Mesothelioma Headlines
Noteworthy mesothelioma and asbestos cancer news headlines and articles
Jan 5, 2009 - Asbestos Found in Almost All New South Wales Schools
Asbestos found in most of New South Wales Schools after Department of Education employs strategy to establish an asbestos register. Despite the discovery of asbestos in almost every school, only a couple were deemed to pose medium risk and necessary actions are being taken.
A building recently purchased by the St. Louis County Fire District was ordered to be vacated after investigations revealed the presence of asbestos in floor and ceiling tiles and other materials.
Four sons of a deceased refinery worker file a wrongful death suit against Chevron and Gulf Oil on behalf of their father, Gliese Bergeron.
The Hamner Institute for Health Sciences received a research grant for $2.1 million from the EPA to study inhaled asbestos-contaminated Vermiculite fiber.
Dec 27, 2008 - Ford Drops It’s Appeal in Asbestos Case
Ford Australia dropped an appeal against a landmark court ruling by the WA Supreme Court that awarded a former mechanic $840,000 in compensation for exposure to asbestos when he worked at Ford as a brake mechanic.
Dec 19, 2008 - Hope for Woman Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
In most cases, a patient diagnosed with mesothelioma has a grim prognosis of any kind of treatment or cure. Debbie Brewer proves to be an exception. She was diagnosed in November of 2006 due to secondary exposure caused by hugging her father when he returned home from working in the ship yards. Debbie was given less than a year to live, but then chose to try an experimental treatment, chemoembolisation, that has reduced her tumor by more than half and put it in partial remission.
Dec 19, 2008 - How Exposure to Asbestos Leads to Cancer
Scientists from Ohio State are studying how asbestos fibers can cause cancers such as mesothelioma. Studies have been done previously, but never looking at the interactions between asbestos fibers and human cells. The intention of the research is to help treat and prevent asbestos-induced diseases.
Washington Supreme Court ruled in two separate cases last week that manufacturers are not liable for failing to warn about the hazards of asbestos in someone else’s product. Manufacturers do have a duty to warn about dangers associated with their own products, the court said, but not to warn about the dangers of another maker’s product.
Dec 16, 2008 - Study Reveals Higher Risk of Asbestosis for Those Near Mines
The Vermont Health Department conducted a study that shows people who live or have lived near a former asbestos mine have a higher rate of asbestos-related lung diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Dec 11, 2008 - Woolworths Fined Over Improper Asbestos Removal
Retailer Woolworths was fined for exposing staff to asbestos at two Devon stores. The Exeter Crown Court ruled that Woolworths did not take adequate steps to protect staff during a renovation project in which ceiling tiles containing asbestos were removed, resulting in exposure for staff.
Dec 5, 2008 - W.R. Grace Settles Asbestos Class-Action Suit
W.R. Grace & Co. has agreed to pay up to $140 million to settle a nationwide class action lawsuit that was filed on behalf of property owners. W.R. Grace produced an attic insulation, Zonolite, that contained asbestos and was installed in millions of homes.
Dec 1, 2008 - Tasmanian Union Calls for Central Asbestos Registers
As part of Asbestos Awareness week, Unions Tasmania investigated 326 workplaces and found almost half to be out of compliance with safety regulations in regards to the presence and use of asbestos. The Union is calling for a central register to better map asbestos in the workplace.
Dec 1, 2008 - Brumby Apologizes to Asbestos Victims
Victorian Premier John Brumby apologizes to asbestos victims and their families, expressing regret for the pain and suffering of power workers who contracted asbestos-related dieseases caused by exposure at Victorian power plants. He acknowledges, "Some workers and families have endured intolerable suffering, including slow and painful effects of lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma."
Dec 1, 2008 - Asbestos Mine Face Closure
Zimbabwe asbestos mines are facing closure as South Africa, one of the major importers of the products, has banned the use of asbestos materials. This move by South Africa is seen as part of an international crusade to ban the use of asbestos given it's known risk to cause serious health effects, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer and pleural disease.
The Oneida County office building in Utica, New York, has been tested and cleared of suspected airborne asbestos. The building had been closed due to suspected asbestos contamination in the basement.
Nov 19, 2008 - Alsip, Illinois Chemical Plant Closed After Fire
The presence of asbestos found in the Blue Island Phenol plant in Alsip, Illinois, will probably keep the plant closed until health risks to employees are evaluated. Hazardous chemicals including asbestos were possibly leaked into the atmosphere after a fire last week.
Nov 19, 2008 - More Trouble for W. R. Grace Co.
Asbestos-containing vermiculite from W.R. Graces Libby, Montana mine continues to dog the company, already facing numerous lawsuits for careless business practices.
Nov 17, 2008 - Asbestos Risk in Naturally Occurring Ultramafic Rock
A study at the University of California at Davis has found that exposure to asbestos from ultramafic rock found in wild and residential areas throughout northern and central California can lead to mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer of the lung lining.
Nov 13, 2008 - Vermont Questions Use of Asbestos Tailings
The state of Vermont is investigating to determine if waste from an abandoned asbestos mine was used for roads or construction projects. The Department of Environmental Conservation is looking at communities around Lowell and Eden to see if asbestos tailings were used as fill in driveways or other projects, the Burlington FreePress.com reported.
Nov 12, 2008 - Illinois EPA Headquarters May Contain Asbestos
Missing data regarding asbestos cleanup in the Illinois headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency has led to questions on whether or not the building is safe from asbestos contamination.
Nov 12, 2008 - Armed Forces Members May Have Asbestos-Related Illnesses
The Blackanthem.com Military News in its Veterans Day article said there is a rising incidence of asbestos-related complications among current and former members of the U.S. armed forces. Asbestos attorneys are concerned because exposure to asbestos fibers in the workplace can lead to mesothelioma, a serious lung cancer, many years after exposure.
Nov 4, 2008 - Libby, Montana Vermiculite Ore Traveled Far and Wide
The Centers for Disease Control last week reported that as many as 28 processing plants across the nation handled large amounts of vermiculite ore from Libby, Montana, exposing workers, families and community members to toxic levels of asbestos.
Nov 4, 2008 - November Is Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Firefighters who work in occupations where they are likely to be exposed to asbestos that has been damaged are urged to undergo testing for lung-related conditions now during Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Mesothelioma attorneys have known for years the dire death toll from mesothelioma, a deadly cancer, and asbestosis, a lung disease that makes breathing painful. Now the World Health Organization estimates that 125 million people worldwide are exposed to asbestos at work every year, one person in every million is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, and some 90,000 people die of these diseases.
Nov 1, 2008 - Chrysotile Asbestos Escapes International "Watch List"
The European Trade Union Confederation denounced the decision of the Rotterdam Convention meeting in Rome last week for refusing to ban chrysotile asbestos from the international watch list.
Oct 29, 2008 - Feb. 19 Set for W. R. Grace Co. Trial in Libby Case
The largest environmental criminal trial in U.S. history will begin Feb. 19 against W. R. Grace Co and six of its present and former executives. Montana District Judge Donald Molloy set the date for jury selection to begin on charges of Grace knowingly endangering the lives of thousands of people with asbestos-tainted ore from its vermiculite mine near Libby, Montana. Asbestos is a known cause of mesothelioma, a fatal cancer of the lung lining.
Oct 27, 2008 - Canadas Asbestos Export Policy Under Scrutiny
The Canadian Medical Association Journal has asked for a ban on Canadas asbestos exports because the receiving countries in the third world are unable to regulate the substance properly or use it safely, the Journal editorial says. The United States has also been accused regarding the way it handles the toxic substance.
Oct 24, 2008 - Bankruptcy Hearings on Graces Chapter 11Exit Strategy
Frozen credit markets are the excuse W. R. Grace is using to delay its exit from bankruptcy, according to Grace attorney David Bernick.
The State of Ohio at one time had the largest asbestos-related deaths and illnesses, estimated at some 40,000 cases. Mesothelioma attorneys have prosecuted hundreds of successful claims against asbestos companies because of their lack of attention to safety procedures.
Oct 20, 2008 - NASA Glenn Research Center in Orlando Cleared of Cancer Risk
The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety has found "no
increased cancer risk" for employees at the NASA Glenn Research Center, despite the fact that 40 out of 100 workers at the Developmental Engineering Building's third floor have been diagnosed with cancer in the last five years.
Cooper Industries Ltd. will receive $138 million from the Federal Mogul bankruptcy estate to resolve asbestos-related claims entangled with Federal-Mogul of Southfield, Michigan. Asbestos attorneys have been watching the case carefully because asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma, a serious disease of the lining of the lung.
Oct 6, 2008 - Asbestos Removal Requires Advanced Notice to Authorities
Removal of asbestos products that are found in old buildings requires strict safety precautions because exposure to asbestos can cause a fatal form of cancer called mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer that attacks the lining of the lung.
Oct 3, 2008 - Ithaca NY Gun Factory Schedules Asbestos Removal
The Ithaca (NY) Gun Community Advisory Group is demanding that authorities make sure asbestos and lead removal from the Ithaca Gun Factory is monitored carefully and the site is safe after work is completed.
Oct 1, 2008 - FDA Widens Use of Eli Lilly Cancer Drug
The Food & Drug Administration has approved the use of the Eli Lilly drug Alimta as a fist-line treatment for both advanced and metastasized non-small cell lung cancer.
Alimta was previously approved as a secondary treatment for non-small cell lung cancer with chemotherapy and as a treatment for malignant mesothelioma.
The city of St. Louis is being sued for violating federal asbestos removal safety standards when it demolished several asbestos-contaminated buildings with untested removal methods. The buildings were in the path of a newly proposed runway at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport owned by the city.
The asbestos attorneys at Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason advise former workers at the Flintkote plant in Alameda, CA to report to local public health authorities any health impacts they or their families may have.
Sep 29, 2008 - Neighbors of Asbestos Manufacturing Facilities at Risk
People who live as much as 1.5 miles downwind from an asbestos-manufacturing plant are at risk of developing mesothelioma, according to the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (Sept. 15, 2008).
Sep 24, 2008 - Asbestos Pollution: Testing the Air
Indoor air will be tested for possible asbestos contamination in several dozen northeast Minneapolis homes, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced recently.
Sep 24, 2008 - September 26 To Be Mesothelioma Awareness Day
Two women of Carbondale, Illinois, are campaigning to establish Mesothelioma Awareness Day across the nation on September 26.
At the urging of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and many members of Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials introduced H.R. 6903, an important piece of legislation intended to stop exposure to asbestos mineral products. Asbestos disease attorneys acknowledge that exposure to asbestos can lead to a fatal lung disease, mesothelioma, years after exposure to airborne fibers.
Sep 19, 2008 - Oct. 30 Deadline Set in W.R. Grace Zonolite Asbestos Claims
Claimants filing against W.R. Grace and its asbestos-based Zonolite Attic Insulation have until Oct. 30, 2008 to file, according to the federal bankruptcy court. If proof of claim is not filed before this date at www.GraceClaims.com, property owners may lose t heir right to assert such damages in the future.
Sep 18, 2008 - Hurricanes and Asbestos Risk
People returning to their homes after hurricanes should be alert to possible exposure to toxins such as asbestos, the federal Environmental Protection Agency warned. Asbestos attorneys have warned that asbestos exposure is known to cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. Malignant mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that can be widely distributed in severe weather.
Sep 5, 2008 - Pennsylvania Awards $4 Million for Asbestos Cleanup
A former Keasbey & Mattison plant in Ambler, PA. that manufactured asbestos-containing products is scheduled for a cleanup that will cost up to $20 million. The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program granted the first $4 million.
In early September Grupo Mexico offered a billion dollar deal to ASARCO to acquire a Peruvian copper mine, considered ASARCOs most valuable asset. Grupo Mexico hopes to regain control of ASARCO and take over the asbestos claims that have been lingering for three years. Instead of settling the claims, Grupo Mexico would litigate the claims.
Sep 5, 2008 - Massachusetts Fines Sears for Improper Asbestos Removal
Improper removal of asbestos in a Massachusetts home will cost Sears, Roebuck and Co. a penalty of $55,000 for violations of the Clean Air Act and Consumer Protection Act. The complaint in Suffolk Superior Court said a plumber and a second contractor who were not licensed or trained to handle asbestos were hired by Sears to remove a boiler from a private home.
Sep 5, 2008 - EPA Grants $1.5 Million Federal Loan in Asbestos Removal
The Environmental Protection Agency has granted a $1.5 million federal loan to the city of Toledo, Ohio, to remove asbestos and demolish the remains of the Southwyck Shopping Mall. A city inspector found the mall to be a hazard to employees and the public when black mold and asbestos were found in the buildings.
A Tracy, California man must begin a 10-month sentence by the end of 2008 for demolishing a building containing asbestos without adhering to Clean Air Act and safety standards.
Sep 5, 2008 - Asbestos Exposure Draws OSHA Penalties
For the second time in two years the Frontier El Dorado Refining Co. of El Dorado, Kansas, has been cited for violations of safety standards regarding asbestos exposure.
Lovastatin, a drug introduced in 1980 as a treatment for high levels of cholesterol, shows promise for potential use against pleural mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
Carey Canada and Celotex Corp., two companies involved in mining asbestos and manufacturing asbestos products, will forfeit $1.2 million to Erie County, New York, to settle asbestos lawsuits. Erie County is among dozens of government and public institutions that believe mesothelioma could develop in their area as a result of mining and distribution practices of the two companies.
Aug 25, 2008 - ASARCO Agrees to Settlement in Asbestos Cancer Claims
ASARCO, a copper mining company whose copper mines in Peru were its chief asset, has agreed to a $2.4 billion settlement of $8.7 billion in claims against it for environmental and asbestos cancer claims.
A homeowner who remodeled several homes more than 30 years ago with an asbestos-containing product was awarded $12.6 million in compensatory damages by the California appellate court. The 2006 verdict was upheld in the use of Bondex joint compound that the plaintiff claimed caused his malignant mesothelioma.
Aug 18, 2008 - McDermott International's Asbestosis and Mesothelioma Claims
McDermott International has returned to profitability after operational struggles and a subsidiary's asbestos-related litigation. McDermott has three major divisions: offshore oil and gas construction, power generation systems, and government operations.
Aug 15, 2008 - W. R. Grace Appeal Denied; Mesothelioma Epidemic Feared
The Montana Supreme Court has denied an appeal by W.R. Grace Company relating to charges of improper disposal of asbestos-containing materials in Libby, Montana. More recently, physicians and mesothelioma attorneys familiar with the asbestos exposure from the company's mining activities predict there will be an epidemic of mesothelioma among area residents over the next 20 years.
Aug 15, 2008 - Asbestos Warning in Fingerprint Examination Kit for Kids
Public Justice has filed a suit in California against CBS Broadcasting, Inc. and several retailers for insufficient monitoring of asbestos in the CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit, a toy based on the CBS hit series CSI: Crime Investigation Unit.
Aug 15, 2008 - New MicroRNA Test for Pleural Mesothelioma
A new form of diagnostic testing, known as microRNA, provides advanced sensitivity compared to tests now available, according to Rosetta Genomics of Israel, developers of the test.
Aug 8, 2008 - OSHA Fines Cincinnati Foundry for Safety Violations
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined a Cincinnati foundry $25,000 for alleged multiple violations of federal workplace safety and health standards. The fines could have exceeded $126,000.
Aug 5, 2008 - Foster Wheeler Announces Changes
Foster Wheeler Ltd. announced today that Diane C. Creel has submitted her resignation from the company's board of directors effective September 3, 2008.
Aug 4, 2008 - Two New Drugs Help Against Pleural Mesothelioma
A combination of the cancer drugs navelbine (vinorelbine) and platinol (cisplatin) are "highly reactive" when treating patients with "newly diagnosed non-resectable malignant pleural mesothelioma," according to a recent study conducted in Denmark.
Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd. will acquire the assets of Asarco LLC for $2.6 billion under the bankruptcy plan of the Arizona copper producer. Asbestos creditors have been watching the case carefully, according to mesothelioma attorneys.
Asbestos, lead, mercury, PCBs and other toxins may have been released into the air on Sept. 11 when the World Trade Center collapsed in 2001. Because of this, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced it would provide $30 million in grant money for improved access to health care services and treatments for those who may have been involved, including first responders and nearby residents.
Jul 31, 2008 - Don't Ease Asbestos Risk Rules, EPA Hears
Public health experts have joined mesothelioma victims, scientists and physicians in urging the Environmental Protection Agency to maintain current regulations governing the use of asbestos.
Jul 30, 2008 - October Deadline for Zonolite Claims
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has issued a bar date for claims against W.R. Grace & Co. regarding Zonolite Attic Insulation (ZAI). People with ZAI claims must file them on or before Oct. 31, 2008 to preserve their claims against Grace.
Jul 21, 2008 - A New Protocol Targets Pleural Mesothelioma
July 21 -- A new, targeted radiation and chemotherapy protocol for pleural mesothelioma is underway at the Mesothelioma Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center. We will investigate whether a combination of chemotherapy and radiation targeted directly to the lung lining can improve outcomes while avoiding surgery, according to Dr. Robert Taub, director of the centers. Currently the standard treatment is to remove the affected lung.
Jun 29, 2008 - U.S Supreme Court Rejects W.R. Grace & Co. Appeals
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review an appeal by W. R. Grace & Co., in a case against them in Libby, Montana. Because of the decision, criminal charges can move forward against the company and six of its executives for violating the Clean Air Act. The company was charged in 2005 with willingly endangering mine workers and other Libby, Montana, residents by knowingly allowing releases of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from mining activities. The resulting asbestos diseases devastated the area causing widespread mesothelioma and other diseases linked to inhalation of asbestos products.
Jun 12, 2008 - Minnesota Public Health to Study Lung Disease
Increased incidences of mesothelioma in iron ore miners in northeastern Minnesota have prompted the state to fund a study to determine the probable cause.
Jun 1, 2008 - Possible Peril in Talcum Powder
Add talcum powder products to the list of possible carcinogens to avoid. A group of physicians, consumer organizations and public health officials is petitioning the Health and Human Services department and the Food and Drug Administration to place warning labels on talcum powder products. At particular risk are those women who use such products frequently in the genital area. Many talcum products contain traces of asbestos, linked to mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
May 19, 2008 - Asbestos-Containing Talc Found in Art Clay
A supervisor of the asbestos program in the Connecticut Department of Public Health has been honored by the Environmental Protection Agency for his efforts to stop the sale of art clay that has asbestos-containing talc.
The supervisor, Ron Skomro, worked with suppliers to stop the sale of art clay in Connecticut and persuaded the Art & Creative Materials Institute to require member manufacturers to reformulate their products to remove asbestos. Asbestos has been linked to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, most often fatal lung diseases.
May 12, 2008 - EPA Fines W.R. Grace for Montana Disaster
Libby, Montana, a town of 3,000 people, finds itself in the middle of what will be one of the most expensive series of lawsuits in American history.
Some 112,000 people are seeking damages against W.R Grace & Company for what the Federal Environmental Protection Agency calls the nations worst environmental disaster. Every day, two and a half tons of deadly asbestos dust was created at the W.R. Grace & Companys vermiculite mine on Zonolite Mountain. The EPA has fined Grace $250 million. The company has set up a trust with more than $2.9 billion to settle the claims.
May 12, 2008 - Asbestos Dust at Clear Creek, Santa Clara, California
Off-road motorcyclists and environmental groups are locking wheels on the proposed closing of 31,000 acres of the Clear Creek Management Area, rugged country straddling Fresno and San Joaquin counties. The EPA found an increased long-term cancer risk for those involved in recreational activities, particularly those that kick up dust.
May 1, 2008 - Cancer Risk in Central California
That asbestos is a human carcinogen is recognized by the EPA, OSHA, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and numerous other international and national agencies. The Clear Creek Management Area in Central California (CCMA) contains the largest deposit of asbestos in the United States. . The CCMA spans more than 75,000 acres across San Benito and Fresno Counties and includes the Atlas Asbestos Mine Superfund Site. It includes a 31,000 acre outcrop of naturally occurring asbestos. The CCMA is visited by hikers, campers, hunters, botanists, rock collectors, off-highway vehicle riders and others and has about 35,000 visitors per year.
Apr 20, 2008 - W.R. GRACE AGREES TO EXIT BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION
For many decades, W.R. Grace manufactured and sold a fire-retardant asbestos material that causes mesothelioma and lung cancer. Grace filed for bankruptcy in 2001, to avoid paying lawsuits filed by people who were sickened by exposure to asbestos. The filing put the asbestos victims claims on hold. Grace has now agreed to settle the outstanding asbestos-related claims with cash, future payments to a victims' trust and 10 million warrants that would allow claimants to buy company stock at a favorable price. The deal is worth about $1.8 billion. It would allow W.R. Grace to emerge by the end of the year after seven years of bankruptcy protection.
Jan 2, 2008 - ACandS Nears Exit From Bankruptcy
ACandS Inc. is an insulation contractor that voluntarily entered Chapter 11 in September 2002. The company is a unit of Lancaster, Pa.-based Irex Corp. At the time it filed for Chapter 11, ACandS had already settled 247,000 asbestos claims, but had 300,000 left to deal with. The company now is in the final stage of its reorganizing.
Dec 27, 2007 - Federal-Mogul is set to exit Chapter 11
Federal-Mogul Corp. has 45,000 workers worldwide and 1,300 employees in Michigan. It makes a range of auto parts including pistons, windshield wipers and bearings for sale to automakers and in stores. Federal-Mogul emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on December 27th. This will end a six-year reorganization of the auto-parts maker. The company is expected to exit bankruptcy under the control of Carl Icahn. Icahn will own a quarter of Federal-Mogul when the company exits. Icahn also will have options to buy a total of 76% of the company's stock.
Dec 24, 2007 - ASBESTOS FOUND IN TOY FINGERPRINTING KIT
Recent tests have shown that a toy fingerprinting kit contains asbestos. Planet Toys is the manufacturer of the kit. Planet Toys has asked stores to stop selling its CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit. The company is planning to investigate the health risk posed by the kit. The U.S. government has not yet decided whether to issue a recall of the asbestos-containing kit.
Dec 21, 2007 - ASBESTOS FOUND IN SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Asbestos fibers, if inhaled, can lead to serious lung illnesses such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Medical experts believe it takes 20 years or more before symptoms of asbestos-related diseases begin to appear.
Dec 19, 2007 - Federal-Mogul to Return From Bankruptcy
Federal-Mogul Corp. makes a range of products including pistons, windshield wipers and Champion spark plugs. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 1, 2001. The Southfield Michigan based auto supplier has been in bankruptcy more than six years. It has settled hundreds of thousands of asbestos lawsuits stemming from asbestos-containing products manufactured by companies that Federal-Mogul had acquired. The lawsuits were brought on behalf of people with asbestos diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer, which were caused by exposure to asbestos.
Dec 5, 2007 - Asbestos Found in Toys and Other Products
Studies confirm that breathing asbestos fibers is linked to increased risks of lung cancer, and mesothelioma - a cancer of the lining of the chest and abdominal cavity. The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have banned several asbestos products and manufacturers have voluntarily limited asbestos use.
Nov 19, 2007 - Asbestos Scare at Shasta County California Court House
Ten workers were allowed to return to their office in the Shasta County Courthouse two days after a warning of possible asbestos contamination in two offices. The employees had been ordered out after a construction worker renovating the offices suspected there was asbestos. An air quality sample was taken and the results came back showing no asbestos was present.
Nov 7, 2007 - W.R. GRACE & CO.S FUTURE IN LIMBO
W.R. Grace & Co. is a specialty chemicals manufacturer. Many of its products contained asbestos. Grace filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 2, 2001, in the face of mounting asbestos-related claims. Asbestos lawyers had filed many claims on behalf of their clients for diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Grace must set up a fund to pay the claims in order to emerge from bankruptcy protection.
Nov 6, 2007 - W.R. GRACE ASBESTOS CLAIMANTS FILE REORGANIZATION PLAN
W. R. Grace & Co. is a global supplier of products to refineries, catalysts for the manufacture of plastics, specialty materials for industrial applications, chemicals, additives and building materials for commercial and residential construction, and sealants for food and beverage packaging. Grace currently has annual sales of almost $3 billion, 6,500 employees and operates in ore than 40 countries.
Nov 5, 2007 - CANADA CONTINUES TO MINE AND EXPORT ASBESTOS
Asbestos is one of the most widely recognized carcinogens and its use has been banned in 40 nations. Canada, however, has not banned the mining and exportation of asbestos. Two mining operations in Quebec continue to extract a large volume of asbestos and export it to developing countries. Asbestos is now rarely used in Canada. Yet the government promotes shipping asbestos to countries that do not enforce the measures necessary to ensure its safe usage.
Oct 27, 2007 - FEDERAL-MOGUL HOPES TO EXIT BANKRUPTCY
Federal-Mogul Corp. has reached agreements to resolve objections to its Chapter 11 reorganization plan. The auto-parts maker has been in Chapter 11 for several years. It sought relief in bankruptcy from thousand of lawsuits filed by asbestos lawyers on behalf of their clients suffering from various asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Federal-Mogul could emerge from bankruptcy by year's end.
Oct 26, 2007 - JUDGE ALLOWS QUIGLEY'S PLAN TO GO TO A VOTE
Quigley Company for many years made asbestos-containing products. Pfizer bought Quigley in 1968. People exposed to the asbestos in Quigleys products developed asbestos related diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Lawyers representing clients with mesothelioma and lung cancer began filing claims against Quigley and Pfizer in the 1980s.
Oct 17, 2007 - ASBESTOS FOUND IN REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA FIRE OFFICES
While clearing a back up in the sewer lines, clean-up crews discovered asbestos in the citys fire offices on October 12th. As a result, the fire offices have been closed. The city is accepting bids on asbestos removal.
Oct 16, 2007 - THORPE INSULATION FILES CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY
Thorpe Insulation Co. is a California based insulation supplier. The insulation contained asbestos for many years. Asbestos causes serious diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos lawyers have sued Thorpe on behalf of clients who developed asbestos related diseases
ederal-Mogul Corp. is an auto parts maker. Many of the parts contained asbestos. Asbestos lawyers filed thousands of cases against Federal- Mogul alleging that the asbestos had caused mesothelioma and lung cancer. The company filed for Chapter 11 protection, and has been in Chapter 11 for more than six years.
Oct 5, 2007 - BILL BANNING ASBESTOS PASSES IN SENATE
In a bipartisan initiative, U.S. Senate votes unanimously to pass bill banning importation, manufacture, processing and distribution of products asbestos. EPA would be charged with enforcement. Bill also includes measure to create centers tasked with finding better treatment of asbestos related diseases.
Oct 4, 2007 - ASBESTOS WARNING IN CONNECTICUT SCHOOLS
Clay used in art classes may contain asbestos warns Connecticut State department of Public Health. Claim disputed by attorneys defending product distributors.
Oct 4, 2007 - RPM INTERNATIONAL HAS HIGHER ASBESTOS COSTS
In spite of record sales, company experiences negative cash flow due to expenditure related to defending legal cases involving asbestos. Expenditures include payout of settlements to victims of mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Asbestos lawyers are filing lawsuits against the employers of workers because of secondhand exposure to asbestos brought into the home on clothing. In a typical case, the worker is male and s exposed to asbestos at his workplace. The asbestos fibers cling to his work clothes which he brings home. His wife lauders the clothes and is exposed to asbestos by doing so. The wife develops mesothelioma as a result of this exposure.
Sep 24, 2007 - ASBESTOS MINES IN CANADA MAY SHUT DOWN
Canadian Cancer Society calls for ban on use and export of asbestos, possibly signalling end to LAB mine
Sep 23, 2007 - CHICAGO ILLINOIS ASBESTOS SCARE
Chicago Department of Environment alert results in evacuation of 20 story building
Sep 23, 2007 - HUNTERS POINT NAVAL SHIPYARD ASBESTOS MEASUREMENTS
Federal agency survey determines asbestos levels at shipyard do not pose health hazard.
Sep 22, 2007 - APPEALS COURT REVERSES ASBESTOS TRIAL JUDGES RULINGS
W.R. Grace appeals result in reverse of pre-trial rulings in asbestos exposure illness case brought by U.S. government.
Sep 20, 2007 - ASBESTOS PROBLEMS AT CHICO STATE COLLEGE
Repair and remodel efforts for buildings on college campus postponed due to potential for asbestos exposure to contractors, faculty, and students.
Sep 17, 2007 - IMPROPER ASBESTOS DISPOSAL INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
Search warrant issued in law enforcement effort to obtain evidence related to potential illegal disposal of asbestos or other related hazardous materials from old Cambria Air Force station in San Luis Obispo California.
Sep 16, 2007 - CITY OF OAKRIDGE OREGON FINED FOR ASBESTOS VIOLATIONS
Oakridge city government was fined on several violations related to abatement work on mobile homes the city demolished. All of the charges and subsequent fines involved disposal of debris containing asbestos.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Fitzgerald in Wilmington, Del., ordered that Federal-Mogul may sign loan-commitment documents for a $3.5 billion finance package to aid moving the auto-parts maker out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The Center for Self-Improvement and Community Development (The Center) has filed suit in San Francisco Superior Court under Proposition 65 California's "right to know" law against Lennar Corp., and Lennar's subcontractor, Gordon N. Ball. The lawsuit alleges that Lennar and Ball failed to notify the community of the asbestos hazards created when an entire hilltop was graded at Hunters Point Shipyard in order to develop a 1,500-unit condominium complex.
Aug 23, 2007 - ASBESTOS SCARE IN MONTEREY CALIFORNIA COURTHOUSE
The discovery of a possible asbestos release in the Monterey courthouse caused alarm among the county health workers. Several weeks ago a worker drilled through ceiling tiles containing asbestos. A nickel-sized hole was drilled into ceiling tiles containing asbestos. It was only weeks later that the drilling came to the attention of officials. On Monday, August 20th, specialized cleanup crews began work to determine the extent of asbestos contamination.
Aug 23, 2007 - ALVISO CALIFORNIA TESTED FOR ASBESTOS
Alviso California is a small city just to the south of San Francisco. Alviso was declared a Superfund site by the EPA in 1986 after tests found high levels of asbestos. EPA officials originally said the air was cleaned up in 1993. However, new and more sensitive equipment can now show whether even microscopic particles of asbestos remain in the air. The Environmental Protection Agency returned to Alviso this week to do more asbestos testing.
San Diego Gas & Electric will appeal the guilty verdict a federal jury reached Friday involving the companys environmental asbestos abatement at a natural gas storage facility in 2001. The original lawsuit, against SDG&E's parent company Sempra Energy, involved the removal of pipes on a lot in Lemon Grove which had been home to the Encanto Gas Holder Station until it was closed in the late 90's.
The suit claimed that asbestos had been removed from those pipes in a way that was in violation of asbestos removal laws, which resulted, according to the lawsuit, in the asbestos turning into dust that was then scattered as a result of the methods used.
Jul 16, 2007 - SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC FOUND GUILTY OF ASBESTOS VIOLATIONS
On Friday, July 13, 2007 a federal jury in San Diego, California found San Diego Gas & Electric guilty of violating asbestos work practice standards in its removal of asbestos from 9 miles of underground piping. SDG&E was also found guilty of one count of making false statements.
Jul 12, 2007 - Study: Asbestos Disease Patients Are Younger Now
In 1990 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a study showing that a typical asbestos patient was male and approximately 70 years old. The study concluded that approximately 50 percent of asbestos patients had direct occupational exposure. Other studies have estimated that 80 percent of patients were men.
Jul 10, 2007 - U.S. TRUSTEE ACCUSES W.R. GRACE OF STALLING
W.R. Grace & Co., based in Columbia, Md., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2001 to avoid paying lawsuits filed by people injured by asbestos in the company's products. Kelly Beaudin Stapleton is the U.S. trustee overseeing Grace's Chapter 11 case. Ms. Stapleton has asked the bankruptcy judge to end Graces exclusive control over its Chapter 11 case, saying there is no end in sight if the company retains exclusive control.
Jul 9, 2007 - BILL TO BAN ASBESTOS TO BE READ IN CONGRESS
A bill to ban asbestos will get a reading later this month in the Environment and Public Works Committee. This is the first time the bill has reached the markup stage. In addition to banning the use of asbestos in the United States, the bill also calls for spending $50 million for research and launching a public education campaign.
Lawyers representing clients with claims for asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, asked a judge on Friday, July 6, 2007, to push W.R. Grace & Co. to speed up its bankruptcy restructuring. W.R. Grace & Co. (Grace) was a producer of specialty chemicals that filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2001. Grace has delayed paying victims who filed lawsuits over asbestos products Grace once made.
Jul 6, 2007 - TRAVELERS INSURANCE MAKES A SETTLEMENT
The Travelers Companies Inc. is an insurance company that insured an asbestos contracting company called ACandS, Inc. Many asbestos victims, including persons with mesothelioma, brought claims against ACandS, which resulted in its filing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Travelers has proposed a settlement to resolve all current and future asbestos-related coverage claims against Travelers relating to ACandS.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 200,000 people die each year from cancers related to their workplaces, many from inhaling asbestos fibers. WHO says about 125 million people worldwide are exposed to asbestos at work and every 10th lung cancer death is related to occupational hazards, which amount to at least 90,000 deaths each year.
Apr 30, 2007 - Asbestos is the main cause of cancer in workers
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is an organization dedicated to serving as the voice of asbestos victims. ADAO, on International Workers Memorial Day, honored and remembered the thousands of workers who have died due to asbestos-caused diseases. Asbestos is the number one carcinogen in workers and causes 54% of all deaths from occupational cancer.
