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03 Mar 2007
Sue Vento, the widow of a congressman who died of mesothelioma, impelled Congress to pass a bill to ban asbestos. Mr. Bruce Vento was a Democratic congressman from Minnesota who passed away due to the asbestos-related cancer in 2000.
Sue Vento said to a Senate panel on Thursday regarding the fight conducted by her late husband against malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer mainly caused due to the exposure to asbestos and inhaling the asbestos fibers.
While speaking to the Senate Health Committee's employment and workplace safety subcommittee, Vento said that their bill would bring hope to all those lives that were touched by the mortal disease. "It will prohibit the use of asbestos and will correct the mistaken belief held by so many that asbestos was banned decades ago," she added.
Although majority of automakers in USA has stopped using asbestos in brakes in the 1990’s, still there are some imported brakes which use the malignant material. Sen. Patty Murray showed some brake pads purchased by her the last week which contain asbestos.
"How many more Americans have to die before our government finally does the right thing and bans asbestos? We have to do the right thing, and we have to do it now," She said.
She pointed out that more than 40 countries have already banned asbestos.
A federal appeals court had overturned a 1989 EPA rule banning most of the asbestos-containing products in 1991.
Asbestos, a malignant fibrous material, had been used until 1970’s in insulation and fireproofing material. After it’s been proved that the inhalation of these tiny particles can cause dangerous diseases, it’s usage was banned in many places. The diseases often take so many years to develop. Generally, the patient dies within 12 months once diagnosed with mesothelioma.
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