Petition Tag - exposure

Tell Congress: Totally Ban Asbestos in Industrial Materials, Consumer Products and Toys

Americans have zero tolerance for asbestos!

Scientists agree: Asbestos causes cancer and other deadly diseases, thousands of Americans die each year from asbestos-related diseases, and there’s no known safe level of exposure to any form of asbestos. Yet even with millions of dollars spent in asbestos litigation and medical expenses, asbestos is still legal in the US and still found in many common consumer products – even children’s toys.

The US EPA attempted to ban asbestos-containing products in 1989, but that ban was overturned on legal technicalities in court two years later.

In 2007, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization commissioned independent, certified laboratory testing that found asbestos in common household products, such as spackle, window glazing, and duct tape, and even in best-selling children’s toys, such as the popular "CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit." Research by others had already found asbestos in some children's play clays.

Congress is expected to hold hearings soon on whether to implement a total ban on asbestos-containing products. Right now, industry lobbyists are pressuring Congress to institutionalize the allowance of up to 1 percent of asbestos in our industrial materials, consumer products, toys, and other products on American store shelves. We say, "No!" It’s time for a total ban on asbestos in American products.

As organizations and individuals representing and advocating for those most impacted by the toxic effects of asbestos, we urge Congress to institute an effective and verifiable ban on asbestos.

We, the undersign, join Paul Brodeur, Bill Ravanesi, Linda Reinstein, Doug Larkin, Jordan Zevon, Jill Vaughan, Dr. Richard A. Lemen, Dr. Arthur L. Frank, Dr. Michael R. Harbut, Barry Castleman, Michael Horwin, Paul and Michelle Zygielbaum, John Thayer, TC McNamara and Laurie Kazan – Allen as cosignatories urging Congress to totally ban asbestos.

Paul Brodeur, Retired Staff Writer for The New Yorker and Author of Four Books on the Asbestos Health Hazard

Bill Ravanesi, "Breath Taken" Photojournalist and Author

Linda Reinstein, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Executive Director, Cofounder and Mesothelioma Widow

Doug Larkin, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
Communications Director and Cofounder

Jordan Zevon, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
National Spokesperson

Jill Vaughan, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
ACOR Liaison

Arthur L. Frank, MD, PhD Chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Drexel University School of Public Health, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Science Advisory Board Co-Chair

Richard Lemen, PhD, MSPH Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS (Ret.), Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Science Advisory Board Co-Chair

Michael R. Harbut, MD, MPH, FCCP

Barry Castleman, Environmental Consultant

Michael Horwin, Cancer Monthly

Paul and Michelle Zygielbaum

John Thayer, Former U.S. Capital Tunnel Worker Supervisor

TC McNamara, The John McNamara Foundation

Laurie Kazan - Allen, International Ban Asbestos Secretariat

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The scientific evidence of the dangers of pesticides to our health and our environment is undeniable. We know that children are particularly vulnerable to pesticide exposure.

The Ontario College of Family Physicians’ Report on pesticides (2004) identifies a link between exposure to pesticides and neurological problems and cardiovascular deficiency among children.

Children from homes where pesticides have been used have 4 times the risk of developing soft tissue cancer (American Journal of Public Health) and 6 to 7 times the risk of developing leukemia (Journal of the National Cancer Institute).

There are over 125 Canadian municipalities which have adopted a bylaw that reduces or bans the use of pesticides. Municipalities in New Brunswick should be able to do the same in a clear legislative context.

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Mercury Exposure provides consumer information about exposure to the toxin mercury in dentistry, medicine, products and the environment.

Mercury is a known neurotoxin that is not addressed in medicine, dentistry and health insurance. The lack of medical and dental education, diagnostics, treatment and documentation does not support consumer health issues.

Mercury is regarded an environmental problem, whilst medical, dental and household use of mercury is allowed to continue with exemptions.

Medical records have not itemized all exposures to mercury, from dental amalgams placed, vaccines given and other sources of mercury. The amount of mercury received and the onset of chronic conditions is statistically challenged.

Those at a greater risk of mercury exposure are the same groups being targeted with mercury containing vaccines.

The advances in diagnostics and treatment of mercury exposure need to be embraced by general medical education, practitioners and medical specialists.

The industrial and medicinal use of mercury goes well beyond acute occupational exposures, chronic mercury exposure and the increase of chronic disease requires statistical performance science documentation of patient exposure from continued use of small and large quantities of mercury in medicine, vaccines and dentistry.

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The American Computer Scientists Association has discovered that ALL Tobacco grown in cheap "Calcium Phosphate Based Fertilizers" (CPFs), which were adopted for Tobacco fertilization in use since the late-1940's, contain sufficient radioactive Polonium 210 isotope in them to be the agent responsible for the nearly 100% tumor (benign and malignant) rate found among almost all smokers, leading to the vast majority of Smoking-related Lung Cancer that occurs in later life. The rise of Smoker's Lung Cancer in the 50's, 60's and after mirrors the usage of CPFs by the Tobacco Farmers.

A glitch in the human bio-physiology allows Nicotine in Cigarettes to promote these cancers by blocking "apoptosis" and "apopto-genesis": that normally removes damaged tissue, replacing it, but in the Lungs of Cigarette Smokers and Passive Smoke victims it is inhibited by Nicotine. Over 1.5 million people die every year of cigarette smoking related Lung Cancer globally, 150,000 IN AMERICA ALONE. Lung Cancer is a slow, painfully traumatic disease that results in death.

To HALT the progression of Lung Cancer from smoking, the Tobacco Farmers and Tobacco Industry must REPLACE CPFs and use only Safe Fertilizers in growing Tobacco, and CLEAN up the polluted lands of the Growers...

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The American Computer Scientists Association has discovered that ALL Tobacco grown in cheap "Calcium Phosphate Based Fertilizers" (CPFs), which were adopted for Tobacco fertilization in use since the late-1940's, contain sufficient radioactive Polonium 210 isotope in them to be the agent responsible for the nearly 100% tumor (benign and malignant) rate found among almost all smokers, leading to the vast majority of Smoking-related Lung Cancer that occurs in later life. The rise of Smoker's Lung Cancer in the 50's, 60's and after mirrors the usage of CPFs by the Tobacco Farmers.

A glitch in the human bio-physiology allows Nicotine in Cigarettes to promote these cancers by blocking "apoptosis" and "apopto-genesis": that normally removes damaged tissue, replacing it, but in the Lungs of Cigarette Smokers and Passive Smoke victims it is inhibited by Nicotine. Over 1.5 million people die every year of cigarette smoking related Lung Cancer globally, 150,000 IN AMERICA ALONE. Lung Cancer is a slow, painfully traumatic disease that results in death.

To HALT the progression of Lung Cancer from smoking, the Tobacco Farmers and Tobacco Industry must REPLACE CPFs and use only Safe Fertilizers in growing Tobacco, and CLEAN up the polluted lands of the Growers...

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