from Hacker News

Trump's EPA Won’t Evaluate Asbestos Already in Homes

by jaffee on 6/8/18, 6:05 PM with 10 comments

  • by ams6110 on 6/9/18, 12:16 AM

    It is correct that asbestos that is encapsulated and not releasing anything into the atmosphere is perfectly safe. It's not like it's radioactive. The problem is when you do any kind of renovations and break up and release the asbestos particles. Unfortunately, asbestos removal does exactly that. If it's not done properly it turns a safe situation into a health risk. And proper removal is expensive. A low-cost bid for asbestos removal is more than likely going to leave you with a bigger mess than you had to start with.

  • by bcheung on 6/9/18, 12:38 AM

    Isn't it the job of property inspectors to make those kinds of determinations?

    Why would the EPA be evaluating existing individual homes? Isn't the EPA supposed to be responsible for more general and global environmental concerns?

    Asbestos hasn't been used in new homes for quite some time. Everyone already knows the risks and how special care is needed for removal and renovations. What's to research? Seems like the status quo of don't do it going forward and be careful with older properties is fine.

    None of that is going away. Seems like this is being blown out of proportion. What new danger is going to happen because of this?

    They aren't relaxing the existing ban on asbestos in new homes.

  • by userbinator on 6/9/18, 12:33 AM

    Not that I'm pro-Trump, but asbestos is indeed quite benign if not freely inhalable; and the most carcinogenic type, blue asbestos (crocidolite) has been banned in new products for many decades (that is unlikely to change.) The only type in active use is chrysotile (white asbestos), and there is evidence to suggest that low exposures to it are not so harmful:

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3581056/

    Inhaling fibres of anything is not healthy, but some are more harmful than others. In fact one could say the tobacco industry has done far more harm to people than asbestos.

  • by diogenescynic on 6/9/18, 12:21 AM

    All to the benefit of Russia. Isn’t it curious that so many of Trump’s actions benefit Russia and China?

  • by enraged_camel on 6/9/18, 12:10 AM

    Trump is a danger to America.

    What is incredible is how transparent his motivations are. As a real-estate mogul, he no doubt stands to gain quite a lot from an official policy of looking the other way with regards to asbestos.