mesothelioma

Oklahoma woman claims mesothelioma in asbestos filing
2007-05-14 22:04:00
An Oklahoma woman who suffers from mesothelioma
Oklahoma woman claims mesothelioma in asbestos filing
2007-05-14 22:04:00
An Oklahoma woman who suffers from mesothelioma filed an asbestos suit against 84 defendant corporations in Madison County Circuit Court May 10, alleging she was exposed to airborne asbestos fibers from her father's and husband's clothing.Lisa Rawlings claims her husband, Luke, was employed as a welder at various locations across the country including McCombe, Ill.Her father, Harold Winton, worked as a mechanic."Dust created by working with and around asbestos and asbestos-containing products would permeate the person and clothing of the plaintiff's family members," the complaint states. "This dust contained asbestos fiber."Rawlings claims her father and husband would carry the asbestos dust on their clothing home with him where it would again become airborne. "The plaintiff would be repeatedly exposed to this asbestos dust from her family members' person and clothing," the complaint states.Rawlings was employed as a postal worker and teacher at various locations including Illinois


Minnesota Iron Miners Developed Mesothelioma
2007-04-20 17:37:00
ST. PAUL, MN — April 20, 2007 — Fifty-two workers employed in Minnesota 's iron mining industry have developed mesothelioma since 1998, according to Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) statistics (News Release, March 28, 2007). From 1988 through 2005, the total number of mesothelioma sufferers in the northeastern mining region of the state numbered 136. These figures are twice as high as in other parts of Minnesota, the MDH said, and may be underestimates because prior to 1999, mesothelioma was often coded on state death certificates as another cancer.Mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos. An earlier MDH study found 17 iron workers with mesothelioma; the agency discovered 35 more workers among that group with the disease last month. Mesothelioma does not develop until several decades after initial asbestos exposure, so even more miners could be affected.The study authors suggested that the miners may have been exposed to "commercial asbestos," defined as asbestos


El Centro, Calif. firm pays $9,027 for federal asbestos violations
2007-05-22 23:36:00
A firm based in El Centro , Calif . has agreed to pay $9,027 for demolishing a structure without notifying the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as required by federal Clean Air Act asbestos regulations.CT EL Centro, LLC, owner of a property located at 1523 W. Main Street in El Camino, and its contractor, Action Environmental Enterprises, Inc., failed to notify the EPA of a demolition taking place at said location as required under the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants regulations.“When a building is demolished, asbestos must be properly removed in order to protect the health of the public and immediate community,” said Deborah Jordan, director of the EPA’s Air Division for the Pacific Southwest. “Appropriate regulatory agencies must be notified in advance so they can ensure that the required safeguards are in place.”The EPA has classified asbestos, a known carcinogen, as a hazardous air pollutant. Individuals exposed to asbestos fibers are at risk of


Canada continues to mine and export asbestos, despite rise in related cancers
2007-05-22 19:22:00
Asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis are on the rise in Canada , yet the country continues to mine and export the deadly mineral. Canada is the second largest producer and exporter of asbestos worldwide, producing 200,000 tons of asbestos per year. Most of Canada’s asbestos is exported to third world countries with no regulatory systems in place to ensure the safe use of asbestos. Over 40 countries, including the EU, have banned asbestos.Asbestos mining occurs in Quebec, where the $97 million per year industry employs approximately 800 asbestos miners. Last year, the Canadian government introduced new regulations allowing for asbestos to be used in children’s toys, crayons, dry wall compounds and spray-on insulations.A motion has been introduced into the House of Commons to impose a ban on the mining, production, sale, use and export of asbestos in Canada.To read the full article, go to http://en.epochtimes.com.
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South Africa considers asbestos ban
2007-05-22 11:21:00
South Africa n legislators will likely pass a country-wide asbestos ban in June, according to South Africa ’s deputy director-general of environmental affairs. A ban on asbestos products in the country will have a significant effect on asbestos product manufacturer Turnall Fibre Cement, which is one of Zimbabwe’s largest asbestos producers. South Africa is currently Zimbabwe’s largest market for asbestos, consuming approximately 40 percent of its annual production. Asbestos products in South Africa are used mainly for roofing materials for low-cost housing, car exhaust pipes, and irrigation systems.For the full story, go to allafrica.com.
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Minnesota Iron Miners Developed Mesothelioma
2007-05-21 18:52:00
ST. PAUL, MN — May 21, 2007 — Fifty–two workers employed in Minnesota ’s iron mining industry have developed mesothelioma since 1998, according to Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) statistics (News Release, March 28, 2007). From 1988 through 2005, the total number of mesothelioma sufferers in the northeastern mining region of the state numbered 136. These figures are twice as high as in other parts of Minnesota, the MDH said, and may be underestimates because prior to 1999, mesothelioma was often coded on state death certificates as another cancer.Mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos. An earlier MDH study found 17 iron workers with mesothelioma; the agency discovered 35 more workers among that group with the disease last month. Mesothelioma does not develop until several decades after initial asbestos exposure, so even more miners could be affected.The study authors suggested that the miners may have been exposed to “commercial asbestos,” defined as asbestos u


Moffitt Cancer Center awarded $8.95 million research grant
2007-05-21 09:21:00
Tampa, Florida-based H.Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute has been awarded a research grant for $8.95 million from the National Cancer Institute. The five-year grant will focus on research to disrupt the pathways that help feed cancer cells. The goal of the research is to develop drugs that stop the growth of cancer by preventing tumor cell division and new blood vessels that fuel cancer cell growth. Researchers involved with the project hope it will lead to drugs to treat all types of cancer, including lung cancer.For more information, go to www.moffitt.org.


Organization Honors Asbestos Victims
2007-05-30 19:33:00
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), an organization dedicated to serving as the voice of asbestos victims, today, on International Workers Memorial Day, honors and remembers the 100,000 workers killed due to asbestos-caused diseases. Asbestos is still the number one carcinogen in the world of work and causes 54% of all deaths from occupational cancer. "Given that we are in the 21st century and the hazards of asbestos have been known since the 19th Century, and further revealed in the 20th, it is outrageous that the Congressional tunnel workers were subjected to asbestos exposures over a protracted period of time. Given their exposures and the absence of adequate protection, they have an elevated risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and all the other diseases related to asbestos, on top of the asbestosis that has been diagnosed among of members of this group," said Arthur L. Frank MD, PhD and Co-Scientific Director of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. "As we pay
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Japan’s Environment Ministry reports rate of asbestos-related mesothelioma 14 times higher in Amagasaki than national average
2007-05-29 10:48:00
Japan’s Environment Ministry reported on Monday that residents of Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture who lived there between the 1950s and the 1970s suffered a rate of mesothelioma–a rare cancer caused by asbestos–14 times higher than Japan’s national average. For women who lived around area factories that used asbestos, the rate of mesothelioma was an astounding 69 times the national average. The Environment Ministry conducted the epidemiological survey covering around 180,000 people who lived in Amagasaki between 1955 and 1974–the time period in which area plants released asbestos into the air.For more information, read the full story at www.asahi.com.�
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Company fined for pollution breach
2007-05-28 19:06:00
A WASTE disposal firm has been fined £15,000 for failing to properly treat asbestos waste.Hills Minerals And Waste was fined for a serious breach of its pollution prevention and control permit.The firm was prosecuted at Swindon Magistrates' Court for offences committed in July and August 2005.They took place at its Chapel Farm asbestos-handling site near Blunsdon.On July 29 the Environment Agency conducted a routine site inspection that revealed a breach of the PPC permit.Asbestos material was not being properly covered.Environment Agency officers spoke to the assistant site manager about the breach and were assured that site operators would operate in accordance with the permit.But a second inspection on August 11 revealed two lorries were tipping waste containing asbestos into a storage cell at the same time.One of the site diggers was also seen driving over the deposited pile of asbestos before it had been covered with suitable inert waste.This caused clouds of dust containing asb


Shipyard worker wins £1m mesothelioma damages
2007-05-26 19:29:00
A former Tyneside shipyard worker has won almost £1m damages after developing a fatal asbestos-related lung cancer.Grandfather Raymond Shanks sued Newcastle-based Swan Hunter, where he worked as an electrician for four years from 1965.The 59-year-old was diagnosed with mesothelioma two years ago and is only likely to live until early 2009. He was awarded £948,565 at the High Court on Thursday for pain, suffering, loss of earnings and other expenses.Mr Shanks, of Grindon Close, West Monkseaton, North Tyneside, was diagnosed two years after his son, Michael, died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 28. Before Michael died, Mr Shanks promised him that he would support his two children, now aged nine and seven.Giving his ruling on the amount of the claim, disputed by the company, Judge Hickinbottom said he was in close proximity to insulation fitters and others working with asbestos at the Wallsend yard. This was his only exposure to asbestos during his working life.He emigrated to
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Asbestos found in 21 buildings on campus of California State University, Northbridge
2007-05-26 17:32:00
Twenty-one buildings on the campus of California State University , Northbridge (CSUN) contain asbestos, according to a May 21, 2007 article appearing in the campus paper. The affected buildings contain asbestos-containing floor tile and thermal pipe insulation. The Environmental Health and Safety Department has notified the affected areas but has no plan to remove the asbestos from the buildings. Asbestos is related to diseases such as mesothelioma, which can develop many years after exposure to asbestos.For the full article, go to http://sundial.csun.com


Health and consumer watchdog groups voice concerns about proposed asbestos advisory board panelists
2007-05-25 23:31:00
Health and consumer watchdog groups have raised concerns about potential panelists for a federal asbestos advisory board because of their financial ties to companies that have mined and manufactured asbestos-containing products, according to a May 23, 2007 article published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The asbestos advisory board, which will operate under the auspices of the Environmental Protection Agency, will have the task of drafting a risk assessment for asbestos fibers to define exposure safety. The assessment would in turn be used as a guide in the cleanup of asbestos-contaminated sites. Asbestos has been linked to the cancer mesothelioma and other diseases.The 65 people named to the “short list” of possible board panelists include scientists who own or work for consulting firms hired by companies that have manufactured asbestos products and related trade associations, with the goal to influence policy. Some potential panelists have worked for W.R. Grace & Co., wh
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Sioux City, Iowa receives settlement in asbestos debris case
2007-05-24 13:30:00
Sioux City, Iowa has received a $7,500 settlement from Wisconsin-based Old Republic Surety Company for asbestos-containing rubble resulting from the demolition of part of the Livestock Exchange Building. The pile of asbestos debris was discovered in 2004 when the rest of the building was demolished. The pile has been covered and fenced since 2004, and the city is awaiting EPA approval for a cleanup plan, which is estimated to cost $500,000. The company responsible for the debris is out of business with no assets to pursue; the settlement was paid with bond monies the company was required to carry to insure the work.For the full story, go to www.siouxcityjournal.com.


Elgin, Illinois Office Building workers temporarily displaced for asbestos removal
2007-06-01 11:19:00
Employees of the 25 tenants occupying office space in a downtown Elgin building were displaced over a recent weekend to remove asbestos and ensure the air quality was safe. The Tower Building , a 15-story structure that is over 90 years old, contained water lines insulated with asbestos. New city water lines being installed nearby required that the building’s drinking and sprinkler water supplies be separated, necessitating the asbestos removal work. The building was closed for a weekend in mid-May to test the air to ensure the safety of the building’s occupants. Asbestos has been linked to mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen, and heart, as well as other diseases.For the full story, go to www.dailyherald.com.
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Greensburg tornado victims and clean-up workers likely being exposed to asbestos
2007-05-31 10:37:00
People sifting through the rubble of the nearly 1,000 homes destroyed by the May 4th tornado that ravaged the town of Greensburg, Kansas are likely being exposed to asbestos, according to an article published by the Kansas City Star. According to a local asbestos abatement expert, many of the destroyed homes were built before 1980 and therefore are likely to contain asbestos, when the toxic fiber was common in construction materials.Asbestos can cause illnesses such as mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen.The Environmental Protection Agency is powerless to monitor the situation under federal and state law, however. The EPA took air samples in eight locations around Greensburg, all of which came back negative for asbestos. If they had tested positive for asbestos, the EPA would legally be able to take further action to protect residents and workers. But without positive samples, the EPA does not have legal authority to require homeowners whose homes we


Pemetrexed combined with cisplatin or carboplatin shows promise as a treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma
2007-06-08 22:45:00
The results of a recent medical study confirmed results from earlier studies demonstrating that the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed combined with either cisplatin or carboplatin showed promise as a treatment for previously untreated, inoperable pleural mesothelioma. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a form of cancer associated with exposure to asbestos.The study, which was reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting being held in Chicago, was derived from data on 1,704 mesothelioma patients who were among the more than 3,000 patients worldwide who received pemetrexed alone or in combination with a platinum agent such as cisplatin or carboplatin. Pemetrexed is known by the brand name Alimta in the U.S. and other countries.For the full story, go to www.medpagetoday.com


Philippine Navy Veterans With Cancer
2007-06-07 11:40:00
Tens of thousands of Philippine veterans who served with the US Navy were exposed to Asbestos, it was announced today, by Veteran Helping Veteran, President, Ken Smith.We think that veterans from the Philippines were exposed to asbestos and have the same rates of mesothelioma as other veterans in the US Navy, said Smith. We have set up a new web site Http://www.mesothliome.ph and request that any former navy veteran, or family member of a veteran who has been diagnosed with this cancer, contact us so we can begin to help.Veteran Helping Veteran was established to help veterans who were exposed to toxic substances while in the serive and we want to ensure that the veterans of the Philippines are not left behind. They served with pride and honor, and like thier American counterparts, were exposed to asbestos.Mesothelioma is a cancer that is caused by exposure to Asbestos. We are requesting that veterans and family members of veterans contact us immediately to gain some help and support
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New fund for asbestos victims
2007-06-06 11:38:00
Relatives of those who suffer from asbestos-related diseases will find it easier to claim government compensation in the North under legislation being considered today.The Welfare Reform Bill will allow dependants to claim from a special fund administered by the Department for Social Development and relax the criteria for claiming.Hundreds of workers have already died after contracting crippling lung diseases, leaving family struggling to cope.Chairman of the Justice for Asbestos Victims lobby group, Brian Lee, said it was a welcome step."Hopefully people and their families will benefit from this. They don't have a good quality of life at present so this money that they get will be a help," he said."This will help people to get a car or some form of transport and will make life a lot easier."The aid includes those who worked in the housing industry but are unable to claim against a former employer.Onset of the disease can be delayed by up to 40 years. By that time many employers are g


U.S. Government asks appellate court to overturn rulings in criminal case against W.R. Grace over asbestos contamination
2007-06-05 11:31:00
Attorneys for the U.S. Government asked a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals yesterday to overturn rulings that hurt the government’s criminal case against W.R. Grace and some of its executives for exposing residents of Libby, Montana and others to asbestos from its vermiculite mine. Residents of Libby and others have developed asbestos-related mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases from exposure to W.R. Grace vermiculite, which is contaminated with asbestos. W.R. Grace and some of its executives are charged with criminal conspiracy and knowing endangerment among other counts, which together could result in sentences of 15 years or longer.U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy ruled last year that the government could not submit certain evidence, including data from Grace’s own testing of vermiculite products; an EPA asbestos sampling at Libby; and the results of a peer-reviewed government study of residents in and around Libby. The judge had also dismissed cha


Aboriginal community faces high rates of mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases
2007-06-04 11:29:00
The Aboriginal community of Baryulgil, which lies along the northwest coast of Australia, faces an epidemic of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, according to an article appearing in The Australian on June 5th. According to a report commissioned by Hardie, which ran the asbestos mining operations in the region where much of the local residents once worked, more than ten percent of residents in the area will contract asbestos-related diseases in the future, in addition to the ten percent who have already contracted asbestos cancer and other diseases. Advocates for the residents believe the numbers affected by asbestos disease will prove to be much higher.Hardie, which operated the asbestos mine from 1942 to 1979, was cited by the federal parliament in the 1984 for exposing mine workers to unlawful levels of asbestos. The entire community was also exposed through tailings deposited by the mining company on local roads, the school playground, and at other locations. More re


SoCal Jury Orders N.J. Firm to Pay $5.2 Million in Asbestos Case
2007-06-03 11:37:00
A Los Angeles jury has ordered a New Jersey engineering and construction firm to pay $5.2 million in an asbestos exposure case, determining the company acted with malice.The verdict in Los Angeles County Superior Court ordered Foster Wheeler Corp. to pay the survivors of Richard Walmach, a career naval machinist who died in 2006 after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer related to asbestos exposure.Walmach died after filing the suit, which claimed the company failed to disclose asbestos risks. The company is a longtime supplier of boilers, steam generators and other power equipment to the U.S. Navy.The firm has faced 20 other asbestos-related suits and been found liable for $100 million in general damages, but this was the first time it was ordered to pay punitive damages, said lead plaintiff's attorney Sean P. Tracey.Of the $5.2 million total award, $2 million was for punitive damages. An attorney for Foster Wheeler said a motion was pending before the judge challenging juris
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Orange County high school teachers ask school board for new procedures to ensure protection from asbestos during school building renovations
2007-06-11 10:29:00
Teachers at Troy High School asked school board members this week to help ensure teacher and student safety during renovation on the high school building that includes asbestos and lead-based paint removal, according to an article appearing June 7 in the LA Times.The teachers are concerned about what they believe was sloppy asbestos removal that took place without notifying parents or teachers. A teacher at the school recently found a bundle of plastic-wrapped bags labeled “danger” and “asbestos” near equipment that circulates air in the building. Asbestos has been linked to the cancer mesothelioma and other diseases.For the full story, go to www.latimes.com
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Minnesota health commissioner apologizes for delay in releasing mesothelioma data during four-hour public hearing
2007-06-28 11:01:00
Minnesota's health commissioner apologized during a four-hour public hearing held Tuesday about her department's one-year delay in releasing to the public data about additional mesothelioma cases among Iron Range miners. Some lawmakers questioned whether Minnesota's governor was also involved in the decision to withhold information about the additional mesothelioma cases from the public. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer linked to asbestos exposure. To date, 58 mesothelioma cases have been identified among Iron Range miners, six of which were reported in the past week.The controversy regarding the delayed release of mesothelioma data involved 35 cases that were identified by the health department in March 2006 but not released to the public until March 2007. The health commissioner said that the department delayed the release of the information while waiting for federal funding for research into whether taconite dust from the mines may be a cause. A University of Minnesota environme
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Alimta®/Platinum-compound Combination Confirmed Active in Mesothelioma
2007-06-27 11:06:00
According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the chemotherapy combination consisting of Alimta® (pemetrexed) plus a platinum compound (Platinol® [cisplatin] or Paraplatin® [carboplatin]) has been confirmed as an active therapeutic regimen in the treatment of patients with previously untreated malignant pleural mesothelioma.Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer that develops in the tissue that covers the lungs and lines the interior of the chest. It is often caused by chronic exposure to asbestos. The majority of patients are not diagnosed until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage; treatment with surgery or radiation is not an option at this stage. Patients with this disease often experience symptoms, such as shortness of breath, cough, pain, fatigue, and an inability to eat, which lessen their quality of life.Mesothelioma is fairly resistant to most therapies, including surgery, chemotherapy, a
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Ex-EPA head responds to criticism that the EPA mishandled information about asbestos and other toxins at Ground Zero
2007-06-26 11:00:00
Christie Todd Whitman, former chief of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), testified in response to critics' statements that the EPA misled the public about the levels of asbestos and other toxic substances at the World Trade Center site in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Asbestos can cause mesothelioma and other diseases. Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York released a study in 2006 reporting that 70 percent of rescue workers at Ground Zero suffer respiratory ailments.In a hearing before the U.S. House Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee, Whitman defended statements and press releases issued days after the attacks stating that asbestos levels are "unlikely to cause significant health effects" and "cause us no concern" She also defended her decision not to fight the White House for removing a recommendation from an EPA press release that professionals be hired to clean buildings in the area before they were re-occupied.Members of the
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Government report addresses risk of asbestos exposure post-Katrina
2007-06-25 10:58:00
The demolition of homes and other buildings damaged by Hurricane Katrina may pose a public health risk by exposing people to asbestos dust, according to a recent report by the U.S. Government and Accountability Office (GAO). Asbestos has been linked to mesothelioma cancer and other diseases.The report, which addresses the work of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in evaluating and controlling public health risks post-Katrina, notes the EPA is not monitoring the air in New Orleans neighborhoods where building demolition and renovation activities are ongoing, including the Ninth Ward. Air monitors would help determine whether asbestos fibers are being released into the air from demolition projects.For the full story, go to www.canadianunderwriter.ca.


Six more cases of asbestos-related cancer identified in group of former mine workers;
2007-06-23 11:05:00
As part of its preparation for a proposed study of mesothelioma in Minnesota mine workers, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has identified six additional cases of mesothelioma in a group of 72,000 people who worked in the state's iron mining industry between the 1930s and 1982.Discovery of the six new cases brings the total number diagnosed in the workers to 58. MDH officials learned about the new cases as they reviewed information about the workers and data from the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System (MCSS).Mesothelioma is a rare, fatal form of cancer seen almost exclusively in people who have been exposed to asbestos. MDH officials say it's not surprising to see additional reports of the illness among the miners, since it can take as long as 40 or 50 years to develop mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos. They expect to find additional cases as they complete work on designing the proposed study, and prepare to seek grant funding for the project.MDH conducted an ea
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Government Accountability Office reports that EPA misled the public about asbestos levels following 9/11
2007-06-22 10:58:00
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report stating that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) misled the public about asbestos levels in Lower Manhattan apartment buildings after 9/11. Asbestos can cause mesothelioma-a rare cancer-and other diseases. The EPA arranged for the professional cleanup of over 4,000 apartments during the two years following the attacks of 9/11. The agency reported that very few units had unsafe levels of asbestos; however, it failed to reveal that the air testing on the units was conducted after-not before-they were cleaned. The GAO report was released Wednesday during hearings conducted by the Senate Health Committee.For the full story, go so www.wnyc.org


Lawmakers, union leaders call for resignation of Minnesota Health Commissioner for year-long delay of mesothelioma data
2007-06-21 10:56:00
Union leaders and legislators representing Minnesota 's Iron Range called for the resignation of the Minnesota Health Commissioner Wednesday, after learning that she had delayed-for at least a year-informing the public about the discovery of 35 more cases of mesothelioma among Iron Range mine workers. The Health Department had discovered in March 2006 another 35 cases of mesothelioma-double the number previously identified-among Iron Range miners. However, news of the 35 cases did not come to light until March 2007. The agency also reported another six mesothelioma cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of affected miners to 58. The Minnesota governor defended the commissioner, and his communications director said the commissioner should not be terminated for making a mistake.For the full story, go to www.twincities.com