In many occupational asbestos claims, it has been challenging to establish that asbestos fiber was used in the workplace. That will soon change under recently announced US Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] Rules.
Showing posts with label Lung cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lung cancer. Show all posts
Friday, October 20, 2023
Friday, June 5, 2020
Fourteen Attorney Generals Criticizes EPA for Failing to Protect Americans from Asbestos, a Long-Known Dangerous Carcinogen
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, leading a coalition of 14 attorneys general, including New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, submitted comments criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) finding that certain uses of asbestos present no unreasonable risk to human health. In the comment letter, the coalition argues that the EPA’s draft risk evaluation for asbestos violates the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and Congress' intent that the EPA consider all uses of asbestos in its evaluation. The coalition notes the finding is unsupported by the EPA's own assessment and urges the agency to obtain the information it has admitted it needs to conduct the necessary, thorough evaluations of the risks presented by this chemical.
Friday, March 29, 2019
NJ Legislature Bans Asbestos
Both houses of the New Jersey Legislature has made history by passing a bill to ban the sale of asbestos products in the State. The legislation awaits the Governor’s signature. [Editorial Note: A4416 NJ Leg Session 2018-19 was signed by the Governor and enacted, Approved P.L. 2019, c.114 on May 10, 2019 - Click Here for Pamphlet Law].
Saturday, December 29, 2018
US Lawmakers Urged EPA to Investigate Talc Products
Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici today pressed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for answers following an alarming new Reuters report revealing that some everyday consumer products, including baby powders, may contain asbestos—a highly toxic chemical.
Friday, August 17, 2018
US EPA Still Not Banning Asbestos
The US EPA is about to approve 15 uses for asbestos, a known carcinogen. This action is consistent with the Trump Administration's effort ease regulations. This action is contrary to the efforts of the Obama Administration to entirely ban the use of asbestos in the US.
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Asbestos and Mold in Schools: Paterson NJ Safety Officer Claims Mishandling
The presence of asbestos and mold in schools and the potential exposure of students and employees has been a major health concern for decades. A Paterson NJ health and safety office now claims that the Paterson NJ school system improperly mishandled the removal of these hazards in violation of Federal regulations.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
US Workers Continue to be Exposed to Asbestos
 |
| Asbestos Insulation |
Monday, March 28, 2016
Pleural mesothelioma reported in a school teacher: asbestos exposure due to DAS paste
The hazardous legacy exposures of school children and art teachers to materials containing asbestos fiber, ie. Fibro Clay, and its causal relationship to mesothelioma, has been reported in a recent medical journal. Today's post is partially shared from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
BACKGROUND:
Malignant mesothelioma cases among primary school teachers are usually linked with asbestos exposure due to the mineral contained in the building structure. Among the approximately 12,000 cases of mesothelioma described in the fourth report of the National Mesothelioma Register, 11 cases of primary school teachers are reported, in spite of the fact that the "catalogue of asbestos use" does not describe circumstances of asbestos exposure other than or different to that due to asbestos contained in the buildings. Four cases in the Brescia Provincial Mesothelioma Register are identified as teachers, without this circumstance of exposure.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
New staging of mesothelioma tumors may predict outcome
A recent study indicates that a new physician staging processes by weight and volume of mesothelioma tumors may be helpful in predicting outcome. Mesothelioma is a fatal rare tumor and almost always associated with exposure to asbestos fibers. The development of mesothelioma commonly is diagnosed decades after the initial exposure to asbestos fiber.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Senator Patrick Leahy Calls For Greater Transparency by Asbestos Companies
Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy Ranking Member, Judiciary Committee Hearing on “The Need for Transparency in the Asbestos Trusts”
Today the Judiciary Committee meets to discuss legislation that purports to promote more transparency in asbestos trusts. Before we get into a detailed discussion about the merits of the proposed legislation, I want to make sure we all remember why we are here today. For decades, millions of American workers were secretly poisoned. Men and women who worked in our Nation’s factories, shipyards, mines and construction sites, and service members in the military, unknowingly inhaled air that was laced with asbestos—a substance so harmful that an individual can become critically ill simply by breathing.
Friday, November 13, 2015
Demolition of Paterson NJ Armory Highlights Present Danger of Asbestos
The emergency demolition of the decades old Paterson NJ Armory, an historic site, highlights that asbestos, a known carcinogen, remains a hazard to workers when older buildings require renovation or demolition.
asbestos remains a clear and present danger to workers. Despite the fact that asbestos may not be used as a new construction material,
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, was used for years as a construction material because of its fire retardant and heat insulation properties.
The hazards of asbestos are well known. Exposure to asbestos may cause the latent development of: asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The Paterson NJ Armory caught fire several days ago and resulted in a major North Jersey fire alarm requiring the participation of firefighters to be called in from multiple jurisdictions to be be brought under control. Unable to reach and extinguish some parts of the fire, the Paterson Fire Department ordered that the historic building be demolished on an emergency basis.
Despite the knowledge of the fatal hazards of asbestos use, it has yet to be banned in the United States.
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, was used for years as a construction material because of its fire retardant and heat insulation properties.
The hazards of asbestos are well known. Exposure to asbestos may cause the latent development of: asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The Paterson NJ Armory caught fire several days ago and resulted in a major North Jersey fire alarm requiring the participation of firefighters to be called in from multiple jurisdictions to be be brought under control. Unable to reach and extinguish some parts of the fire, the Paterson Fire Department ordered that the historic building be demolished on an emergency basis.
Despite the knowledge of the fatal hazards of asbestos use, it has yet to be banned in the United States.
….
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Asbestos in Children's Toys
It has been reported that certain children's toys contain asbestos fiber. Asbestos is a known cancer producing substance.Today's post is shared from ewr.org
"The toys, purchased at national retail chains or through online retailers, were tested by a government-certified laboratory, using state-of-the-art equipment. Samples that tested positive were retested by another government-certified laboratory to confirm the results. The results are significant because even trace exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other fatal lung disease.
"The tests found asbestos in four of the 28 boxes of crayons tested, several marketed under the names of popular fantasy characters Mickey Mouse, Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Two of the 21 crime scene fingerprint kits were tainted with asbestos.
Click here to read the entire article.
Click here to read Sen Ed Markey's Letter.
….
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Asbestos: The Silent Epidemic Continues
For John Nolan, the first warning signs came mid-November of last year while he was leading a tour in the Peruvian Andes.
Mr. Nolan, 67, who lives in Fort Erie in southwestern Ontario, was guiding a group through the mountains near the storied Incan city of Cuzco.
He had criss-crossed the planet for years as a tour guide, and knew what higher altitudes typically felt like. But something terrifying happened while he was hauling his luggage up some steep stone steps to his cabin.
“I’ve never been out of breath in such a panicky, horrible way,” Mr. Nolan says in a raspy voice between laboured breaths. “Normally, when you run out of breath, you know you’re going to get it back. This was different. It was as if you were hitting a stone wall, with no hope of getting air. It was like suffocating.”
The diagnosis, back at home, was swift and cruel. It was mesothelioma — an incurable cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Mr. Nolan was initially given a few months to live.
Asbestos is the top on-the-job killer in Canada. But a Globe and Mail investigation has found that this stark fact has been obscured by the country’s longstanding economic interest in the onetime “miracle mineral.” Even though Canada’s own asbestos industry has dwindled from pre-eminence to insignificance — the country’s last two mines closed in 2011 — the federal government has dragged its feet as other nations have acknowledged asbestos’s deadly impact and moved to protect their populations from it.
The diagnosis, back at home, was swift and cruel. It was mesothelioma — an incurable cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Mr. Nolan was initially given a few months to live.
Asbestos is the top on-the-job killer in Canada. But a Globe and Mail investigation has found that this stark fact has been obscured by the country’s longstanding economic interest in the onetime “miracle mineral.” Even though Canada’s own asbestos industry has dwindled from pre-eminence to insignificance — the country’s last two mines closed in 2011 — the federal government has dragged its feet as other nations have acknowledged asbestos’s deadly impact and moved to protect their populations from it.
….
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Related articles
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
IMIG 2014: Dr. Robert Weinberg speaks on Cancer Stem Cell Targeting Therapies
Dr. Weinberg focused on the importance of cancer stem cells in mesothelioma. The concept of a stem cell origin of cancer was first described over fifty years ago as a small subset of cells capable of re-initiating a clonal tumor, and there is evidence for both a stem cell origin of mesothelioma, and a stem cell population in the mesothelioma tumor microenvironment. These cells play an essential role in the invasion-metastasis cascade, they are risk to conventional chemotherapy, and are believed to underlie resistance and relapse in mesothelioma. Click here for a summary of the latest information on cancer stem cells in mesothelioma.
Click here to watch Dr. Weinberg’s Presentation
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
IMIG 2014: Dr. Ravi Salgia presents “From Chaos to Mitochondrial Functionality”
Click here to watch Dr. Salgia’s Presentation
Monday, October 27, 2014
IMIG 2014: New Molecules and New Therapies – Advancing Mesothelioma Carehttp://imig.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/fennell.jpg
Click here to watch Dean Fennell
IMIG: Dr. Constantine Alifrangis Speaks on Next Generation Sequencing in Mesothelioma
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Asbestos likely more widespread than previously thought
Naturally occurring asbestos minerals may be more widespread than previously thought, with newly discovered sources now identified within the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The asbestos-rich areas are in locations not previously considered to be at risk, according to a new report. “These minerals were found where one wouldn’t expect or think to look,” said a co-researcher of the study. The naturally occurring asbestos was found in Boulder City, Nevada, in the path of a construction zone to build a multi-million dollar highway.
Click here t read the entire article.
Click here t read the entire article.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Court Orders Travelers Insurance to Pay $500 Million Asbestos Settlement
Today's post is shared from the wsj.com
Travelers Cos. reported an 18% decline in second-quarter operating profit as insurance claims from wind and hail storms eroded earnings, which were below analyst estimates and a catalyst for a sharp drop in the company's shares Tuesday.
Separately, the company was hit with an adverse ruling in a long-running case involving asbestos-related claims of more than $500 million tied to the insurer's coverage of Johns-Manville Corp. decades ago.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed a 2012 ruling by a lower court. The ruling by the federal appellate court in New York directed Travelers to make the $500 million payment, plus interest.
"We are still reviewing the decision, but this is a matter we have disclosed for more than 10 years and we have contemplated this as a potential outcome in our reserving, although we do not have a provision for interest," a Travelers' spokesman said. The company estimated the interest at approximately $75 million, before taxes.
In afternoon trading, Travelers shares were down 4.3% at $91.15 amid gains in the broader equities market. With the decline, Travelers shares are up 0.7% in 2014.
One of the country's largest property-casualty insurers, Travelers often sets the tone for industry earnings that will be announced by its peers in the coming weeks. Analysts watch closely how it is maneuvering through a competitive price environment while low interest rates continue to put pressure on...
[Click here to see the rest of this post]
Click here to read the Court Decision In Re: Johns-Manville Corporation et al, decided 7/22/2014
Travelers Cos. reported an 18% decline in second-quarter operating profit as insurance claims from wind and hail storms eroded earnings, which were below analyst estimates and a catalyst for a sharp drop in the company's shares Tuesday.
Separately, the company was hit with an adverse ruling in a long-running case involving asbestos-related claims of more than $500 million tied to the insurer's coverage of Johns-Manville Corp. decades ago.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed a 2012 ruling by a lower court. The ruling by the federal appellate court in New York directed Travelers to make the $500 million payment, plus interest.
"We are still reviewing the decision, but this is a matter we have disclosed for more than 10 years and we have contemplated this as a potential outcome in our reserving, although we do not have a provision for interest," a Travelers' spokesman said. The company estimated the interest at approximately $75 million, before taxes.
In afternoon trading, Travelers shares were down 4.3% at $91.15 amid gains in the broader equities market. With the decline, Travelers shares are up 0.7% in 2014.
One of the country's largest property-casualty insurers, Travelers often sets the tone for industry earnings that will be announced by its peers in the coming weeks. Analysts watch closely how it is maneuvering through a competitive price environment while low interest rates continue to put pressure on...
[Click here to see the rest of this post]
Click here to read the Court Decision In Re: Johns-Manville Corporation et al, decided 7/22/2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
County Building Set for Demolition Contains Asbestos
 Todays post is shared from emissourian.com An asbestos review on a county-owned building that will be torn down found some of the substance in the structure. The building, which is just south of the Franklin County Government Center in Union, will be torn down to create more county employee parking. The goal is to keep county employees from parking on the street in downtown Union, where there is said to be a parking shortage. Keeping the county employees from parking on the street will open up more parking for the public and patrons of downtown businesses, First District County Commissioner Tim Brinker noted. He did not know how many employees are parking on the street in downtown Union, but he said there are “quite a few.” Brinker said this week that asbestos has been found in some of the caulking around a door. Cochran Engineering of Union, which did the asbestos and lead survey on the building, recommended that the contractor chosen for the demolition include in its work proper disposal of the asbestos. The county commission may vote next week to seek bids on the demolition of the building, which resembles a Quonset hut. Lung cancer has been associated with asbestos exposure, according to the EPA. Brinker said tearing down the building also honors an agreement that was made between the city of Union and a prior commission. The current county commission has to fulfill the agreement since it was not done before, he said. The agreement involved the city of Union vacating a street so the county could... |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)