In recent years much attention has been geared towards the various health conditions that may arise as a result of working with or around asbestos. From lung cancer to mesothelioma, the facts are there – asbestos can cause significant health risks.
Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally as fibers and are used in certain industries. The trick is, since society is more aware of the dangers of asbestos today – most industries avoid the use of these minerals in order to decrease the likelihood of health risks such as lung damage.
The United States EPA provides us with a great deal of information on asbestos, including the following:
From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of…….. (more…)
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) applauds both Senator Gloria Romero for authoring SB 624 and the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources for passing this legislation to remove serpentine, the host rock of asbestos, as California’s official state rock, supporting the eradication of asbestos to promote public health.
“ADAO dedicates our efforts on this campaign to Army Archerd, prolific Daily Variety journalist who died from mesothelioma in September 2009”
“California has the highest rate of mesothelioma deaths in the nation,” said Senator Gloria Romero (D-East Los Angeles). “This bill is about raising awareness to protect the health of our citizens. Serpentine contains asbestos, a known carcinogen. Toxic materials have no place serving as emblems for the State.”….. (more…)
St Mary’s Hospice and Barrow Asbestos Related Disease Support (BARDS) held an awareness day to mark the worldwide Action Mesothelioma Day on Friday.
Members of BARDS and representatives from legal teams, trade unions and other organisations were on hand to offer advice in The Forum, in Duke Street, Barrow, throughout the day.
Barrow businessman Rick Lucas, who became an A1 Assessor in Construction after studying for a foundation degree at Furness College, also had a display at the event.
The stall was his bid to raise awareness of the modern threat of asbestos and how businessmen can educate their employees.
The event was part of a British Lung Foundation campaign for people diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal chest cancer which develops 15 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos.
Last year, figures showed 197 people in Barrow, 42 people in Copeland and 59 people in South Lakeland have died from mesothelioma since 1981.
At a special ceremony, Barrow mayor, Councillor Rory McClure, and Furness MP John Woodcock laid a wreath in remembrance of people who have died from mesothelioma in the gardens of Barrow Town Hall.
Maureen Kirk, St Mary’s Hospice and BARDS co-ordinator, said: “The day is about mesothelioma. It has touched the lives of many, many people here in Barrow.
“We are very fortunate that we have specialist solicitors to offer advice, trade unions which are very active in health and safety campaigns, nursing care at the hospice, complimentary therapy and bereavement support and all of those people behind the scenes. We have a number of volunteers who make a huge difference, whether it’s lending an ear or making a cup of tea.”
Mr Woodcock said: “Mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases such as pleural plaques are embedded in the history of Barrow and the Furness area……… (more…)
A BLAZING skip containing asbestos caused a fire alert in the early hours of yesterday morning (Sunday).
The alarm was raised by residents living along Northbourne Avenue, Shanklin, at around 3am.
Householders were advised to close their windows while firefighters dealt with the blaze.
The skip, which contained burning astestos, was outside a property being renovated.
Firefighters gave the all clear at 5.16am.
asbestos and mesothelioma
As a Matter of Law: Steve McQueen’s Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Asbestos Exposure
Many are aware that famous movie actor, Steve McQueen, died of cancer. But few are aware he actually had a mesothelioma diagnosis. As most are also not aware, Steve McQueen worked in a shipyard as a young man — where he was likely exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos exposure is the only well established cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure is also known to cause lung cancer and colon cancer. A mesothelioma diagnosis occurs many years after asbestos exposure, and may not develop for more than 50 years after the first asbestos exposure.
Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP, has experienced New York and New Jersey mesothelioma lawyers. Robert Komitor, who has more than 20 years of experience in mesothelioma lawsuits, discusses the importance of a very detailed occupational history. For more information: www.LPKLaw.com or www.NYNJMesothelioma.com.
For those living in the United Kingdom, today marks Action Mesothelioma Day, an attempt to spread awareness about a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
The British Lung Foundation and other asbestos support groups have campaigned for the day since 2006. In addition to creating awareness about the effects of asbestos exposure, the day is meant to support those who have been affected with malignant mesothelioma as well as bring notice to the importance of improving treatment options.
A cure for this cancer has yet to be found, but researchers around the world continue to perform clinical trials with the hope of finding one. Current treatment methods are more or less designed to relieve symptoms and prolong life. The average mesothelioma life expectancy for patients ranges between four and 18 months…….. (more…)
The property owner of the Ambler boiler house removed approximately 900 tons of asbestos-containing material from the site last week.
The material was removed last weekend from June 19 to 21, according to Lynda Rebarchak, community relations coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Southeast Region.
“The material left the site in about 37 trailers, and it was covered with a tarp prior to leaving the site,” she said. “It was shipped to a facility in Ohio that is permitted to accept that type of waste.”
The removal was mandated by the DEP last year.
“We had been in contact with the property owner for that parcel, Ronald Hamilton,” Rebarchak said. “Back in December of 2009, we had issued an order to Mr. Hamilton requiring that he remove some material that had been stockpiled on site. … It was demolition material from work that was done back in May of 2009. There was some roofing material and some other material that had been located inside the property.
“The material was then combined in a pile next to the building,” she said. “We had performed testing of that pile and determined the entire pile was to be considered asbestos-containing waste material, and that was why we were requiring it be removed as quickly as possible.”
The demolition at the site last May was done without permission from the DEP, and Hamilton received a citation as a result. DEP officials investigated the site to find roofing materials were being removed when the owner had not submitted an Asbestos Abatement and Demolition/Renovation Notification Form as required by the DEP’s Air Pollution Rules and Regulations.
While the DEP ordered Hamilton to remove the asbestos-containing material back in December, he had appealed the order, and a court hearing had been scheduled for June 28, according to Rebarchak.
“In the meantime, the pile was being kept under cover,” she said.
Hamilton then went ahead with the removal with the court date less than two weeks away.
Hamilton did not inform the DEP about the removal, but since it was work ordered by the DEP, he was not required to do so, according to Rebarchak.
“We didn’t know that he had opted to comply with the order until we had received word from an area resident,” she said. “He was required to let us know prior to any demolition work. This was work we had required him to do.”
Rebarchak said the removal of the asbestos containing waste should have no health or environmental impact on the area.
“Water was being used to wet the material prior to loading the amount onto the trailers,” she said. “There should have been no impact to the community.”
The owners of the boiler house submitted a rehabilitation plan for the site earlier this year with the Redevelopment Authority of Montgomery County. The plan, which includes the removal of asbestos containing material, aims to convert the boiler house into an office building.
Rebarchak said the DEP had been in touch with the Redevelopment Authority, which had no update on when the rehabilitation or other future work at the site would begin………. (more…)
