnosed only decades after their service. Today, an estimated 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually, and former service members make up roughly 30% of those cases. While this issue has impacted all military branches, the Navy veterans' asbestos exposure emerged as among the most common. In fact, they logged the second highest incidence of mesothelioma, after asbestos exposure of shipyard workers.
This crisis spans all 50 states, with 12,000 to 15,000 Americans dying from asbestos-related diseases each year. Among the most severely affected is New York, home to 688,611 former service members, the seventh-largest veteran population in the US. An updated interactive map shows that from 1999 to 2017, the Empire State recorded 15,205 asbestos-related deaths, wherein 11,320 were linked to lung cancer, 2,830 to mesothelioma, and 1,124 to asbestosis. A large portion of these cases can be traced back to former military installations, such as Plattsburgh Air Force Base and Fort Drum, where asbestos was pervasive. This long and well-documented history is precisely why all types of asbestos, even chrysotile, must remain banned.
The EPA Must Stand Firm in Protecting Public Health
Despite decades of evidence and a clear scientific consensus, the EPA's decision to ban chrysotile asbestos in 2024 has recently come under pressure. This shift appears to stem from legal challenges by manufacturers who argue that the regulation exceeds what is necessary. In response, the EPA informed a federal appeals court in June 2025 that it would revisit the rule—a move that raised serious concerns among public health advocates and veterans' groups alike.
The agency's brief reconsideration was short-lived. In July, it reversed course and announced that it would instead defend the rule's legality in court. Still, the sequence of events—first stepping back, then reaffirming—reflects an alarming degree of uncertainty for a substance as dangerous and well-documented as asbestos. When lives are at stake, especially those of veterans and working-class communities long exposed to this carcinogen, wavering on established protections sends the wrong signal.
The apparent dangers of asbestos—ranging from thousands of diagnoses of cancer and other lethal illnesses to persistent environmental contamination in military bases and high veteran death tolls—are exactly why the chrysotile ban must remain intact. Repealing or weakening it would not only dismiss a painful chapter in public health but also reopen it. The EPA must be firm in this decision, as asbestos has no place in any future we claim to protect.
TIME BUSINESS NEWS