Posted on February 1, 2022

Change.org, the world’s leading petition platform, is currently home to one of the largest public health petitions addressed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with 143,441 signatures and counting, each signer represents another person standing with ADAO in the fight against asbestos. 

Christine Winter was the first person to sign the petition nearly five years ago. From her heart, she wrote, “Asbestos takes no prisoners, deadly to human kind… how many more families must be shattered.” As the ADAO Science Advisory Board Co-Chair until her passing, Christine knew the deep heartache and devastation asbestos caused patients, families, friends, and communities. 

ADAO started the petition to raise awareness and ignite community support prior to meeting with Congress. We decided to print the names from the petition and brought them with us as we met with legislators to show them just how many lives across the U.S. have been impacted by legacy asbestos, and the continued import and use of asbestos. With every printed sheet filled with names, it became apparent to all, in a very tangible way, just how many lives have been impacted by asbestos exposure and its related diseases. 

Families like mine have fought for decades to get EPA to ban the imports and use of asbestos, but instead, administration after administration has allowed imports and use to continue. Asbestos kills over 40,000 people in the U.S. every year, but the last time EPA tried to ban asbestos was more than 30 years ago. For three decades, the Agency has knowingly allowed the poisoning of Americans. 

Today, ADAO continues looking for new ways to increase the visibility and impact of the Change.org petition. The organization includes a link to the petition in every eNewsletter and will certainly include the petition’s success when the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) bill is brought forward.   

“My mom passed away from mesothelioma which is linked to asbestos exposure,” wrote Allison Megroet when she signed the petition. “I work in a lab so I know EPA allows materials containing asbestos in amounts less than 1 percent to go without remediation. It is in cosmetics, building materials, and is [still] used today despite our knowledge. It’s time to put lives before profit.”

Our ADAO community and Change.org both recognize that storytelling is an essential component to awareness and real change. As a platform that is dedicated to transforming stories and signatures into action, Change.org has given many the opportunity to be heard and take action. We cannot wait any longer for more people to be affected and killed by asbestos. 

“Asbestos has been a known killer for as long as I can remember and when [I] was younger 30 + years ago,” wrote petition signer Nicole. “It was so important that homes, workplaces and all schools were checked. I remember seeing some being torn down because of it. The fact that this is still something that needs to be fought against is appalling. It’s already taken so many lives.”

We are grateful to those who have signed already, and invite all join us and show your support by signing, sharing, and making a contribution to the petition. We look forward to banning asbestos and celebrating the success of this petition. .

Together, we make change happen.

Linda Reinstein