Biden administration bans ongoing uses of asbestos | KLRT [Video]

(The Hill) – The Biden administration will ban or phase out ongoing uses of asbestos, the agency said Monday. 

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule that set deadlines for industry to transition away from using the substance, which causes lung cancer.

Historically, asbestos was used in roofing and cement — and may still be found in old buildings. 

Once its health effects became known, the use of asbestos declined, but it is still used to disinfect drinking water and wastewater as well as in vehicle brakes, mechanical seals, and oil and gas drilling.

These industries, however, will have to transition away from the substance — though an EPA press release said they will have a “a reasonable transition period” as required by law. 

 The ban applies to chrysotile asbestos, which is the only known type of asbestos used in the U.S.

“The science is clear — asbestos is a known carcinogen that has severe impacts on public …