ABOUT

Smart discussion of the latest science and news on toxins in your food, water, and air, and what government agencies should be doing to protect public health. Enviroblog is a project of EWG Action Fund.

Read about our authors.


FEED

 Subscribe in a Reader

Subscribe by Email


Mixed Greens
An EWG podcast for environmental health news on the go.


TWITTER UPDATES

    TIPS

    Did we miss something? Email Enviroblg.


    BLOGROLL


    STAY CONNECTED

    Get our monthly eNewsletter, action alerts, & environmental tips. [Privacy policy, About EWG]


    Consumers to FDA: Be there or be square

    Relax, it's baby safety month

    Toxic cosmetics in teenage girls


    FEATURED

    Elected officials MIA; Instead Wal-Mart and Burger King protecting your health

    Back to school: Are we ready? Are we non-toxic?

    Fire retardants: Disproportionate risk to small children

    Lead: Celebrate its ban, but don't cross it off your list

    Cheatsheet: Bisphenol A

    7 ways to reduce your exposure to PBDEs



    Ask EWG

    What can I do about fluoride in my water?

    What is new carpet treated with? What can I do?

    What is "fragrance"?

    Which infant formula is best?

    Are stainless steel water bottles safe?

    Is mineral-based makeup safer?


    SEARCH


    ARCHIVE

    « International body to punish polluters? | Main | Senior ex-official speaks on FDA's failure to get benzene out of soft drinks »

    OSHA tries to put the brakes on asbestos precautions

    By Matthew

    November 21, 2006

    asbestos_brakes_paustenbach.jpgOSHA scientist Ira Wainless is facing unpaid suspension for standing by his assertion that mechanics should be warned of possible asbestos exposure from brake pads. Most people, including mechanics, assume that the import of asbestos-containing products has been banned in the U.S. as it has in most other countries. Think again. The Baltimore Sun reports an 83% increase in asbestos-laden imported brakes in the last decade. On top of that it appears that the Big Three automakers are behind the arm-twisting and intimidation of Wainless with lobbying muscle from none other than regulatory-hurdle-smashing consulting firm, Chemrisk—brainchild of Dennis Paustenbach. (You may remember Paustenbach from the Wall Street Journal article exposing his role in ghost writing a bogus study on the chromium toxicity.)

    A special thanks to Baltimore Sun reporter, Andrew Schneider, for investigating this—and to our friends at Effect Measure for bring it to my attention. I highly recommend clicking through to their posts.

    « International body to punish polluters? |