The Agenda: EPA grants, ambulance upgrades
Bentonville will vote on:
🚑 Purchases related to ambulance services including $360,000 for 35 cardiac monitors; $67,000 for a power cot and loading system; and $46,000 for a medication management system.
Rogers will vote on:
🧑💼 Adopting a policy regulating conflicts of interest for the city's elected officials, appointees and employees.
💵 Recognizing a grant worth more than $7 million from the federal Environmental Protection Agency through its Climate Pollution Reduction. The grant is to be used over five years for projects like stream and wetland restoration, preservation and trail construction at the Osage and Blossom Way Creeks.
Springdale will vote on:
💰 Accepting a five-year EPA Climate Pollution Reduction grant worth nearly $4 million for projects including Lower Clear Creek restoration; Spring Creek at the Greenway forest, stream and riparian restoration and preservation; Willie George Park wetland restoration and trail construction; Spring Creek at Thunder Chicken floodplain, stream and riparian restoration and preservation; and Downtown Spring Creek preservation.
🗓 If you go: 6pm at Bentonville and Springdale city halls and 6:30pm at Rogers City Hall
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CNN
16 hours ago
- CNN
Best bug sprays in 2025, tried and tested
The best bug sprays we tested Best bug spray: Proven Insect Repellent Spray Best DEET-free bug spray: Coleman SkinSmart DEET-Free Insect Repellent Best DEET bug spray: Cutter Backwoods Insect Repellent Nothing ruins time spent outdoors while camping, hiking or relaxing in the backyard like an entourage of pesky mosquitoes chowing down on your arms and legs. Sure, bug spray is great, but between the various active ingredients and concentrations, it's hard to know what truly works, let alone find a repellent that doesn't smell like a chemistry lab or make you feel like you took a dip in a vat of oil. Since insect repellents are one of the best ways to repel mosquitoes, I went hands-on with 13 bug repellents to test how they feel, how they smell and everything else you'd want to know before you use one. I also consulted multiple experts to ensure I included repellents that are effective at, well, repelling bugs. I only tested bug repellents with active ingredients approved by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, p-Menthane-3,8-diol (which is in oil of lemon eucalyptus), IR3535 and 2-Undecanone. DEET was the resounding favorite among the experts I interviewed, but they also praised the effectiveness of the other ingredients, especially picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus. Notably, I didn't include any essential oils like peppermint oil or vanilla extract. To be clear, I didn't test each spray for its efficacy at repelling bugs; there are just too many external variables that go into that. Instead, I conducted extensive research, leaned on my expertise and referenced the opinions of experts to choose a pool of repellents that science has proven to be effective. Then, I tested each of the products for things like ease of use, smell and feel. After months of testing, here are the three bug sprays that stood out above the rest. Proven Insect Repellent Spray So nice and light, you might forget you're wearing it, though bugs won't. Picaridin, Proven's active ingredient, comprising 20% of its formula, is one of the best at repelling bugs. Coleman SkinSmart DEET-Free Insect Repellent A 30% IR3535 spray in an aerosol bottle, Coleman SkinSmart delivered a consistent, wide spray, dried instantly and didn't leave any greasy residue on my skin. Cutter Backwoods Dry Insect Repellent Cutter Backwoods is a 25% DEET formula, the gold standard in insect repellents. It's very effective, and it had the mildest scent and least greasy texture of the DEET repellents I tested. This picaridin formula from Proven is one of the most portable options, perfect for hikers or for simply stashing in your bag so you're always prepared. The nozzle, despite its small design, is incredibly consistent and applies evenly. It isn't an aerosol can, but it's equipped with a long pump, so spraying felt nice and easy, even though it gets harder when you spray it upside down (since, thanks to gravity, the straw may no longer be submerged). Despite that fact, it didn't take me long at all to spray myself. With an average application time of just over 21 seconds, it was the fastest pump spray I tested. Proven's scent is largely, well, nonexistent. In the first round of testing for this story, each bug repellent went through two separate testers, and both testers who used Proven said they could barely smell anything. No wafting, tear-inducing chemical odor. The Proven bug spray also wasn't greasy and had a nearly perfect score for the way the spray felt on each of the testers' skin. It was easy to forget that I even applied this spray — besides the fact that no bug would dare come near me — making it one of the best sprays for clothes and skin The Proven repellent was also remarkably portable, thanks in part to its slim bottle. It can fit in any bag, but it's not so small that you'll easily lose it. (If you do prefer a travel-size spray, this repellent is available in a smaller, 2-ounce spritzer.) The bottle also comes with a simple cap to protect from any leaks, which held up well during some stress testing. While it doesn't provide perfect protection because it can fall off, when one of our testers threw it in a bag and went for a bike ride, it stayed completely secure. I love the way Proven's spray disappears on my skin, not to mention its nearly scentless formula. If you're looking for an insect repellent that's easy to use and easy to forget, you can't get much better than the Proven Insect Repellent Spray. One of the better bug sprays for skin and coming in just shy of first place in my ratings, was the Coleman SkinSmart DEET-Free Insect Repellent Spray. It was one of the best sprays in the performance category (which covered tests such as spray smell, feel, quality and others), falling just a little short in portability due to its slightly bulky bottle. The IR3535 repellent had a wide, even spray that made application a breeze. And since it's an aerosol can rather than a pump spray, I didn't have the problem of the pump not being submerged in the spray when applying it upside down. Instead, the aerosol pushes the repellent out, which made spraying my entire body a super-fast process. Just be careful of spraying upside down too often because, like all aerosol products, if you do it too much, the aerosol will escape. (I had this happen with a different aerosol spray when I used it upside down too many times, which resulted in repellent stuck in the can with no way to get out. Bummer.) The feel of the Coleman SkinSmart wasn't greasy or sticky at all. The formula uses a drying technology that makes it disappear almost instantly on your skin. The only issue I had with this spray was its smell. It's marketed as odorless, and while that rang true for one of our testers in the first round, another said it had a smell of chemicals that could easily make you cough when you spray it, and that the harsh scent lingered for a while. Another highlight of the Coleman IR3535 formula is the bottle it comes in. It's equipped with a locking switch to keep it secure. It was right in the middle in terms of size, not big and bulky, but also not slim and packable like some of the other options I tested. If you want an aerosol repellent with similar performance to my top pick, and you're fine giving up portability, the Coleman SkinSmart DEET-Free Insect Repellent is what you seek. During my research, I found the consensus was that DEET is the gold standard when it comes to insect repellents. But despite its reputation, sprays containing DEET didn't score as well overall in our tests as other options. If you don't care as much about the smell and feel of the spray and want the science-backed, best-in-class ingredient for repelling bugs, DEET is the way to go. Out of the multiple DEET-based repellents I tested, the Cutter Backwoods Dry Insect Repellent edged out the competition. It really came down to the Cutter and the ever-popular OFF! Deep Woods Insect and Mosquito Repellent, but the OFF! cap popped off during testing, and was the aerosol can that left had repellent stuck in the bottle I mentioned before. So, even though it performed well, I had to knock off some points. The Cutter had a solid spray, though it came out slightly wet and cold at times. The nozzle is larger than the others I tested, resulting in a wide area of application. This, plus its ability to spray upside down, made for ultra-fast application times, clocking in at an average of under 13 seconds for mostly full-body coverage. The spray wasn't too offensive but was still a little harsh, as it has that classic chemical smell you expect from bug spray. The repellent also left a light residue that took quite a while to fully dry, but it didn't feel too greasy. Another feature of this spray I loved is the size of the bottle. In the original round of testing, the Cutter was a bit bulky, but now its bottle is slim, making it much easier to handle and pack. Its thin shape makes it easy to grasp, and its cap is comfortable to hold down while applying. It isn't as small as the Proven bottle, but it's still super easy to stuff into basically any bag or backpack. If you're looking for a DEET repellent, willing to sacrifice some comfort in terms of the spray's feel and smell, and you don't mind carrying around a larger can, Cutter Backwoods Dry Insect Repellent should top your list. I ran each bug repellent through the same tests to measure both performance and portability. I did not test each spray's ability to physically repel bugs, but instead relied on our extensive research and the opinions of experts I interviewed to create criteria that all the repellents I tested met. The performance ratings, on the other hand, were based on tests that examined the physical quality of spray, smell and feel, among other things. Since many of these tests are subjective, I had at least two testers evaluate each repellent during the first round of testing and took the average of both results. Here's a full breakdown of every test I ran. Performance Spray quality: I tested how wide, even and consistent the spray was by applying it multiple times on myself. Spray smell: I smelled the spray whenever I applied it and noted how strong or weak it was, as well as if it was a pleasant or harsh smell. Spray feel: I noted how the spray felt on my skin whenever I applied it and if it was greasy or sticky. Spray difficulty: I tested how hard it was to spray myself with each repellent, noting how hard it was to hold each bottle and if I could spray it upside down. Spray time: In the first round of testing, each tester timed and sprayed themselves three times with each repellent, and calculated the average time it took to spray themselves. I then averaged the results from both testers to come up with an average spray time. Spray durability: After conducting all other tests, I observed how the bottle held up and if the quality of the spray was affected. Portability Leaks: I examined each bottle and looked for any sort of locking mechanism or cap and judged how likely it would be to leak in a bag. Size: I noted how large each bottle was and threw it in a bag to see if it took up a lot of space. Size options: I researched how many size options are available for each repellent. I tested 13 bug repellents after thoroughly researching the most effective ingredients and talking to several experts to find the best at repelling flying and biting insects. I chose only repellents with an active ingredient that is both CDC and EPA approved, which are DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, p-Menthane-3,8-diol (which is a component of oil of lemon eucalyptus, but they are regulated separately), IR3535 and 2-Undecanone. The experts I talked to largely echoed the CDC and EPA, praising the effectiveness of all these ingredients, but heralded DEET above all else as the industry standard. 'DEET is still the gold standard to many in the public health profession,' said Elmer Gray, entomologist at the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Many of his peers also agree. 'The gold standard for insect repellents is still DEET-based products sold under a whole host of brand names,' said Jerome Goddard, extension professor of medical entomology at Mississippi State University, with a doctorate in entomology. 'Many studies through the years have demonstrated its effectiveness against a variety of flying insects and (somewhat) against ticks.' While some may harbor concerns over DEET's safety and its toxicity, all the experts I talked to said those worries are largely unfounded. 'The first law of toxicology is that everything is toxic,' said Jeffrey G. Scott, professor of insect toxicology at the department of entomology at Cornell University. 'It's just the dose that determines the effect,' he said. The EPA has concluded that DEET is safe, and many of the worrying stories of people getting seizures or even dying came after ingestion or 'dermal applications not consistent with label directions,' according to the EPA. That's why, whether you're using a spray, a wipe or lotion, you should carefully follow the directions on the label. The EPA has been testing DEET for decades and found that if used as directed, it is completely safe for everyone, even pregnant women and children over 2 months of age. However, repellents with the active ingredient oil of lemon eucalyptus and p-menthane-3,8-diol aren't recommended for children under the age of 3 because the dangers of applying them to kids under that age haven't been thoroughly explored. The CDC recommends using products with an active ingredient concentration of more than 10% for limited protection and says that the effectiveness of DEET plateaus after 50%. The experts I talked to agree. 'In general, higher concentrations of an active ingredient provide longer duration of protection, regardless of the active ingredient,' said Eva Buckner, assistant professor and state extension specialist at University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Medical Entomology Laboratory. 'However, concentrations above around 50% do not offer a marked increase in protection time. Products with less than 10% active ingredient may offer only limited protection, often from one to two hours.' Following that guidance, all the repellents I tested have between a 10% and 40% concentration of their active ingredients. Even with regular repellent application, you may occasionally be bitten — and if you consider yourself a mosquito magnet, you're probably very aware of when you are. If you're the kind of person who seems to attract mosquito bites, I've found that the viral suction-based Bug Bite Thing can provide relief, as long as you keep it on hand and use it immediately. Otherwise, a variety of topical applications, ranging from hydrocortisone creams to treatments like After Bite may help. Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion This lotion took longer to apply than any other repellent in my testing pool and left a sticky feeling on my skin. When applying this lotion, I got a strong whiff of chemicals, but that scent soon went away as I rubbed the lotion in. However, a few minutes after application, my skin felt sticky, especially my hands. I didn't love the application process or the feel of this repellent, and it took longer to apply than a typical spray — not to mention the lid doesn't have any locking mechanism, so it could also accidentally leak into your bag. Repel Sportsmen Max 40% DEET Bug Spray This 40% DEET spray from Repel sprays quickly, but it smelled bad and felt wet on my skin. Repel's 40% DEET concoction is sure to keep bugs at bay, but I found it quite unpleasant to apply. The repellent comes out thick and wet, with the harsh smell you probably think of when you hear the words 'bug spray.' Once dried, the repellent felt sticky on my skin, and I wanted to wash it off. Plus, the bottle doesn't have a lock. If you want a high DEET percentage and only need to apply it to your clothes, this might be a good option, but I much preferred my other winners. Ranger Ready Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray With a subtle, pleasant smell, this picaridin formula is a solid option. However, it went on a little wet and has a leaky applicator. When the Ranger Ready repellent arrived in the mail, one corner of the box was soaked with leaked spray. After opening it up, I saw a lock on the applicator of the spray bottle set to 'on' instead of 'off,' so I chalked the leak up to faulty packaging. However, once I tested the spray, I noticed that even with the lock set to the 'off' position, some repellent would still squirt out if I pressed on the trigger. Besides the potential for some leaks, this repellent had a similar performance to the winning Proven spray and is worthy of consideration. OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent, 2-Pack If you're careful with a slightly more delicate can and avoid spraying it upside down too much, then the OFF! Deep Woods repellent is a top-notch pick. This spray was one of the leaders early on in the testing process, but it dropped in the rankings after some durability issues. The cap popped off in a bag during a day of hiking, and after some serious spraying (much of it upside down), the aerosol in the bottle ran out, resulting in a can that still has bug repellent in it with no way to get it out. Ben's Tick and Insect Repellent Ben's has an incredibly strong, unpleasant and chemical smell that most people may not like. It also goes on thick with a wet feel that had our testers antsy for a shower. This bug spray from Ben's has a spraying mechanism that mimics the distribution you'd get from an aerosol can without actually using any of the gas. However, the spray came out extremely dense and sticky, which outweighed any of its other benefits. Sawyer SP544 Premium Insect Repellent This spray can be frustrating to use as it doesn't cover a large area when you try to apply it. I did like, however, that it dried quickly and that the spray bottle features a double-locking lid. The pump spray on the Sawyer repellent provided short little spritzes that didn't cover much area, so I found myself spraying a lot to get even coverage. Its small size makes it a little difficult to hold and spray all around, but it doesn't have a strong smell. It dried quickly, but the pump also got clogged quite a bit during testing. The highlight was the double-locking lid, which ensured a leak-free experience. OFF! FamilyCare Insect and Mosquito Repellent Spritz This picaridin option from OFF! impressed our testers with a wide aerosol spray and a fast-drying feel. One tester of this OFF! FamilyCare spray said she didn't smell anything when she applied it and another smelled orange peel, so even if you do smell anything, it's not a harsh, eye-watering scent. This repellent scored highest in the performance category, but its aerosol version doesn't have a cap or lock and is a little bulky, which knocked off some points. Only one point behind our runner-up, Coleman SkinSmart spray, it's still a high-quality option. OFF! Botanicals Insect Repellent This repellent is made with p-menthane-3,8-diol, but its tiny size and small pump make it hard to apply. This spray from OFF! doesn't apply particularly evenly and sometimes just squirts a jet of spray instead of a mist. However, it didn't have a scent at all, which was a huge bonus. It's also available in one of the smallest size options (2 ounces), so if you want a truly tiny spray you can fit in your pocket, this one could be for you. Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent The scent of this lemon eucalyptus spray was polarizing for our testers. One loved the natural, herby tones and the other was left coughing because of its strong and pungent smell. This lemon eucalyptus spray from Repel was the hardest for our testers to agree on. Some couldn't stand the smell, while others thought it smelled amazing. Even if you enjoy the scent, I'd recommend applying it outside, as it is quite strong. This repellent was also extremely greasy and took a while to dry. Similar to Ben's spray, the first thing I wanted to do after applying it was take a shower. Coleman Botanicals Insect Repellent Coleman's Botanicals Insect Repellent is oilier than other options, and the spray dripped around the nozzle, making it a little messy. This spray had a pleasant smell due to its oil of lemon eucalyptus base, although it was strong at times. The pump worked well, but it took too long to apply and the bottle is a bit stubborn: You can't spray it upside down due to its pump function, and it's easy for your finger to slip off the small nozzle. The following questions were answered by Jerome Goddard, extension professor of medical entomology at Mississippi State University; Elmer Gray, entomologist at the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service; and Karthikeyan Chandrasegaran, assistant professor in the entomology department at the University of California, Riverside. Does bug spray expire? Does bug spray expire? 'Yes, bug spray can expire, and its effectiveness may diminish over time. Most insect repellents have a shelf life of approximately three to five years, depending on the active ingredients and how the product is stored. The longevity of the active compounds — such as DEET, picaridin or essential oil derivatives — is a key factor in determining shelf life,' Chandrasegaran said. 'Although not all bug sprays are required to carry expiration dates, it is generally recommended to replace them after three years to ensure reliable protection. Signs that a repellent may no longer be effective include changes in smell, color or texture, or visible separation of the ingredients.' What is DEET in bug spray? What is DEET in bug spray? 'Previously called N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, DEET remains the gold standard of currently available insect repellents,' Goddard said. 'The chemical was discovered by USDA scientists and patented by the US Army in 1946. It was registered for use by the public in 1957. Twenty years of empirical testing of more than 20,000 other chemical compounds has not resulted in another marketed product with the duration of protection and broad-spectrum effectiveness of DEET.' How does bug spray work? How does bug spray work? 'They all generally work to disrupt the mosquitoes' ability to locate humans in the environment or to make a potential host and their skin less attractive to bite,' Gray said. 'The precise details are still somewhat unclear. DEET seems to have an irritant effect on the mosquito's sensory system. Other products seem to make it more difficult for mosquitoes to sense their prey in the environment, and others mask our scent or produce avoidance-type signals.' Can you bring bug spray on a plane? Can you bring bug spray on a plane? 'Yes, you can bring bug spray on a plane, but it must comply with specific airline and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations,' Chandrasegaran said. 'In carry-on baggage, insect repellents — whether in aerosol or pump spray form — are permitted as long as each container holds 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less and fits within the quart-sized clear plastic bag used for liquids under the TSA's 3-1-1 rule. This ensures that the repellent is treated like any other liquid or gel when passing through airport security.' Does bug spray work on ticks? Does bug spray work on ticks? 'Yes, the CDC recommends the use of a product with 20% or higher concentration of DEET, picaridin or IR3535. Repellents containing the active ingredient permethrin can be used on clothing only,' Gray said. 'In today's world of widespread tick-borne diseases and populations, this is a very important aspect. The best tick prevention starts with wearing light-colored pants; tuck them into your socks and apply a high-concentration repellent to your shoes, socks, pants and waistline. If possible, tuck in your shirt and apply repellents above the waistline. It is also advised to avoid walking where grass, brush and vegetation brush against your legs. Using these precautions is highly effective in preventing ticks from contacting our skin.' 'DEET is more effective in repelling mosquitoes than ticks,' Goddard said. 'One study demonstrated that DEET on military uniforms provided between 10% and 87.5% protection against ticks, depending on species and life stage of the tick. There was an average of 59.8% protection against all species of ticks. Protection levels in the 50% range are less than desirable because just one tick can transmit a tick-borne disease.' For this article, we consulted the following experts to gain their professional insights. Eva Buckner, assistant professor and state extension specialist at University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Medical Entomology Laboratory Karthikeyan Chandrasegaran, assistant professor in the entomology department at the University of California, Riverside, with a doctorate in evolutionary ecology Jerome Goddard, extension professor of medical entomology at Mississippi State University, with a doctorate in entomology Elmer Gray, public health extension entomologist for the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service Jeffrey G. Scott, professor of insect toxicology at the department of entomology at Cornell University, with a doctorate in entomology CNN Underscored editors thoroughly test most of the products we cover and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have an experienced team of writers and editors with many years of testing experience who ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. The author of this guide, Kai Burkhardt, tested and reviewed each bug spray and repellent included in this piece. He sprayed the repellents and noted how easy they were to apply, how they felt, smelled and more. Burkhardt also interviewed multiple experts to figure out what ingredients are effective and safe in bug sprays.
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Newsweek
Map Shows Worst US States for Lung Health
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Due to a combination of smoking rates, regional climates and air pollution, the health of Americans' lungs varies immensely from state to state, according to a new report. A new study by Opera Beds, a specialist in clinically oriented mattresses and pressure-care systems, ranked the worst states for lung health in the U.S., drawing on data from the American Lung Association, the EPA and additional sources. Why It Matters Lung health in the U.S. is a significant public health concern, with millions suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), thousands dying each year from respiratory illnesses and similar numbers being lost to lung cancer. Millions of dollars have been devoted to researching the causes and consequences of lung health issues in the U.S., and the disparity in the health levels across the country highlights how factors such as smoking rates and air quality contributes to these outcomes. This photo illustration shows a man holding a cigarette on August 1, 2023, in Montreal. This photo illustration shows a man holding a cigarette on August 1, 2023, in Montreal. ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP/Getty Images What To Know Opera Beds issued their rankings based on smoking rates, the coverage of anti-smoking policies and air pollution—measured in micrograms of pollutants per cubic meter (µg/m³)—while also factoring in things such as temperature and humidity in each state. The resulting "lung health" scores are shown below on the map created by Newsweek, alongside the rankings of the ten worst states for lung health. With a score of 4.04 out of ten, Indiana ranked as the worst in the country for lung health in the study. The state has an adult smoking rate of 16.2 percent, compared to the national average of around 11 percent. Opera Beds also found that only 31.5 percent of the population is covered by smokefree indoor air policies which prohibit smoking in bars, restaurants and workplaces. Indiana was followed by Ohio and Alaska, with respective scores of 4.72 and 4.79. The rest of the top 10 featured Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi and Kentucky. On the other end of the list, Colorado and Hawaii were found to be the states with the best lung health, each earning a score of 9.11 out of ten. Both states benefit from lower smoking rates and enjoy reduced levels of air pollution. Overall, the top ten states largely outperform the bottom ten across these factors, though California stands out as an exception, as it maintains high overall score despite elevated air pollution levels relative to other states. What People Are Saying Opera Beds wrote in its report: "According to our data, the West Coast is the best place to live in the U.S. in terms of lung health. Six of the top 10 states are located on the western side of the country, with Colorado, Hawaii, and New Mexico making up the top three. This suggests that those on the West Coast may be less likely to develop respiratory conditions like COPD, due to better air quality, humidity levels, and average temperatures. It may also be a viable option for those relocating to another state to improve their lung health."
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Chicago Tribune
As EPA reconsiders asbestos ban, Indiana man with asbestosis gets lifesaving lung transplant
Michael Mihalik had a secret. As he celebrated Christmas with his four children, he thought it was probably his last. So in between the food and presents, he told them elaborate goodbyes in his head. He was suffering from asbestosis, an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The condition leads to lung tissue scarring and shortness of breath, which Mihalik knew all too well. By December 2023, he needed 10 liters of supplemental oxygen just to sit — 15 liters for any kind of movement, he said. 'I just gave up on everything. I figured this was my destiny,' said Mihalik, 66, of Kewanna, Indiana. 'It's my time to go home. The Lord wants me. I'll just go home.' But then, by chance during that Christmas trip, he saw an article in a newspaper about a successful lung transplant for an asbestosis patient. He said he bought at least five copies of the newspaper. The information in it led him to doctors at Loyola University Medical Center, where, six months ago, he received a double lung transplant. Now Mihalik wants to share what's possible for the thousands of others diagnosed with the disease, which he came to view as a 'slow death,' especially as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reconsiders the Biden administration's ban on the last type of asbestos used in the United States — chrysotile asbestos, known as 'white' asbestos — to determine whether it went 'beyond what is necessary.' 'It's a shame,' said Dr. Robert Cohen, a clinical professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago. 'I'm not an economics person … but it doesn't seem like there's a reason to continue to allow a dangerous material to be used when we can substitute it. It seems like a step backwards.' Asbestos, which is linked to tens of thousands of deaths annually and causes mesothelioma as well as other cancers, has been largely phased out in the United States. Last year, the administration of President Joe Biden sought to finish the decades-long fight by banning chrysotile asbestos. However, the EPA said in a June court filing that it would reconsider the Biden administration's rule over roughly the next 30 months. The EPA didn't respond to a request for comment. Like many diagnosed with asbestosis, Mihalik held various jobs in steel plants and lumber yards in the 1970s and '80s. He remembers, for example, carrying 80-pound bags of asbestos on a furnace floor in Texas and pulling pipes with asbestos gaskets apart at steel mills in Indiana. 'When you would walk out of them places and hit the air, you would start coughing. You would cough up, especially in the foundries, this black, nasty stuff,' Mihalik said. 'And in the steel mills, it usually didn't hit me until when I was lying down to sleep, and then I would start coughing up the stuff. We just thought it was dust. We were totally ignorant of it.' By the 1990s, Mihalik said he already could feel his health taking a turn for the worse, so he shifted to truck driving full time. He remembers getting short of breath frequently, and he eventually carried a nebulizer machine with him in his truck. He later had to fashion a backpack to carry tanks of oxygen and wore a mask just to mow the lawn. After a series of misdiagnoses, including asthma, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, he eventually learned he had asbestosis about a decade ago. At that time, he believed he wouldn't qualify for a lung transplant. 'For me, I was relieved (to receive the diagnosis), because then I knew, 'OK, there's no fixing this,'' he said. 'You know, live your life the best you can, and when the Lord's ready for you to go home, I was ready to go.' His wife of 32 years, Darla Mihalik, said her husband's condition — particularly in the year leading up to his lung transplant — was like 'watching a part of you die every day.' It was challenging to see her once active husband struggle to walk to the kitchen. She retired from her job at the post office in 2023 to spend more time with him. 'It's kind of a roller coaster. You spend a lot of time saying, 'No, we can't go there. We can't do this,' because you could get sick,' she said. 'A cold, to him, is not just a cold.' At his clinic at Northwestern Medicine, Cohen treats patients with asbestosis and other occupational lung diseases, although he isn't Mihalik's physician. Asbestosis is scarring in the lung that's caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. There's no way to reverse the scarring, he said. Those most at risk include shipbuilders, insulators, sheet metal workers or others who come in contact with insulation or brake pads made of asbestos, he said. Cohen said he has also seen wives who were exposed by washing their husbands' clothing. If doctors don't ask patients about their work history, he said it's possible to misdiagnose asbestosis. 'I've got some people that have had some pleural scarring and mild disease that do well for a long time, and then others that have had more severe exposures … who can be very, very ill more quickly,' Cohen said. 'It really depends on how severe the scarring is.' Chrysotile asbestos, which is found in products like brake blocks, asbestos diaphragms and sheet gaskets, is less toxic than other types, Cohen said, meaning it has lower rates of asbestosis and lower rates of cancer. However, it is by no means safe, he said. 'It's like having a menthol cigarette or something that's maybe slightly less nicotine, but it still is toxic and it still is carcinogenic, and there's no reason to still have it,' he said. Cohen added that using masks and clothing for protection is 'inferior to just getting rid of the stuff.' Chrysotile asbestos was banned under the Toxic Substances Control Act, which was broadened in 2016. When the ban was announced, there were eight U.S. facilities that used asbestos diaphragms in the chlor-alkali sector for the manufacture of chlorine and sodium hydroxide, chemicals commonly used as water disinfectants. The facilities were given at least five years to make the change. Kevin Conway, a personal injury attorney at Cooney & Conway in Chicago, said he's represented dozens of people for decades with mesothelioma, asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer. Reversing a ban on chrysotile, the most commonly used type of asbestos, would be a 'real tragedy,' he said. 'The use of asbestos today would be unconscionable,' he said. 'It would be deadly, and it would be horrific in my opinion.' Mihalik, for his part, hasn't heard much about the EPA reconsidering the ban on chrysotile asbestos. But he said it's a shame when money and profits come above human life, particularly in the mining of asbestos overseas. 'We're still using it, but it's not talked about,' he said. 'The dangers of what it does to a man, a human being. The exposure of it, what it does to the human body.' About a year after Mihalik planned to tell his kids goodbye, his doctors at Loyola informed him they found a match, 'divine intervention' when he was at death's door, he said. Mihalik received the double lung transplant on Dec. 7, 2024. 'It was a very long battle, but we got our hope and then we got our blessing,' said Darla Mihalik, who added that she felt 'shocked' and 'blessed' when she learned the news. Before receiving a transplant, patients receive a litany of tests to make sure they're good candidates, said Liz Schramm, a post lung transplant coordinator at Loyola Medicine. Mihalik, for example, was otherwise in relatively good health and had a strong support system at home, she said. 'Once I met Mike in person, he's very charismatic, a very kind person,' she said. 'He asked questions. He made sure he was doing the right thing. They write everything down, and he's a great advocate.' It's fairly common to have a few bumps along the way, especially within the first year after a transplant. She said patients are essentially exchanging one disease for another, and that a transplant requires 'lifelong care and dedication.' Some patients may wait for a transplant for days and others for years depending on their condition, she added. Now, Mihalik is focused on his recovery. He's had some setbacks with adjusting medications, but said he's enjoying having an easier time walking and moving around. He and his wife even got to go out to eat chili dogs. He also plans to write a letter to his lung donor's family to thank them. 'I'm grateful. The Lord has blessed me,' he said. 'I am grateful to be here today, and I'm grateful for the team at Loyola.'
