Most asbestos today is used in cement pipes, automotive brakes, roof coatings and gaskets. In those forms he said dangerous asbestos fibers are “encapsulated” and unlikely to escape.

"We think (asbestos) can be used safely with proper controls and work practices."

Jim Morris

- Houston Texas

We have known for many years that asbestos can be safely and secure bound in today's product, as long as carefully controlled manufacturing and lnstallation process are employed," Mr. Pigg said.

- New York Times

United States administration had lost the legal battle against the asbestos industry. The ruling must also be seen as a step towards reducing the cost to American industry of complying with strict environmental protection standards.

- El Sol, Spain

"the American decision confirms that controlled use, not total product bans, is appropriate to regulation of asbestos.

- The Statesman, India

Although asbestos is dangerous, products containing asbestos are not because the mineral is encapsulated within them.

- Levenement immobilier, Belgium

Various specialists have indicated that with a minimum of precautions, prefabricated asbestos cement sheeting and joints containing asbestos present no immediate danger.

- The Daily Die Zeit - Germany

Michel Gratton pointed out that technically and economically, it is impossible to completely replace asbestos by another fibre, and even if a replacement material were discovered, there is no proof that it would not be a health hazard.; Mr. Gratton indicated that rather than seeking substitutes, it would be better to impose adequate controls on the use not only of asbestos but of other fibres as well.;

- Kagaku Kogyo Nippo, Japan

On the issue of substitutes, the EPA was faulted for failing to evaluate the health effects of asbestos replacements, even though some of the probable substitutes are themselves cancer-causing.
"Considering that many of the substances that the EPA itself concedes will be used in the place of asbestos have known carcinogenic effects, the EPA not only cannot assure this court that it has taken the least burdensome alternative but cannot even prove that its regulation will increase workplace safety," the judges wrote.

By Michael Walsekopf

- The Washington Post

"While we do not sit as a regulatory agency that must make the difficult decision as to what an appropriate expenditure is to prevent someone from incurring the risk of an asbestos-related death, we do note that the EPA, in its zeal to ban any & all asbestos products, basically ignored the cost side of the TSCA equation," the decision said. "The EPA would have this court believe that Congress, when it enacted its requirement that the EPA consider the economic impacts of its regulations, thought that spending $200-300 million to save approximately seven lives (approximately $30-40 million per life) over 13 years is reasonable.
"What we cannot ignore is that EPA failed to study the effect of non-asbestos brakes on automotive safety, despite credit evidence that non-asbestos brakes could increase significantly the number of highway utilities, and that the EPA failed to evaluate the toxicity of like brake substitutes," the opinion said.

Mark Schleifstein

Michael Gratton, head of the industry and government funded Asbestos Institute, called the reversal of the EPA Ruling," a striking milestone" in the fight to have asbestos treated as regulated, rather than banned, substance.

Francois Shalom

- The Gazette Wednesday

Ms. Hoskin said that one problem with the whole asbestos issue is that the products developed to replace it such as Glass fiber or glass wool could also be a health hazard.

Ann Gibbon

- The Globe and Mail, Tuesday

Criticized the EPA for failing to take into account the health risks posed by substitutes and the high costs of prohibiting the deadly mineral.
The EPA also was faulted for failing to evaluate the health effects of possible asbestos replacements, some of which are themselves cancer-causing.

- WI Daily, Milwaukee

But, as with all dangerous substances, the issue is one of proper and careful use of the product. Improperly handled, as asbestos so tragically was for decades, it resulted in the premature deaths of many workers who were exposed to it. Properly handled, it is a safe, cheap and useful substance for things such as reinforcing concrete.

- The Globe and Mail