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Gemstones sold at new-age stores in Australia have been recalled due to the inclusion of asbestos. A green-black gemstone, serpentine, that some believe can “detox the body and alleviate diabetes,” has been recalled due to it containing asbestos. The gemstones were sold at stores in Australia, but serpentine is also found naturally occurring in the United States. Serpentine is prolifically found in California and is the official state mineral. In 1965 serpentine replaced gold as the state mineral since it was viewed as an economically important mineral because it is a known source of asbestos. Serpentine is green, blue, and […]

Stephan Schmidheiny, a Swiss billionaire, was sentenced to 12 years in jail for aggravated manslaughter after his company exposed hundreds of people to asbestos. Schmidheiny was a main shareholder in the cement production company Eternit Italia. He was found guilty of causing the deaths of 392 people in Casale Monferrato, the town that housed six Eternit Italia factories until 1986. 60 of the victims were factory workers; the rest of the victims were living in the town or surrounding area. Eternit’s factories used asbestos to strengthen cement during the 1970s and 1980s. In addition, judges ordered him to pay about […]

The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) has the potential to protect Americans from asbestos in beauty products. The law will increase the reach of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate cosmetics. Those in favor of MoCRA hope that it will make cosmetic products safer for American consumers. The law establishes new compliance requirements while expanding the authority of the FDA. Talc is a common ingredient in many cosmetic products. Since talc often occurs naturally where asbestos does also, products made with talc also are infested with asbestos. MoCRA will also allow the FDA to be able […]

President Biden’s administration is working with Congress to finally ban asbestos. However, they may face pushback in the form of “legal questions, political fights, funding shortfalls and other bureaucratic delays.” Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act in 2016, but the EPA has yet ban the toxic substance. Asbestos was one of the driving forces of the 2016 act, with decades of scientific research confirming its deadly nature. Asbestos fibers can stick to skin and clothing and be inhaled or ingested causing mesothelioma to those originally exposed and their families. Chrysotile asbestos, which the EPA proposal would ban, is currently […]