Mesothelioma Resource Center Blog Feed

Missouri Asbestos Settlement Sets State Record

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The family of a deceased Jackson County Courthouse employee recently settled the woman's Missouri asbestos lawsuit for $10 million, the largest asbestos settlement in the state's history.

Nancy Lopez filed the asbestos lawsuit against the U.S. Engineering Co. for failing to take proper precautions to protect courthouse worker while handling asbestos, writes the Associated Press. For 27 years, Lopez had worked at the courthouse in Kansas City. Her complaint claimed she developed mesothelioma cancer from her asbestos exposure at the courthouse.

Lopez died from the disease in October 2010. The asbestos lawsuit settlement was awarded to her family late last month.

If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos and later diagnosed with mesothelioma, call an asbestos attorney at Sokolove Law today for a free consultation.

Erionite May Pose Dangers Similar to Asbestos

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently issued a warning regarding the mineral erionite.

The NIOSH warning says that erionite, which occurs in many parts of the Western United States, can produce airborne fibers similar to the asbestos fibers that can trigger mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. Erionite is found in gravel pits and in the gravel that is used to surface roads. It can become airborne once it is disturbed.

A 2011 study was conducted on individuals who may have had high erionite exposures in North Dakota. Two road maintenance workers who were part of the study were found to have experienced adverse health affects from exposure to the mineral.

“Erionite-related disease has most often been reported in road construction and maintenance workers with potential occupational exposures to erionite-containing gravel used in road surfacing,” according to the NIOSH report. NIOSH is a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Currently there are no preventative measures or occupational exposure limits for erionite in the U.S., although the mineral is being evaluated for exposure risks.

If you were exposed to erionite or to asbestos and fall ill due to your exposure, you may be entitled to compensation. Call Sokolove Law today for a free legal consultation.

Phase III Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

(Part Three of our series on Mesothelioma Clinical Trials)

Drug treatments that have been proven relatively safe in phase I and that have been shown to work against mesothelioma in phase II studies can advance through the third stage of testing. Phase III clinical trials for mesothelioma compare the safety and effectiveness of the new treatment against the current standard treatment.

Phase III clinical trials typically enroll a large number of patients, at least several hundred. These studies are often done in many different locations at the same time. They are likely to be offered by community-based oncologists.

Phase III studies are often randomized and double-blinded. What that means is that patients are chosen at random to get either the standard treatment or the new treatment and neither the patient nor the doctor knows which treatment the patient is getting. Placebos may be used in some phase III studies, but they are never used alone if there is already a treatment available that works.

Phase IV Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma

Phase IV studies are not additional tests conducted by the researchers, but rather a comprehensive Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review. The treatment is delivered along with a new drug application (NDA) to the FDA for approval. The FDA will review the results from the studies conducted in the first four phases and ask questions, order more tests, or simply approve the new drug. If more tests are ordered, the approval of the new drug can be stalled by up to five additional years. If, on the other hand, the FDA approves the drug in this phase, it becomes the new standard of care which all newer drugs must test against before being approved for use.

For more information on mesothelioma clinical trials and their phases, visit the American Cancer Society.

If you would like to take part in a mesothelioma clinical trial, start by asking your doctor if your clinic or hospital conducts any. ACS has a “clinical trials matching service” available online. You can also get a list of current clinical trials by visiting the National Cancer Institute's clinical trials Web site at www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials.

Contact Sokolove Law about filing a mesothelioma lawsuit that may result in a mesothelioma settlement that could help you and your family get in-home medical care and pay off medical bills, debts, and other expenses.

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials Overview Series Part Two

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Phase 0 mesothelioma clinical trials are designed to determine if and how a new mesothelioma drug might work in a human. Mesothelioma patients are currently not eligible to enroll in phase 0 studies, but they may be in the near future.

Phase 0 studies for mesothelioma often use only a few small doses of the new drug in each patient. Researchers test whether the drug reaches the tumors, how the drug behaves in the body and how the cancer cells respond. Due to the very low doses of drug in phase 0 studies, there is low risk to mesothelioma patients compared to other phases. However, there’s likewise virtually no potential benefit to a patient enrolled in a phase 0 study. With the requirement of having extra biopsies, scans and blood samples taken, enrolling in a phase 0 study is not usually worth a patient’s time and effort.

Then why conduct phase 0 studies at all? Phase 0 studies help researchers determine whether drugs will do what they’re expected to do in a human body based on studies in the laboratory. Testing conservatively this way with phase 0 studies will usually bring any potential problems to light quickly. Phase 0 studies aren’t included in clinical trials for every drug and when they are used, they’re very small, usually with less than 20 subjects.

Phase I Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

Phase I studies are typically the first time a new drug will be tested in people. Treatments for patients involved in phase I studies are aggressive, as the goal of the study is to determine the highest dose that can be tolerated without causing serious side effects. It is not technically a goal of a phase I study to determine how well the new drug works against the cancer. Phase I clinical trials for mesothelioma are usually a high safety risk to patients and offer a low chance of helping patients. If the drug is found to be reasonably safe in phase I studies, it will advance to phase II studies.

Phase II Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

Between 25 and 100 patients might be enrolled in a phase II study, which is a larger group than that in phase I. The goal of the phase II study is to determine if the drug is effective in fighting the cancer. Researchers look for benefits patients may be experiencing such as increased comfort and quality of life, living longer than expected, shrinking the tumors or preventing the growth of the tumors. If enough people benefit from the treatment, and the side effects aren't too bad, the treatment is allowed to go on to a phase III clinical trial.

The third and final part of this clinical trials overview blog series will focus on phases III and IV clinical trials.

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials Overview Series Part One

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Mesothelioma in any stage is challenging to treat because it tends to spread from the mesothelial lining along nearby surfaces, nerves, and blood vessels. This makes it very difficult, except in rare situations, to completely get rid of it with surgery and chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Additional treatment options are being developed over time through the clinical trial process. This article is the first of a three-part series for patients who may be interested in enrolling in a mesothelioma clinical trial.

Deciding whether to enroll in a mesothelioma clinical trial is a serious and personal decision. This blog series will present an overview of information to address some of the basic questions and concerns that might arise. Always discuss your options with your doctor and your support network before making any serious decisions.

Medical research institutions conduct clinical trials when developing new treatment options in medicine. Whether a new medicine works in humans and whether it’s safe are questions that clinical trials are designed to answer. Clinical trials are typically grouped into phases with each phase designed to answer certain questions, while keeping participants as safe as possible.

By the time a new mesothelioma drug treatment makes it to clinical trials, it has at least six years of research behind it. There is a lot of careful work that must go into developing a new medicine including laboratory tests in cells and in animals before it can be tested in humans. Only about one out of every 1,000 potential medicines tested make it to human clinical trials. Once a drug enters clinical trials, it takes an average of eight years to be approved and available for prescription.

Clinical trials are usually carried out in five different phases, 0 through IV. Each phase is designed to answer certain questions. As a mesothelioma patient considering enrollment in a clinical trial, it’s important for you to know the potential benefits and the potential risks of taking part in each phase. The second part of this clinical trials overview blog series will focus on phases 0, I, and II clinical trials.

Some Asbestos Cases Just Got Easier in PA

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Both plaintiffs and defendants in asbestos lawsuits agree that asbestos causes 80 to 90 percent of all mesothelioma cases. You would think that it naturally follows that 80 to 90 percent of mesothelioma lawsuit plaintiffs do not have to prove to a jury that asbestos exposure caused their mesothelioma. Until recently, that was not the case. Instead, through a legal process called reverse bifurcation, most if not all mesothelioma lawsuit plaintiffs had to first prove in court that their mesothelioma diagnosis is tied to past asbestos exposure. Once this was proved – and it usually was -- most cases settled out of court.

Now, as reported by the Legal Intelligencer, after nearly a quarter of a century of trying asbestos lawsuits with reverse bifurcation, the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court's mass torts program for asbestos began “straight-through trials” of asbestos cases in which it is uncontested that plaintiffs have mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure.

“Straight through trial” basically means that the plaintiffs do not first have to prove to the court – with documents and records and other evidence – that asbestos exposure caused their mesothelioma. Instead, the court takes for granted that it did, in which case most lawsuits settle out of court. So far though, even those that have gone through to trial have ended favorably for plaintiffs. One such mesothelioma patient and his family won $4.5 million in a recent trial verdict.

It’s good news for mesothelioma victims and not so good news for some defendants who make or have made asbestos-containing products. Examples of companies that had ready defenses to disprove asbestos exposure from their products as the cause of mesothelioma in a plaintiff include break pad manufacturers and insulation companies. These defendants would use reverse bifurcation to fight off taking responsibility for the victim’s illness. Hopefully, more states will follow PA’s lead on this.

If you or a loved one has suffered from asbestos exposure and later developed mesothelioma, call an asbestos attorney at Sokolove Law today for a free consultation.

Occupational Exposure to Asbestos in VA Power Plant

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

When repairs were needed on an old nuclear power plant in Surry, VA, contract workers were called in to do the work. Hundreds of workers were hired including electricians, pipe fitters, general laborers and other contractors from eight different companies. When a dozen workers were caught in a cloud of asbestos after cutting some old pipe, the workers reported the incident. The exposed workers report that they were told all asbestos-containing pipes would be clearly labeled, but they were not labeled at all.

A state investigation ensued and six of the eight companies involved in the plant restoration work were cleared of blame. The company that was in charge of labeling the asbestos-containing pipes and products and that was tasked with safely removing asbestos from the building was Hopewell-based Quality Specialties Inc. and they were fined $4,900 for not labeling the pipes. The state has targeted one other company – Dominion Power, the electricity supplier for VA and NC and the owner of the power plant -- to take partial blame for the incident but have not released details of their investigation.

Asbestos was used when the plant was first built to insulate pipes and other parts of the plant from excessive heat. Asbestos has been widely used for such purposes for the past century, but less so in the past 30 years or so since asbestos exposure was definitively tied to mesothelioma and other types of cancer. Asbestos is only carcinogenic when it is airborne and can be breathed into the lungs. Although any amount of asbestos exposure carries risk, mesothelioma victims are usually people who were once exposed to asbestos at a high concentration for an extended period of time.

A spokesperson for the power plant, Richard Zuercher, attempted to assuage the concern of the exposed workers and their families by asserting there was no danger to them. “Most of the asbestos has been removed and replaced with asbestos-free material, including the area where the workers were,” says Zuercher. “There is some equipment with asbestos at the plant, but it has all been abated.”

Zuercher’s statement was proved false, however, after the State Department of Labor and Industry tested the environment and found asbestos fibers on the clothes of the 12 exposed workers as well as in three of the worker trailers.

Exactly how much asbestos the workers were exposed to is indeterminable because the plant’s owner, Dominion Power, did not have air sampling equipment on site at the time of the incident.

Landfill Contaminated With Asbestos

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Elbert County in Denver, CO has a unique asbestos abatement project to tackle – that of a public landfill and trash compactor site. The site has historically been used to dispose of roofing and building materials, much of which was from before the mid 1970’s when buildings were routinely constructed with an abundance of asbestos. The landfill has been the primary dumping site for such rubbish but then it is compacted into bundles and shipped off to another landfill.

Concern about asbestos at the site arose when a backhoe company began excavating the grounds in preparation to remove an old missile silo. Local residents in the area called in complaints to authorities that contaminants were being spread by the excavation. Subsequent soil tests and tests to the debris at the landfill showed the presence of asbestos. No charges were filed because the asbestos had not yet gone airborne, but rather was contained to the landfill site.

Upon learning of the presence of asbestos among other environmental contaminants, the excavating was ceased and the area was covered, pending professional asbestos abatement services.

Cory Stark, director of Elbert County Emergency Management determined that the backhoe company, Backhoe Services, was operating without having tested the soil first and without a formal contract with the city. As reported by the Denver Post, Backhoe Services could not be reached for comment.

Stark asserts that there has been no danger to local residents so far as the toxins have been contained. Still, local residents have remained cautious and concerned. They are now taking their trash and debris to an alternate dump site.

Asbestos diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma are the unfortunate result of asbestos exposure. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, contact a mesothelioma lawyer at Sokolove Law today for a free consultation.

The Unfolding Asbestos Trust Fund Drama - Act Two

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

If you read the last article we posted about asbestos trust funds, you’ll remember the clever hammock analogy used to describe what they are. If you didn’t read it, you can do so here.

Now, the Government Accountability Office (GOA) – a sort of congressional watchdog group that keeps an eye on government spending of taxpayer dollars – has published a report that reveals the somewhat secretive system of asbestos trust fund payouts.

The report looked at 52 asbestos trust funds that have paid out over 3,000,000 claims for a total of about $17.5 billion. The investigation was prompted by the fact that these asbestos trust funds don’t publish details about their activities, yet do make general information available. Attorneys representing asbestos companies or defendants -- in asbestos lawsuits filed by mesothelioma victims – raised a stink about the secrecy of the details and implored congress to get involved. The investigation proceeded to determine if, in fact, these asbestos trust funds were keeping details secret.

The investigation revealed only "one trust's financial report contained claimant names and amounts paid to these individuals."

The defendants in asbestos lawsuits have been the critics of asbestos trust fund secrecy. They allege that asbestos lawyers and mesothelioma law firms oversee the operation of these asbestos trust funds to prevent them from revealing how much their clients have been paid. This, they further allege, allows some asbestos attorneys to file claims with multiple trusts that could contradict each other.

The GAO report stated that 98% of asbestos trust fund claims go through what is called an expedited review process, which requires a claim form and some documentation that asbestos exposure happened. Perhaps the lawyers representing the asbestos companies want mesothelioma victims to have to go through much more than that to get the compensation they deserve?

According to the report, 65 percent of asbestos trust funds treat claims information as confidential and privileged. Defendants and insurers want the details to be available to them so they can reduce the value of the claims awarded to mesothelioma victims in court.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and suspect it’s due to asbestos exposure, contact a mesothelioma attorney at Sokolove Law for a free consultation. Also, write to your local congressman about keeping the details of asbestos trust fund settlements confidential and out of the hands of the asbestos companies.

Mesothelioma Death Count Rising in Minnesota

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In a health study of Taconite Workers in Iron Range, Minnesota, the number of citizens who died of mesothelioma is higher than they reported a year ago – up from 63 to 82. Researchers found the additional nine cases by checking death records of former residents who moved out of state.

The University of Minnesota is responsible for the study, which started in 2008 and will wrap up as early as mid-2012. So far, results indicate that the rate at which residents have contracted mesothelioma is much higher than it should be.

Mesothelioma is a rare and fatal cancer, caused primarily by exposure to asbestos fibers, which often takes 30 years or more after exposure to show up.

Exactly how Iron Range residents have been exposed to asbestos is a mystery. Speculation includes one theory that workers handled asbestos in certain products then carried it home. Another theory is that processing taconite rock (a low-concentrate iron ore that has been mined and processed in Minnesota since the 1950s) releases asbestos fibers from within the rock into the air. The mystery is what provoked the $4.9 million health study, which was approved by state lawmakers in 2008.

Researchers have collected data on people who worked in mining as far back as the 1920’s. So far, the study shows that out of about 46,000 taconite workers who ever worked in the industry, 1,681 developed some sort of lung cancer.

Currently, the results from more than 2,000 air samples taken over the last two years at Minnesota’s six operating taconite plants show safe dust levels. Asbestos levels are extremely low, according to the study. Silica concentration was found to be higher than acceptable in some cases.

International Mesothelioma Program New Research

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston continue to make progress in malignant mesothelioma research. The scientists and doctors involved with the project are looking for information that will lead to better adjuvant therapies for the rare and deadly disease. Adjuvant therapies are treatments given to help boost the effectiveness of other treatments. In the case of malignant mesothelioma, the term “adjuvant therapies” typically refers to treatments that are administered to patients after they have had tumors surgically removed.

In a recent study, scientists used mice to test potential adjuvant therapies. Human mesothelioma cells were introduced into the test mice, allowed to metastasize (to grow), then surgically removed. This procedure turned the mice into workable test subjects for testing ne mesothelioma adjuvant therapies.

One of the therapies researchers studied on the mice was “intracavitary chemotherapy,” which means applying the chemotherapy drug, paclitaxel, into the cavity of the body around the site where the tumor has been removed just prior to closing the incision. The results of this test on the test mice were encouraging.

In a report published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, “Paclitaxel-laded Expansile Nanoparticles in a Multimodal Treatment, Model of Malignant Mesothelioma,” the researchers state: “Treatment with [paclitaxel] improved overall survival in the setting of [the surgery], suggesting that [it] merits further evaluation for intracavitary drug delivery following the surgical resection of malignant mesothelioma.” What this means is that this particular adjuvant therapy may be successful in the survival of mesothelioma patients.

Advancements such as these are very important to patients of malignant mesothelioma, as the cancer is serious and fatal.

For those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer that can be linked to asbestos exposure caused by a product or former employer, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney to learn more about your rights, and to see if pursuing a mesothelioma settlement is in your best interest.

President Obama Backs the Fight Against Asbestos

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Finally, someone with significant power and visibility addresses the importance of removing asbestos from schools. Exposing children to carcinogens for years is now, thanks to the president, officially a bad idea. And, removing it can apparently create jobs. It’s a win, win.

The American Jobs Act, which is intended to provoke jobs creation in the U.S., includes a proposal for widespread asbestos abatement in public schools across the nation. Asbestos abatement is the safe and effective removal of asbestos materials from buildings. Proper asbestos abatement is conducted by specially trained workers who safely contain the carcinogenic asbestos fibers during the removal process, preventing them from contaminating the air.

The jobs bill has yet to pass the senate, but should it succeed, it will fund asbestos abatement for approximately 35,000 public school buildings. A couple of weeks ago, the National Education Association reported that vice president, Joe Biden had been on the phone with more than 2000 educators imploring them to actively support the bill by calling their local representatives in the senate. Biden told the educators that the $447 billion jobs bill will help save jobs in education as well as modernize buildings across the country.

The bill has money allocated that will prevent the layoffs of up to 280,000 teachers and rehire tens of thousands more, upgrade community college buildings, and renovate about 35,000 school buildings, part of which includes asbestos abatement. In a public address in September, President Obama spoke to educators, police officers, firefighters, veterans and small business owners to talk about his jobs bill.

“All across America, teachers are being laid off in droves, which is unfair to our kids. It undermines our future and it is exactly what we shouldn’t be doing if we want our kids to be college-ready and then prepared for the jobs of the 21st century,” Obama said.

The bill will give $25 billion to school building renovation, including asbestos abatement. It will give $30 billion to stop the layoffs of up to 280,000 educators. The building renovation funds can be used for additional projects, other than asbestos abatement including energy efficiency upgrades and technological modernization in schools, such as new computer labs and equipment.

Sokolove Law is the leading asbestos and mesothelioma law firm with more than 30 years of experience getting asbestos settlements for mesothelioma patients and their families. If you or someone you know have been exposed to asbestos, whether in school or at a place of work, call an asbestos attorney at Sokolove Law today.

New Science Part Three Mesothelioma Genetic Link

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

It’s long been suspected that a person’s genetics play a role in determining susceptibility to the development of mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos fibers. The suspicion caused the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund research that would discover this genetic link. As of August, 2011, the specific gene mutation was not only found, but identified to also trigger other types of cancer.

The culprit is the gene, BAP1. Not a very creative name, is it? Why not name genes after Greek gods and goddesses rather than assigning them boring codes made up of capital letters and numbers? The former would better match the mystical powers genes have to determine so much about a person from appearance to temperament to health and beyond. Anyway, the research showed that people with a mutation on the BAP1 gene are more susceptible to developing both mesothelioma cancer as well as melanoma cancer of the eye.

The upshot is that people who are exposed to asbestos are far more likely to develop mesothelioma if they have this mutation to BAP1. The research was funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and led by scientists at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center in Honolulu, and Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. The study results were published in Nature Genetics and reported the outcome of tests within two U.S. families with a high incidence of mesothelioma and other cancers linked with BAP1 mutations.

The study’s co-leader,Dr. Joseph Testa, notes that “it appears likely that other genes, in addition to BAP1, will be found to be associated with elevated risk of mesothelioma." In the study, every person in the two families who developed mesothelioma or melanoma of the eye did have mutations of the BAP1 gene. The research team went on to look at 26 additional people diagnosed with mesothelioma but with no family history of the disease and found that 25 percent of them also had the BAP1 mutations.

Dr. Michele Carbone, study co-leader and director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, says of the results: "Identifying people at greatest risk for developing mesothelioma, especially those exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos worldwide, is a task made easier by virtue of this discovery."

This concludes our series on the newest science concerning mesothelioma. These findings are exciting and inspiring of hope that future diagnostic and treatment practices will help people with mesothelioma live longer, healthier lives. Hope is the message we choose to focus on this week following National Mesothelioma Awareness Week.

New Science Series Part Two Mesothelioma Biomarkers

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Because mesothelioma is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited, scientists at Somalogic Inc. set out to find ways to detect it at an earlier stage. The goal of early diagnosis is that patients with mesothelioma might be able to enjoy a better quality of life as the fight the illness.

Dr. Rachel Ostroff, a clinical research director of Somalogic Inc. presented her initial results of this ongoing study at the Fourth AACR International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development. Her results indicated that with the use of aptamer-based proteomics array technology, biomarkers and protein signatures were identified that are characteristic of cancer at an early stage for both mesothelioma and pancreatic cancers.

Aptamer-based proteomics array technology is fairly new in the world of science, developed and refined over the past ten years or so. Aptamers are nucleic acid molecules that bind to certain proteins and were first discovered about 20 years ago. SomaLogic researchers developed a new breed of aptamers called SOMAmers (Slow Off-rate Modified Aptamers), which can be “programmed” for very specific proteins. What this means is that SOMAmers can identify and count specific proteins, or biomarkers, in complex biological samples, thereby identifying potential or inevitable mesothelioma development in people exposed to asbestos.

Ostroff and her colleagues tested blood from study participants – people diagnosed but not yet treated for cancer -- to discover the cancer biomarkers. Once discovered, the same technology could be used to spot these cancers at an early stage, where the potential for effective treatment is much higher than in progressed cases.

The goal was met and the researchers found the biomarkers, which they used to make a “signature” biomarker with extreme accuracy for early detection of each form of cancer. As a byproduct of their intended success, they got a little surprise gift: they found high specificity of correct diagnosis, which means the test will be accurate and not lead to disease-free people undergoing unnecessary treatment.

The study is ongoing and validation testing is underway, according to Dr. Ostroff. The research team hopes to have commercially available diagnostic tests that will ultimately yield clinical benefits for patients.

In the next post of this series, we’ll look at a newly discovered genetic link to mesothelioma and what that means for future treatment options.

Mesothelioma New Science Series

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In honor of National Mesothelioma Awareness Day, we’re launching a three-part blog series highlighting the newest scientific research regarding mesothelioma. New science has emerged in the last two years that may have significant implications for the future treatment of malignant mesothelioma. In this series, we will look at three important scientific breakthroughs that have the largest potential to affect the future of mesothelioma treatment.

In early 2010, results of a study were published in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine that proved the safety of a possible vaccine for mesothelioma.

In late 2010, Dr. Rachel Ostroff, the clinical research director of Somalogic Inc., presented results of an ongoing study at the Fourth AACR International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development about new biomarkers she discovered for mesothelioma that would impact early diagnosis and provide insight into new therapies for the disease.

Just last month, NIH-funded research discovered a genetic link to mesothelioma.

History of Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

As far back as the early 1900’s, cases of mesothelioma and lung cancer have been linked to asbestos exposure. It wasn’t until 1970 with the United States Clean Air Act that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was permitted to start regulating asbestos as a hazardous pollutant. With asbestos being more and more regulated in the United States over the past forty years, the rate of new mesothelioma diagnoses in the U.S. each year has risen steadily in men and sporadically in woman.

Currently in the United States, there are an estimated 2000 to 3000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed each year. The increase in incidence may be the result of lag time between asbestos exposure and diagnosis, which can be up to 50 years. For this reason, the number of new mesothelioma diagnoses is expected to continue to rise through the year 2020.

New Science – Mesothelioma Vaccine

The continued increase in the rate of mesothelioma diagnosis and the current lack of treatment options is what inspired researchers at the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands to study new therapies. Immunotherapy, which stimulates the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells, had previously shown promise. Based on this previous research, Dr. Joachim G Aerts, a pulmonary physician at Erasmus Medical Center, set out to create a vaccine for mesothelioma. The vaccine, which uses a patient's own dendritic cells (DC) with antigen from the patient's tumor, was able to induce a T-cell response against mesothelioma tumors.

In other words, three out of ten patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma of the epithelial subtype showed signs of tumor regression and four others showed evidence of cytotoxicity against their own tumors after vaccination. There is much more work to be done before results can be irrefutably attributed to the vaccine and side effects can be minimized, but the study showed real promise.

Dr. Aerts says of the study: "We hope that by further development of our method it will be possible to increase survival in patients with mesothelioma and eventually vaccinate persons who have been in contact with asbestos to prevent them from getting asbestos related diseases."

In the next post of this series, we’ll look at mesothelioma biomarkers and the implications they have for possible future treatments.

Ten Surprising Asbestos-Containing Products

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

With Mesothelioma Awareness Day coming up on Monday, September 26th, we thought it apt to highlight the top ten products we were surprised to find that are still being manufactured today with the use of the known carcinogen, asbestos. Asbestos exposure has long been known to cause mesothelioma as well as other cancers and diseases. Mesothelioma Awareness Day is an annual day devoted to raising awareness about mesothelioma and raising funds for mesothelioma research.

In this post -- the first in a series of Mesothelioma Awareness Day posts designed to help raise awareness – we present our top ten asbestos-containing products to be aware of:

1. Baby Powder

Baby powder? Baby powder!

Baby powder and other adult cosmetic powders and talcum powders often contain talc. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies talc that contains asbestos as "carcinogenic to humans" and talc not containing asbestos as "not classifiable as to carcinogenicity in humans.

2. Cigarette Filters

As if smoking cigarettes wasn’t already bad enough, asbestos has been known to be present in the filters.

3. Hair Dryers

Check with the manufacturer of your specific model, as some hair dryers have asbestos-based insulators.

4. Mittens

Are your hands really that cold? Some fire or heat-proof mittens have linings that contain asbestos.

5. Yarn

Typically, you don’t have to worry about the yarn you’re using to knit a scarf, unless it’s known to contain heat-proof threads, which contain asbestos.

6. Popcorn Poppers

As with hair dryers, most small electronics and appliances manufacturers have discontinued the use of asbestos. If yours is an older model or if you have concerns, contact the manufacturer.

7. Brake Pads

Many automotive parts are still manufactured with asbestos today, especially brake pads, to help prevent overheating.

8. Cork Board

If you have an old cork board and you can’t verify its safety with a manufacturer, think twice before tacking up your next picture or note.

9. Duct Tape

Many electrical tapes contain asbestos to help prevent melting or catching fire.

10. Rope

Although many ropes are asbestos-free, some that are heat or fire resistant do contain asbestos.

When asbestos fibers are inhalable, they are breathed into the lungs where the microscopic fibers embed into the tissue and accumulate. The inhalation of asbestos fibers is the leading cause of mesothelioma.

Speak to an Asbestos Attorney Today

Little Justice in Three Year Old Asbestos Fraud Case

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Only now, three full years after her conviction, is she finally sentenced, the woman responsible for endangering hundreds of illegal asbestos workers and innumerable members of New England communities. Albania DeLeon’s punishment is largely financial. She was ordered to pay $1.2 million restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and $370,000 restitution to AIM Insurance. Her prison sentence is a mere seven years, with three years of probation after her release. That seems mild compared to the death sentence handed down by most asbestos related illnesses, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and other malignant cancers.

Here’s a crime that makes identity theft look gentle in comparison. Most of DeLeon’s customers were illegal immigrants who, rather than obtain fake documents from underground agencies specializing in identity theft, chose to bypass that step and go straight to a skilled trade.

Forget fake drivers licenses, how about fake asbestos abatement certifications? The place to buy those in Massachusetts, which thrived for six long years, closed up shop in 2007 when its owner, Albania DeLeon, was exposed and arrested. She had been selling certificates to people and placing them in jobs where they were supposed to be trained to perform asbestos abatement services, except they weren’t. The workers didn’t have to undergo training at DeLeon’s school, they just had to pay an extra $50 to bypass the federally-mandated 32-hour program and get the certificate.

The closing of the long-lived fraudulent Massachusetts school for asbestos removal training and certification was a high profile story back in 2007 when it happened. It was an even bigger story in 2008 when DeLeon fled the country after being charged with dozens of felonies. She sawed off the monitor locked around her ankle, abandoned her three-year-old child and disappeared. That should teach the feds not to merely house arrest someone who’s destined to be the first woman ever placed on the EPA’s most wanted fugitives list.

As reported by the Boston Globe in 2009, DeLeon wrote a three page letter to US District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton, part of which read: "I pray that God will forgive my soul and allow me to atone the rest of my life repaying and repairing the harm I have done. This is my solemn promise." Although a prayer for forgiveness is not a solemn promise, one might gather from the letter that DeLeon sincerely wished to amend her wrongs. Unfortunately not. She fled the country. Nineteen months later, on October 30, 2010, DeLeon was arrested again in the Dominican Republic. Her actual sentencing took a while because the sincerely remorseful DeLeon secured herself a better lawyer for the hearing.

Although Cynthia Giles, the assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance says that “justice was served” in this case, we disagree. Sure, DeLeon was ordered to pay back the IRS and an insurance company for fraudulent tax return filings and claims, but the real loss occurred when more than 2,000 untrained, illegally certified asbestos workers were exposed to carcinogenic asbestos fibers or silicate minerals while unsafely removing asbestos from hundreds of New England schools, hospitals, churches and homes. In addition to the illegally certified asbestos workers, nobody knows how many children and other innocent members of the community were also exposed to asbestos fibers during these projects.

If you were exposed to asbestos and subsequently diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact a mesothelioma attorney. If you have any questions about the details of asbestos law and what is required to pursue a settlement, check out the information available on the Sokolove Law website as well as this Asbestos Resource website.

Ohio School Closed Due to Loose Asbestos Tiles

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:43:00 -0400

Continually poor weather in Ohio has lead to the closing of a Reading school after concerns over damage to the building’s asbestos-laden roof and its potential to expose dangerous fibers to students and faculty.

According to local television station FOX 19, Hilltop Elementary School was forced to close its doors last week so workers could get to the building’s roof to reinforce 35 square feet of weakened plaster that is known to contain asbestos. The plaster roofing was weakened during heavy rains that had hit the area during the week.

"Technically they don't have to follow the EPA regulations," explained Bradley Miller from the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services. "But the contractor has agreed to do everything in the US EPA regulations by wetting the material, placing it in bags in a wetted condition and then taking it to an approved landfill for disposal."

In order to make sure no asbestos fibers fall into the school during the construction, workers were stationed inside to monitor the building and make sure conditions were safe for students to return the following week.

While it seems the proper precautions were taken to ensure that no students will be exposed to asbestos at this school, it is concerning that schools are still allowed to use construction products that are known to contain asbestos.

If you think that a mesothelioma attorney could help prove your illness was caused by a specific entity’s negligence, please contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation.

Asbestos Found in George Washington University

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:10:00 -0400

With the new school year getting underway and many parents getting their children settled into new schools across the country, safety precautions are generally a top priority. For families at George Washington University, one of those precautions involves asbestos exposure.

According to the GW Hatchet, the University’s newspaper, Rice Hall – which houses offices for some of the school’s highest officials – underwent asbestos abatement projects in August to prepare for renovations that are scheduled for the building in the near future.

Darrell Darnell, the senior associate vice president for safety and security at the school, said that students and faculty at the school would not be put in any unsafe conditions or see any adverse health effects caused by any exposure to asbestos. However, he also would not divulge what floors, pipes, tiles, or other building products in the hall had been found to contain asbestos.

“GW has an asbestos policy that guides the maintenance of asbestos-containing materials in University buildings,” added William Flint, the university’s director of the office of health and safety. “Prior to renovation or demolition of any university building, a hazardous materials survey is conducted using District of Columbia and EPA regulations to determine the risk to students, staff, faculty and construction workers. If hazardous materials are discovered, proper abatement is conducted to remove the materials prior to construction or demolition.”

The abatement processes only took one week. Hopefully there will be no asbestos problems at the university as classes get underway this fall.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos by using certain products or working for certain companies and have subsequently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, there may be legal options worth pursuing to obtain a mesothelioma settlement. Contact a mesothelioma attorney if you have any questions about the details of asbestos law and what is needed to pursue a settlement from the manufacturer of the asbestos product (not necessarily your company).

New Study Reveals Increased Cancer Risk for 9/11 First Responders

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

As the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy approaches, a newly published study offers hints of a possible link between exposure to chemicals released after New York's World Trade Center collapsed and the development of cancer in firefighters who toiled at ground zero.

The New York Times reports that the study, released in the British medical journal The Lancet, reveals that 9/11 firefighters are 19 percent more likely to develop cancer than those who were not at the Trade Center wreckage.

Although the study’s leader, Dr. David J. Prezant, asserts its findings are far from conclusive, he acknowledges that they indicate an “increased likelihood for the development of any type of cancer.”

Included in the toxic substances found at the site of the New York 9/11 attacks are asbestos and jet fuel, both of which can cause diseases such as mesothelioma that may take up to 50 years to develop. Given the relatively short amount of time that this study is considering, the findings are but a beginning interpretation of the actual effects.

After the Twin Towers collapsed, an area of several square miles was covered by a cloud of fine powder. As reported in a study released by the Virginia firm HP Environmental in the weeks after the terrorist attacks, the powder creating this toxic cloud contained large quantities of asbestos. In fact, the asbestos particles were so pulverized in the explosion that the majority of them were smaller than what could be detected by the EPA’s standard testing method. After adjusting the test to check smaller fiber concentrations, the study concluded that there was an “overwhelming concentration” of the ultrafine asbestos particles.

“Responders were exposed to a whole soup of carcinogens,” says Dr. Philip J. Landrigan of the 9/11 first responders, who included firefighters, police, and other emergency personnel. Dr. Landrigan is the director of environmental and occupational medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Manhattan and a leading expert on asbestos toxicity. He is also the principal investigator of a related report published in The Lancet on the health effects of the attacks on recovery and rescue workers.

“The smaller the [asbestos] particle, the more easily it can be aerosolized. And the easier job that it has penetrating right down into the very depths of the lungs,“ Dr. Landrigan told the Times. He adds that the new findings are but a signal of the results likley to come in the years ahead.

However, Dr. James Melius, administrator of the New York State Laborers’ Health and Safety Trust Fund and one of the peer reviewers of the firefighter study, warns that it "would probably not be enough to persuade federal officials to include cancer as one of the diseases covered under the Zadroga Act.”

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (H.R. 847), called the Zadroga Act, was called into law by President Obama in 2010 and it states that those who have 9/11 related health conditions may be eligible for health care under this law.

If you believe you were exposed to asbestos at ground zero and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to financial compensation. To learn more about your legal options regarding a possible mesothelioma settlement, please contact an asbestos lawyer.

Physicians Warn Against a New "Mesothelioma Capital of Canada"

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Even with the effects of Ontario’s asbestos mining history still lingering, the Canadian government has opposed designating asbestos as a hazardous product. Now, doctors serving as delegates to the Canadian Medical Association’s General Assembly are warning that mining asbestos in Quebec will lead to a similar end.

The doctors are calling the Canadian government “shameful” for its decision that opposes the limitation of chrysotile asbestos exports from Canada. Nor will the government support labeling this proven carcinogen as a hazardous product.

The controversy over the government’s decision has served as a reminder that the mining practices in the Ontario town of Sarnia caused so many of its citizens to contract mesothelioma – a rare cancer of the tissues lining the lungs, chest, and abdominal cavity – it’s since been nicknamed the mesothelioma capital of Canada.

Chrysotile asbestos makes up more than 90 percent of all asbestos mined globally, including in Canada. The battle between the doctors and the Canadian government isn’t new -- the mining and export of chrysotile asbestos has caused controversy among health professionals and the regulatory bodies within governments of countries that mine it for many years. The battle centers on the profitability of mining and exporting asbestos to the countries versus the alarming health risks the substance has been proven to cause.

Dr. Deborah Hillier, an occupational physician, pointed out that Canada exports asbestos mined in Quebec to “Third World countries where it is not used appropriately.” Workers in these countries are therefore at risk for asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. Further, these countries are manufacturing products with the carcinogen that are being sent back into Canada, expanding the exposure and placing even more Canadians at risk.

If you’ve suffered from the effects of asbestos exposure, such as the cancer mesothelioma, there may be legal action you can

Study Finds Mesothelioma May Be Caused Partly Due to Genetics

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:29:00 -0400

A new study financed by a section of the National Institutes of Health has made the first potential connection to an individual’s genetics and susceptibility to eventually developing deadly asbestos illnesses such as mesothelioma.

The study, which was recently published online in Nature Genetics, found evidence that people with BAP1 gene mutations may have an increased chance of developing multiple cancer types such as mesothelioma, breast, ovarian, pancreatic and renal cancers. The study highlighted two U.S. families with members who have the BAP1 gene mutation. Both families also have “a high incidence of mesothelioma.”

"This discovery is a first step in understanding the role of the BAP1 gene and its potential utility when screening for mutations in those at high risk," said Dr. Michele Carbone, study co-leader and director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. "Identifying people at greatest risk for developing mesothelioma, especially those exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos and erionite worldwide, is a task made easier by virtue of this discovery."

Dr. Joseph R. Testa, another study co-leader and the Carol and Kenneth E. Weg chairman in Human Genetics at Fox Chase Cancer Center, said the study was the first to “demonstrate that individual genetic makeup can greatly influence susceptibility to mesothelioma.”

While only a first step, the discoveries noted in this study could one day lead to fundamental progress in mesothelioma care. Thanks to Drs. Carbone and Testa and their crew for the hard work. We hope this is just the beginning of bigger breakthroughs to come.

Living with the day-to-day hardships of mesothelioma - whether it is you or a loved one who has been diagnosed with the illness - is both emotionally and financially taxing. If you feel that a company or former employer may be responsible for the asbestos exposure that led to an illness, contact a mesothelioma attorney to learn about filing a mesothelioma lawsuit.

Films Hope to Raise Asbestos, Mesothelioma Lawsuit Awareness

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:57:00 -0400

One of the more heartbreaking aspects of mesothelioma and asbestos cancer is that, despite the devastation that the diseases take on the families they effect, the public is largely not aware of the illnesses and the toll they take.

Thankfully, a pair of new films are attempting to raise awareness regarding the dangers of the asbestos industry and the legal options that individuals have to punish the companies that have harmed them. The films are already gaining a great deal of attention across the country.

In an attempt to raise awareness regarding the horrors of asbestos, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) announced last month that it would be hosting an international livestreaming of the film Breathless on its website on September 26 at 6:30 pm EST. The film, which was directed by Canadian filmmaker Kathleen Mullen, details the death of Mullens’ father that was caused by asbestos exposure in Canadian mines while also addressing the controversy surrounding the Canadian asbestos industry.

“ADAO is thrilled to be able to bring this critical issue to the forefront through the incredible film, Breathtaking. It is through the new avenues of digital technology and social media that we are seeing awareness about asbestos hazards expand rapidly around the globe,” said ADAO Co-Founder Linda Reinstein.

The film will precede a fifteen-minute question and answer session via Twitter with Mullen and Reinstein.

Another film, Hot Coffee, recently premiered on HBO as part of the network’s Summer Documentary Series. The movie looks at American civil justice and tells the story of Stella Liebeck, an elderly woman who sued McDonald's for money to cover medical costs after the restaurant’s coffee severely burned her. Despite the uproar over the product liability lawsuit filed by Lieback, the film supports the legal action she took.

Many mesothelioma support groups have come out in support of the film, as mesothelioma lawsuits are similar in many ways to the case filed by Liebeck and have come under fire in recent years as well.

Hopefully Breathtaking and Hot Coffee will both help to increase the public’s awareness regarding asbestos and mesothelioma lawsuits.

Navy Vet Receives $32 Million Mesothelioma Settlement

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:45:00 -0400

A Kentucky man who spent nearly 30 years in the U.S. Navy as a fireman and boiler tender and is now suffering from mesothelioma has won a $32 million asbestos settlement for injuries and pain/suffering he has endured.

According to WSAZ-TV, a New York jury awarded Ronald Dummitt $16 million for past pain and suffering, along with an additional $16 million for future pain and suffering he must endure as he battles mesothelioma that was caused by asbestos exposure in the Navy.

During the eight-week trial, it was determined that Dummitt was exposed to asbestos while working in the fire and boiler rooms of U.S. Navy ships between 1960 and 1977. Much of this exposure occurred when he had to repair Crane Co.-manufactured valves that utilized asbestos-containing pads, gaskets and packing. Furthermore, the jury found he was also exposed to asbestos when working with Elliott Turbomachinery Co., Inc.-manufactured deareating feed tanks that also used asbestos pads and manhole gaskets.

“Mr. Dummitt may not have been awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor or a Purple Heart but I, and all that have come to know him, recognize that he is a true American hero… Unfortunately, no man can give Ronald Dummitt’s health back to him. This verdict represents all that a just and civil society can do to redress the harm caused by culpable companies who fail to protect innocent workers whether on the job or in the line of duty,” said Timothy Eves, Dummitt’s attorney.

Navy veterans who previously worked in naval bases and have now been diagnosed with mesothelioma may be able to bring a mesothelioma lawsuit against companies who manufactured or sold asbestos products that were used on the ships. Contact a mesothelioma lawyer in order to learn more about asbestos law and find out if you or a loved one may be able to receive an asbestos settlement.

Famous Forensic Sculptor Frank Bender Passes Away from Mesothelioma

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:56:00 -0400

Yet another notable public figure has passed away from mesothelioma.

Seventy-year-old Frank Bender, a well-known forensic sculptor (or “recomposer of the dead” as he came to be known) passed away from mesothelioma in July after battling the deadly asbestos disease for nearly two years.

Bender became well known throughout the U.S. - and attained local fame in Philadelphia where he was born and raised – following his involvement in the case of John List, a N.J. man who disappeared after killing his family in 1971. A Bender-designed bust of List’s head that reflected what he would look like 18 years after the murders that was used in an 1989 episode of "America’s Most Wanted" that resulted in the murderer’s capture and eventual conviction

"In many ways, Frank's bust of John List really launched "America's Most Wanted" into a national force for catching fugitives," said John Walsh, host of the television show, in 2009, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "Whenever I get the tough cases, I call Frank."

Bender likely suffered the asbestos exposure that led to his mesothelioma diagnosis during his years working in the engine room of a navy ship before he began his career as a forensic sculptor.

Bender joins a group of notable public figures who have passed away from mesothelioma, including NFL Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, Olympic gold medalist Terrence McCann, musician Warren Zevon, actor Steve McQueen, architect Paul Rudolph, and band manager Malcolm McLaren.

Illinois Courts Reversing Asbestos Lawsuit Rulings?

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:22:00 -0400

Illinois may be in the midst of change regarding the way asbestos and mesothelioma lawsuits are ruled upon by judges, as a recent verdict reversal may signal that more strict criteria is on the horizon.

Noting what could be the beginning of a trend in Illinois, a recent Forbes article examined a state appeals court ruling that overturned a $2.5 million jury verdict against Honeywell and Pneumo Abex. The settlement had been awarded to a woman who claimed her mesothelioma had been caused by asbestos fibers that were tracked into her house by her husband, a worker at Union Rubber & Asbestos Co. in the 1950s.

However, because Union Rubber & Asbestos has long since gone out of business and could not be sued, Pneumo Abex and Honeywell were made the basis of the lawsuit because they were part of the same “trade group.” Much like Union Rubber, both Pneumo Abex and Honeywell had made asbestos brake shoes.

While a definitive link between the woman’s mesothelioma and either of the companies could not be found, state laws allowed for a judgment in the woman’s favor by finding both companies guilty of civil conspiracy. The ruling implied that both companies had allowed for asbestos use to continue - along with many other companies in the same trade group - by acting in “parallel conduct” with the company at fault, and therefore could be held accountable for the illness as a result.

However, that ruling turned out to be short-lived. The state appeals court recently threw out the case after deciding that the companies did not know in the 1950s that workers could carry asbestos fibers home on their clothes and therefore could not have committed a civil conspiracy.

Since that decision, other asbestos lawsuit rulings have been brought up for review that could potentially be reversed as well. Furthermore, any precedent set in Illinois could potentially have implications on mesothelioma lawsuits across the country that are brought by individuals who were exposed to asbestos by companies that were aware of the danger. Hopefully, whatever the implications, mesothelioma victims will still get the justice in court they deserve against asbestos companies that harmed them.

Mesothelioma Claims on the Rise, says Insurer

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:56:00 -0400

New data from the largest life insurance company in the country suggests that mesothelioma claims have actually increased in the first half of 2011 compared to last year.

This data may come as a disappointment to some hoping for a decline in mesothelioma cases. However, it also could be seen as a sign that asbestos lawsuits from mesothelioma victims are becoming more effective and aggressive so people who have been hurt by asbestos can get the money they deserve.

According to Reuters, MetlLfe Inc. reported this week that it had received 2,306 asbestos-related claims during the first half of 2011. That figure is an 11 percent increase over the 2,076 claims the insurer had received on the same type of claims mid-way through 2010.

MetLife joins American International Group Inc. and Hartford Financial Services as another insurance company that is seeing an uptick in mesothelioma claims. Reuters added that A.M. Best, a ratings agency, has said that there could be up to $75 billion in asbestos claims this year alone.

If you are receiving mesothelioma treatment and previously worked in a profession where you were regularly exposed to high amounts of asbestos, there may be reason to speak with a mesothelioma attorney regarding a possible lawsuit.

Contact us for a free consultation to see if a mesothelioma law firm can help to get you a monetary asbestos settlement from a former employer who may be at fault for your asbestos-related illness.

Twenty-One-Year-Old Battling Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:05:00 -0400

While asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma usually take so long to manifest themselves that most of victims are in the later stages of their life at the time of diagnosis, there are sometimes exceptions.

Sadly, Kevin Morrison, a 21-year-old resident of Norwood, MA, is one of those exceptions. Morrison is currently battling mesothelioma.

Morrison, the captain of Norwood High School’s football and hockey teams when he graduated in 2008, was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in February. He has since begun treatments at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and has more recently gotten involved in alternative treatments that doctors’ hope will be more effective.

Morrison’s story seems to unfortunately mirror that of Austin Lacy. Lacy was an 18-year-old who passed away from mesothelioma complications in June. He had recently graduated from Pasadena High School in California. Like Morrison, Lacy was a star of his school’s football team and had doctors confused as to how he developed the rare asbestos-related cancer so quickly.

In Morrison’s case, fundraisers have already been set up to aid his family as they try to pay off the mounting medical bills for the treatments. We at MesoRC wish Kevin and the Morrison family the best of luck.

If you or a loved one are currently undergoing treatment for mesothelioma and are having trouble paying the bills associated with the medical care, it may be worth speaking to an asbestos attorney about potentially pursuing a mesothelioma lawsuit that could result in a monetary settlement. If you would like your asbestos law questions answered, please contact Sokolove Law today for a free legal consultation with a mesothelioma attorney.

Mesothelioma-Causing Fiber Present in at Least 12 U.S. States

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:03:00 -0400

A new study published in a medical journal has found that at least 12 U.S. states may contain elevated amounts of an asbestos-like mineral fiber than can cause mesothelioma and has been ravaging villages in Turkey for years now.

Focusing primarily on Dunn County, North Dakota, researchers found that more than 300 miles of road in that area alone may have been paved with rocks that contain erionite, a material that is similar in form to asbestos and has been linked as a cause of mesothelioma. The study, published in the July 25 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also found that similar deposits of erionite exist in at least 11 other states across the U.S.

Dr. Michele Carbone, the director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, had previously done studies on erionite, specifically regarding the deadly effects its usage has had in many Turkish towns where increased rates of mesothelioma were reported. In studying the erionite found in North Dakota, Carbone found that some airborne erionite concentrations ”equaled or exceeded concentrations in [Boyali, Turkey] where 6.25 percent of all deaths are caused by [malignant mesothelioma]”.

"Based on the similarity between the erionite from the two sources, there is concern for increased risk of mesothelioma in North Dakota," she added, according to Science Daily.

Unlike asbestos, which is still legal in the United States but has had limitations placed upon its usage, there are currently no constraints on how erionite can be used in products that the public may be exposed to on a regular basis. Hopefully, studies like this will lead to restrictions and further research regarding erionite before it becomes as much of a danger to the public as asbestos.

Living with the day-to-day hardships of mesothelioma - whether it is you or a loved one who has been diagnosed with the illness - is both emotionally and financially taxing for all who are involved. If you feel that a company or former employer may be responsible for the asbestos exposure that led to an illness, contact a mesothelioma attorney to learn about filing a mesothelioma lawsuit.

Artist May Have Been Exposed to Asbestos by Sanding Paint

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:05:00 -0400

It’s no secret nowadays that those who have spent their lives working in shipyards or factories run an increased risk of eventually developing an illness such as asbestosis or mesothelioma.

However, a recent story out of Scotland regarding a profession that is far less commonly associated with asbestos illnesses may be the cause of one man’s mesothelioma death.

According to the Daily Record, 79-year-old Scottish artist James Howie passed away earlier this month after having been diagnosed with both mesothelioma and a pulmonary embolism. When looking for what caused Howie to inhale the dangerous asbestos fibers that usually cause mesothelioma, his wife Joyce told the paper that she suspected that sanding methods he used on paint for his pieces may have been what released the fibers into the air.

"He used to do layer upon layer of paint, always scraping, sanding, cutting it back to paint over it again and again in order to create a certain effect,” she said. "He would keep repeating this process until it resulted in the thing he was looking for.”

She added that, at the time of the article’s publishing, there had still not been final results from her husband’s autopsy to either confirm or deny her suspicions.

Whether or not James Howie’s sanding methods ultimately led to the asbestos exposure that caused his mesothelioma diagnosis, his case is nonetheless another example that a mesothelioma diagnosis can happen to anyone, not just factory workers.

If you or a loved one have an asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma, speak with one of our mesothelioma attorneys today and learn more about any legal actions you may be able to pursue.

Thetford Asbestos Mine in Canada May Close

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:16:00 -0400

Amid a labor dispute and continued debate regarding the asbestos industry as a whole, the only fully operational asbestos mine in Canada is sending out reports saying it may soon be closing its doors.

The Quebec-based LAB Chrysotile announced on Tuesday that it may soon shut down operations at its Thetford Mines in the city of Asbestos if a labor conflict with the workers’ union is not resolved.

“We've given ourselves 16 weeks to deal with our problems," Mine President Simon Dupere told The Canadian Press in a telephone interview.

Despite the issues the mine is dealing with, Dupere added that he was still “very confident” that there was a market for chrysotile asbestos.

Because the Jeffrey Mine, which is also located in Asbestos, is only functional for part of the year, the Thetford Mine is considered Canada’s only fully-operational asbestos mine. It currently employs 350 people, according to Canadian Business.

In addition to its labor issues, the Thetford Mine is also dealing with a great deal of scrutiny as the Canadian asbestos industry continues to draw a great deal of negative attention from around the world. The closing of the Thetford Mine would likely only increase the calls for Canada to do away with its asbestos mining industry.

Contact a mesothelioma attorney if you have any questions about the details of asbestos law and what is needed to pursue a settlement from the manufacturer of the asbestos product.

Wall Covering Prevents Asbestos Exposure

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:17:00 -0400

Because the use of asbestos is still not banned in the United States, there is always a risk that the building you are in may still contain some products that contain the deadly fiber in its walls. However, a British company has developed a new device that could be used in American buildings to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure until the fiber’s use is one day banned.

Datatecnics, a Birmingham, England-based company, has developed a special type of wall covering that is designed to detect small asbestos particles and prevent them from getting through to an area where people are located. The ADAAS (Asbestos Disturbance Automated Alert System) polymer film is also designed to trigger an alarm if it is breached in any way.

The company touts the ASAAS film as a way to eliminate older forms of asbestos testing and monitoring while also being more cost effective. The film can either be painted or papered over asbestos products.

“Asbestos is in a lot of public buildings. The Government estimates that 70 percent of UK schools contain it and the guidance from the Health and Safety Executive is to manage most of it, not remove it,” Mohammad Zulfiquar, Datatecnics’ CEO, recently told Electronics Weekly.

While the company is still looking for investors before any widespread launch of the product, its mere existence could be a sign of good things to come in regard to the prevention of asbestos exposure in the years to come.

The Ugliest Asbestos Vinyl Floor Tiles

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

To all but the most hardcore retro fans, asbestos vinyl floor tiles almost laughably ugly. But they’re no joke – vinyl asbestos floor tiles are one of the top products responsible for mesothelioma, the rare but aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

From the 1940s through the 1970s, anyone who manufactured or installed these floor tiles was likely exposed to asbestos and is at risk of developing asbestos lung cancer, mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Kentile and Flintkote are two of the top brands, but there were many other small, lesser-known asbestos floor tile products.

Amazingly, there is a new group of DIY remodelers today who love the look of some of these old tiles and actively seek them out for retro remodeling projects. If you see any of these tiles, be warned!

(A big thank you to Asbestorama for these photos. Check out his libary of asbestos products on Flickr)

1. Congoleum Vinylstone

2. Armstong Montina

3. Aristoflex

4. Congoleum Dominique

5. Kentile Floors

6. Johns-Manville Terraflex

7. Flintkote

8. Armstrong Excelon

9. Mystery flooring with asbestos backing

How Small is an Asbestos Fiber?

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Image (c) Asbestorama

We hear a lot about how mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are caused by “microscopic” asbestos fibers. Easily inhaled, these tiny spear-like fibers of death become embedded into the delicate linings of the lung where, over time they can lead to scarring and eventually, mesothelioma cancer.

But how small is small?

This old advertisement from the infamous asbestos leader Johns-Manville shows how impossibly small asbestos fibers are: over 1500 of them bundled together are smaller than a human hair.

What is perhaps more astonishing then the relative size of asbestos fibers is the fact that their size was once a selling point for the global asbestos industry.

Use of Asbestos Wood Chips in Libby Disturbs Montana Senator Baucus

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:58:00 -0400

In light of recent reports that there are bark and wood chip products that are contaminated with asbestos, yet being sold in Libby, Montana as well as many other areas, state Senator Max Baucus is stepping in to look for some answers.

The Associated Press recently reported that the Environmental Protection Agency has known for at least three years that wood chips that were contaminated with asbestos fibers had been used in yards, city parks, schools, and other public places throughout Libby. Despite the agency’s being aware that dangerous asbestos fibers were being placed throughout the city, they did not step in to stop its usage until the AP launched an investigation on the matter.

In a press release posted on his website Wednesday, Baucus pledged his continued support to help the town of Libby, which has been plagued by asbestos issues caused by a now-defunct W.R. Grace vermiculite mining site for decades now.

"We've made tremendous strides in the effort to help Libby heal with health care and environmental cleanup. But trust is essential to Libby's ability to heal psychologically and economically,” Baucus said. “Now it appears EPA's actions may have put that trust in jeopardy, so you can bet I'll be holding EPA's feet to the fire to find out exactly what they knew, when they knew it, and whether action is needed to ensure the safety of folks in Libby and across the country who were exposed to this bark."

Baucus added that Libby’s residents had been “poisoned in the name of greed” and that he would work to pass along any safety information to the town residents and “move forward and create jobs with faith in the agencies and processes that are supposed to protect them.”

The town of Libby has become the synonymous with the increased risk of developing mesothelioma that asbestos exposure can pose. For those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer that can be linked to asbestos exposure caused by a product or former employer, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

Contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney to learn more about your rights, and to see if pursuing a mesothelioma settlement is in your best interest.

New Asbestos Outrage in Libby

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

W.R. Grace Mesothelioma victims up in arms over asbestos-contaminated woodpiles

For the many hundreds of Libby, Montana asbestos victims who have died, become gravely ill, or have lost loved ones to the negligent and criminal actions of W.R. Grace, the latest news from the proud and rugged town is almost too much to bear.

According to an Associated Press investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency has known since 2008 that two large piles of woodchips on the edge of town might be contaminated with unknown levels of deadly tremolite asbestos, but kept the information quiet. They even allowed Libby residents to haul the material away by the truckload for use in city parks, cemeteries and playgrounds.

Now Libby, the worst Superfund site in America, might be entering a fresh wave of contamination from the very material that the EPA has been trying to eradicate for the past 11 years. The EPA did not stop the hauling of the wood chips until March when the AP began its investigation. All of this despite $370 million spent by the EPA over the past 11 years cleaning up Libby.

Although regulators are unsure about the exact levels of contamination, tests conducted in 2007 showed asbestos fibers on four out of 20 wood samples. While this might appear to be a relatively small sampling, any new asbestos exposure is deeply troublesome for the asbestos victims who have already lost so much to Grace’s folly.

W.R. Grace (of Cambridge, MA) bought the Zonolite vermiculite mine in Libby in the 1960s, and was fully aware that the vermiculite was contaminated with tremolite, a particularly dangerous form of asbestos. Exposure to tremolite asbestos can cause asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis, asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma cancer. At its peak, the mines employed 200 townspeople, who worked in dirty, dusty conditions to mine the vermiculite, which was used for a popular insulation material.
Mine owners dismissed workers’ health concerns over the dust, calling it “nuisance dust” and allowing them to work without safety equipment. Workers carried the dust home, exposing family members to the deadly asbestos. Waste rock from the mines was doled out to townspeople and was used for fill in playgrounds, running tracks, baseball fields, yards and other home construction projects.

The dangers spread far beyond Libby. Zonolite was spread across the nation via a network of processing plants. A popular DIY pour-in insulation, Zonolite can still be found in an estimated 35 million homes across the country.

To date, hundreds of Libby residents have died and many more have become sick. It’s unknown how many have died nationwide from Libby asbestos. Grace was never prosecuted for their negligence.

"We thought we were coming to an end and now we have this issue all over again," said Lerah Parker, who used truckloads on the material on her property.

It’s estimated that over 1,000 tons of the potentially dangerous material was used within Libby, and as much as 15,000 tons were sent outside of the town.

Montana U.S. Sen. Max Baucus said he would start his own inquiry into the use of the bark and wood chips.
"The people of Libby have already been poisoned in the name of greed and I won't allow them to be poisoned again because of negligence," said Baucus.

Any concerns about the danger of the piles was brushed off by the man making money from selling the material. Paul Rummelhart said he was "sick and tired of those (asbestos) victims" hampering the town's economic revitalization. He said he intends to sell more of the material if given the chance.

Should Mesothelioma Patients Be Forced to Pay Their Own Legal Costs?

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Bradford Asbestos Victims Support Group fights odious new measure in Britain

Last week the British government revealed measures that could force personal injury claimants to pay legal costs previously paid by the defendant when found at fault. These measures come as part of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill which is the current government’s flagship justice bill.

This would mean that victims of asbestos who suffer from asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, asbestosis and other ailments, who have already lost their health, might also be on the hook for prohibitive legal fees.

Anti-asbestos activists such as former Bradford textiles union leader Terry Briton, of the Bradford Asbestos Victims Support Group are up in arms.

“Mesothelioma sufferers endure pain and suffering and an untimely death because of the risks of exposure to asbestos they had to take. Now they are told that they must carry the risks of suing for compensation – isn’t the risk of losing their lives enough? Where is the justice in making dying asbestos victims bear the burden of legal costs on top of the pain and suffering, while rich and powerful insurance companies enjoy relief from costs which the losing party have, and should, rightly bear,” he said.

Mr Briton has lost many friends and colleagues to asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma cancer, a rare but aggressive cancer that is only known to be caused by exposure to asbestos fibers.

The government has proposed the changes to the legal system in order to reduce costs by reducing the number of people using the courts.

Was Whitey Bulger Exposed to Asbestos?

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Now that one of the most dangerous and wanted men in the country has finally been captured after 16 years on the run, we can turn our attention to the real issue: was reputed mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger exposed to asbestos?

Although Bulger appears to be in great physical shape for an 81-year-old alleged murderer, his time in the Princess Eugenia Apartments in Santa Monica, California may have put him at risk for a number of serious and deadly asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer. His life could be slowly coming to an end, and he wouldn’t even know it.

Why?

Because the Princess Eugenia Apartment complex was built in 1970, the peak year of asbestos use in the United States. More likely than not, Whitey Bulger’s apartment contained asbestos.

Fireproof and durable, the deadly mineral asbestos was added into countless products from the 1930s through the early 1980s, when it was largely phased out of use due to its connection with mesothelioma and other illnesses. Products such as roofing, plaster, paint, spackle, joint compound and many other common products likely contained asbestos.

If the asbestos contained in those products is left undisturbed, the risks of asbestos exposure are low. But once the materials are disturbed through such actions as sanding, drilling, cutting, or stashing ill-gotten gains, countless microscopic asbestos fibers can be released into the air where they can be inhaled or swallowed.

Whitey Bulger may have unintentionally put himself and his girlfriend Catherine Greig at risk of mesothelioma by cutting open his wall to make the safe which held his guns and cash.

The latency period between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma can be as long as 40 years, meaning Bulger could be at serious risk of developing mesothelioma around his 120th birthday.

$3.5 Million Donated to Mesothelioma Research at University of Hawai’i Cancer Center

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:33:00 -0400

The University of Hawai’i Cancer Center has received a generous gift of more than $3 million to continue its important research regarding the causes of mesothelioma as well as potential cure for the disease.

An anonymous donor has given a $3.58 million donation to the cancer center to help aid the mesothelioma research work of its director, Dr. Michele Carbone, and her colleagues.

"Mesothelioma is a serious public health problem," said Dr. Virginia Hinshaw, Chancellor of UH Mānoa. "We're proud that Dr. Carbone's team is leading the world in this area of discovery. This gift validates their efforts and will help them remain at the forefront of thoracic oncology research."

The gift is the second largest one ever given to the UH Cancer Center. Dr. Carbone’s and researchers at the center recently released new findings relating to the presence of erionite - a material that causes mesothelioma – in rock materials that are used to pave roads in North Dakota.

The center has also conducted studies in Capadoccia, Turkey, a region where nearly 50 percent of the residents die of mesothelioma. There are currently plans for Dr. Carbone and collaborators to conduct a clinical trial co-sponsored by the Early Detection Research Network of the U.S. National Cancer Institute and the Turkish Ministry of Health to validate serum biomarkers they discovered for the early detection of mesothelioma.

"Private support is essential to solidify the UH Cancer Center's role as the world leader in mesothelioma research," said UH System President MRC Greenwood. "We look forward to furthering our work with donors to help the UH Cancer Center fulfill its vast potential as a transformative research enterprise for our state."

Mesothelioma and asbestosis are both deadly illnesses that are caused primarily by prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers. If you were exposed to asbestos while working for a company and have since developed one of these illnesses, it may be worth pursuing a mesothelioma lawsuit that could potentially result in a substantial asbestos settlement. If you think that a mesothelioma attorney could help prove your illness was caused by a specific entity’s negligence, please contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation.

Asbestos Deemed Not Hazardous, Canada Rejoices (Again)

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

It looks like the asbestos Gods are smiling down on Canada once again.

Participants at the Rotterdam Convention in Geneva could not come to a decision last week about whether or not to include the deadly mineral asbestos on its list of hazardous materials. Materials deemed ‘hazardous’ would be subject to intense restriction and even banned outright by the nations participating in the Convention.

With no decision reached, chrysotile asbestos will remain off the hazardous materials, at least for the next two years.

Canada vigorously opposed the inclusion of chrysotile asbestos on the list, and indeed, they were the only Western nation to do so. Over 60 nations, including those of the European Union have imposed a ban against asbestos.

While we are disappointed with the non-decision in Geneva, we are not surprised.

Canada has been making bold moves to expand its asbestos mining operations in recent months, most notably reopening the infamous Jeffery asbestos mine in Asbestos, Quebec. Largely prohibited within Canada itself, the country ships its asbestos to developing nations with far fewer safety standards such as India.

Asbestos is blamed for over 100,000 deaths worldwide every year. Those exposed to asbestos fibers are at risk for developing asbestosis, asbestos lung cancer, and mesothelioma cancer, a rare but aggressive cancer that kills with startling ferocity.
Most mesothelioma patients die within one year of their mesothelioma diagnosis.

Mesothelioma Attorneys Determine NBC Is Not Responsible for Merlin Olsen’s Asbestos Cancer

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

After a yearlong investigation into his death from mesothelioma, the mesothelioma attorneys representing Merlin Olsen’s estate have determined that NBC did not play a role in exposing the former NFL star to the asbestos that killed him.

Before he died last March from mesothelioma cancer, Olsen initiated a mesothelioma lawsuit against all of the companies he believed had exposed him to asbestos. NBC Studios was named in the lawsuit because he worked at the network later in his career as an announcer. He claimed he was exposed to asbestos dust when workers used asbestos plaster for repair jobs. He also named numerous other companies, including 20th Century Fox, Sherwin William, Garlock, Kaiser Gypsum, Kentile Floors, Lennox Industries and many others.

Prior to his stellar football career, Olsen worked numerous construction jobs where he was also likely exposed to asbestos. According to his mesothelioma lawsuit, he started working at age 11 at summer jobs.

“During the summers of his high school and college years, Merlin Olsen worked full days in construction and manual labor jobs where he was exposed to asbestos. His exposures continued later in his life when he was around workers working with asbestos drywall patching compounds.”

It was this later exposure that was blamed on NBC. However, Olsen’s mesothelioma attorneys and investigators found no link between his career at NBC and his cancer. The investigators did find many direct links with other products. The case is ongoing.
This case illustrated how difficult and time consuming it can be to find links between exposure to asbestos products and mesothelioma. This is why hiring an experienced mesothelioma law firm with top-notch mesothelioma investigators is crucial for a successful outcome.

Watch the video below to hear our mesothelioma investigator Bob O'Donnell explain what he does to help patients and their families go through the lawsuit process.

Asbestos Cancer Victims Receive Cash Award From Goodyear

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:28:00 -0400

Two former workers at upstate New York Goodyear Tire and Rubber and Goodyear Canada have received a substantial cash award from the tire company after it was found to be at fault for causing the asbestos exposure that led to both of their deaths in 1998.

Eugene “Mac” McCarthy and Walter Koczur both spent a significant portion of their careers working for jobs that utilized gaskets manufactured by Goodyear. McCarthy worked as a heavy equipment engine mechanic during the late 1960s and early 1970s where he regular dealt with Goodyear-produced gaskets that contained asbestos, while Koczur was also exposed to gaskets containing asbestos that were made by Goodyear while working as a steamfitter from 1969-1973.

Later in their lives, both McCarthy and Koczur developed asbestos-related lung cancers. They both passed away from their illnesses in 1998.

In the lawsuits filed by both men’s families following their deaths, it was argued that their illnesses could both be attributed to their usage of sheet gasket materials that were manufactured by The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Goodyear Canada during the 1960s and 1970s. Following a five week trial, the jury found both Goodyear companies at least partially responsible for causing the illnesses that killed McCarthy and Koczur.

McCarthy’s family won $8.5 million in a cash award from the jury, while the Koczur family was awarded $11.6 million.

Canadian MP and Mesothelioma Patient Speaks Out About Asbestos

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Months ago we wrote about the baffling case of the mesothelioma cancer patient and Canadian government official who was opposed to banning asbestos, the very material responsible for his illness.

Today former Canadian Infrastructure Minister Chuck Strahl seems to have taken more of a stand against asbestos. It’s a small stand, but might represent progress nonetheless for the thousands at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Strahl is urging his fellow Canadians to support the inclusion of asbestos in the Rotterdam Convention, the body deciding which chemicals and other materials should be labeled harmful to human health and thus considered for banning and other restrictions.

A former logger, Strahl believes he was exposed to the asbestos used to make brakes on the logging truck he once drove.

One of the machines I ran was a yarder, which is basically a huge set of winches bolted to a modified army surplus tank. The brakes on these winches were asbestos, and they had to be massive and oversized. An inch thick, six inches wide, and three feet in circumference, they clamped onto a huge drum and were ground into asbestos dust, 9-10 hours a day. The brakes might only last a week before they had to be replaced. The operator sat on a seat not two feet from the asbestos, breathing it in and out, day after day.

Despite the gravity of his disease, Strahl is grateful that he has survived as long as he has – over six years. The average survival after a mesothelioma diagnosis is only six to 12 months.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos by using certain products or working for certain companies and have subsequently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, there may be legal options worth pursuing to obtain a mesothelioma settlement. Contact a mesothelioma attorney if you have any questions about the details of asbestos law and what is needed to pursue a settlement from the manufacturer of the asbestos product (not necessarily your company).

Grow an Asbestos Spine, Canada

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

With criticism of Canada’s support of the asbestos mining industry heating up, the government is refusing to take a strong position on the carcinogenic, but very profitable mineral.

They need to figure where they stand on asbestos. Now. Because this coming Monday, the nations belonging to the Rotterdam Convention need to decide if Chrysotile asbestos will be added to their list of hazardous substances.

The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade is a treaty designed to encourage the open sharing of information regarding hazardous chemicals and other materials. Participating countries can decide whether or not to impose bans or other restrictions on the materials included in the treaty.

And herein lies the problem for Canada.

Although over 60 countries, including those of the EU have banned asbestos, and numerous Canadian health organizations have supported the motion to add Chrysotile asbestos to the list, the Canadian government has refused to take a stand.

This should come as no surprise. A few months ago, Gilles Duceppe, the Bloc Quebecoise leader refused to take a stand on the issue until he was finally backed into a corner. He was quoted as saying that unlike the asbestos mined in the 1940s and 50s, today’s asbestos is safe.

All this moral squishiness about a material that has been positively linked to dreadful illnesses such as mesothelioma cancer and asbestos lung cancer is shocking. After all, the Canadian government would never want to harm their own people would they?
No, of course not. But people in poor countries are another story.

Canada’s position on the domestic use of Chrysotile is clear. It’s simply not used within their own borders. Exporting their asbestos is where the profit is. Exports of Chrysotile to India have grown substantially in recent years. According to a BBC report, Canada exported nearly 153,000 tons of asbestos to India in 2009. And with the recent government-supported expansion of the Jeffrey Asbestos Mine in Asbestos, Quebec happening soon, that number is expected to rise dramatically.

Nanotubes: The Next Best Thing to Asbestos

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

If you’re looking for a widely used, cheap material that can be added to numerous products to make them stronger and more durable, forget the asbestos because nanotubes are where it’s at.

Oh, did we mention that like impossibly small asbestos fibers that get lodged in the lungsw when inhaled, nanotubes can also lead to devastating illnesses such as mesothelioma?

One might think that after the asbestos industry debacle of the twentieth century, which claimed countless lives and continues to ruin the fortunes of even the most mighty companies, industry would see fit to look a little closer at the effects of a favorite shiny new “miracle” material. One would, of course, be wrong.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have discovered that a certain type of carbon nanotube is posing significant risks to those involved in its manufacture. If the nanotubes do indeed mimic the effects of asbestos, then inhaling them can lead to numerous serious illnesses, including lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.

To be considered safe, the nanotubes would have to be long enough to be useful to industry but short enough to be expelled by the lung lining.

Europe Takes Aim at Canadian Asbestos Industry

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Take note, Canada: The European Union is not pleased with your trade policies.

Last week the European Parliament took Canada to task for its asbestos industry, saying it posed a grave risk for the asbestos miners. The Parliament also criticized the Canadian oil sands industry’s environmental record and sealing industry.

While asbestos is banned in over 60 nations, including those of the European Union, Canada has expanded its asbestos mining industry in recent months pushing exports into developing countries such as India with more lax safety standards. Asbestos has been named one to the greatest industrial killers of all time, causing over 100,000 deaths worldwide every year.

Asbestos exposure has been linked to numerous serious illnesses, including asbestos lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and most recently, ovarian cancer.

At the plenary session in Strasbourg, France last Wednesday, MEPs (members of Parliament) were debating trade directives with Canada when the statement condemning what they see as Canada’s regressive and harmful practices was approved by a show of hands.

"Parliament… raised some potential concerns. One was the environmental impact of extracting oil from tarsands, due to its high CO2 emissions and its local impact on biodiversity," the release stated."Another was serious harm to the health of workers mining asbestos, the processing and use of which is already banned in the EU."

Supreme Court Rules That Mesothelioma Case Not Handled Correctly

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:54:00 -0400

A Tennessee Supreme Court Ruling has found that a trial judgment was incorrect when it awarded no money to man who passed away form mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure that was caused by a former employer.

According to Legal Newsline, Hugh Todd Nye died in 2006 from mesothelioma that doctors said was likely caused by his years of work at a DuPont facility that contained asbestos products. The jury concurred that DuPont was responsible for damages caused by the mesothelioma diagnosis.

However, an intermediary doctrine that protects companies from being held liable for products they are not responsible for was also utilized during the case. As a result, North Brothers - the company that sold the asbestos products in question – was deemed to be subject to the strict liability suit.

The discrepancy in liability and responsibility for damages between the two companies resulted in Nye’s widow receiving no monetary award for her husband’s death, despite the court’s finding that the asbestos products had caused Nye’s illness.

The ruling was appealed by Nye’s widow. After looking over the case, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that the intermediary doctrine was “not applicable under the circumstances of [the] case.”

"It was proper for the jury to consider the actions of DuPont in determining whether DuPont was the cause in fact of Mr. Nye's injuries," read the court’s opinion, which was authored by Justice Sharon Lee. "However, it does not follow that it was also proper to instruct the jury that if DuPont was aware of any dangers in connection with the use of the products it purchased from North Brothers, North Brothers could not be held liable for failure to warn."

With this situation now resolved, hopefully the Nye family can be properly compensated by the companies that caused Hugh’s mesothelioma diagnosis.

Link Found Between Asbestos and Ovarian Cancer

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The links between asbestos and malignant mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer have been established since the early 1970s. And although the link was suspected, a causal relationship between asbestos and ovarian cancer has never been proven. Until now that is.

A new study confirms that women who have been exposed to asbestos fibers through work were one and three quarters more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those who were not. This study, led by Leslie Stayner from the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago followed a meta-analysis of 18 different studies of women who had been exposed to asbestos through a work environment. While earlier studies failed to find a link between the on-site exposure and onset of ovarian cancer, this one was able to sift through many instances of misclassified tumors and solidify evidence of a link.

The problem was this: until recently, discerning the differences between ovarian cancer and peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen) was challenging. Researchers are unsure about how the asbestos fibers reach the ovarian tissue. One theory is that they are transported through the reproductive tract, or that the asbestos fibers are carried in the bloodstream or lymph system, penetrating the ovary through the mesothelium.

The vast majority of the women in the studies had been exposed to asbestos while manufacturing gas masks.
Although asbestos has been largely phased out of use since the links between it and asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma were proven, the mineral is still manufactured in several nations, most notably Canada, which has chosen to expand mining and export of the deadly carcinogen in recent months.

Learn more about the global effort to ban asbestos now, here.

Company Allegedly Dumped in NY Wetlands

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:30:00 -0400

A New Jersey construction company has been indicted along with a New York farm owner for their roles in illegally dumping nearly 30,000 tons of debris that contain dangerous asbestos products in wetlands during 2006.

The owners of Mazza & Sons, a Tinton Falls, NJ-based construction company, were named in indictment along with two others that allege they conspired to illegally dump dangerous products that contain asbestos without properly notifying the Department of Environmental Conservation.

The alleged dumping took place from June – October 2006 in wetlands on a farm owned by Cross Nicastro, one of the other two people named in the indictment as well.

"As the indictment sets forth, there was no permit. In fact, they created a fraudulent permit and tried to make it seem like the DEC had authorized this as a disposal site when they had done no such thing. We allege in the indictment that it was a completely false and fraudulent permit," Assistant US Attorney Craig Benedict told a local news network.

The wetlands used for the illegal dumping has since been covered and been scheduled for a cleanup.

For those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer that can be linked to asbestos exposure caused by a product or company, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney to learn more about your rights, and to see if pursuing a mesothelioma settlement is in your best interest.

Infamous Ambler Asbestos Factory to Become Green Office Development

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

One of the most infamous of the old American asbestos factories was the Keasbey & Mattison plant in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
K&M built Amber, and Ambler loved the company for the jobs and wealth that it provided. Unfortunately, the company also left behind massive amounts of asbestos waste. Today, the former K&M factory is one of the most toxic sites around, with some parts of it labeled Superfund sites by the EPA.

Exposure to asbestos has been definitively linked to a wide range of health problems, including asbestos lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma cancer. With the estimated asbestos clean-up costs proving too daunting for most developers, the site has remained abandoned, blighted and hazardous since the 1980s.

Now thanks to the efforts of a regional coalition of governments, the most toxic of Ambler’s asbestos sites, the Amber Boiler House, might become the most eco-friendly. This week the push to fund the $14.7 development was completed with the help of a $2.5 million loan from the Metropolitan Caucus’ EnergyWorks. The project will convert the contaminated site into energy-efficient office space, turning the blighted space into a vibrant green development and hopefully spurring others to invest in the Ambler area.