Apr 10, 2009 - Mesothelioma and Asbestos: Headline News
One of the nation’s most experienced and successful law firms for representing clients diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos related diseases, Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason is committed to reporting the latest, most relevant news regarding asbestos and the cancers it causes.
To that end, we are now writing a weekly article that gives a brief summary of any noteworthy news regarding asbestos and mesothelioma.
The news that made headlines this past week was:
- Korea’s Asbestos-Contamination Scare
A talc powder used in many cosmetics, drug and food products in Korea is found to be contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is incredibly heat, fire and corrosion resistant. It is now known to be a deadly carcinogen that, when inhaled, leads to several serious diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer.
In Korea, Duksan Reagents imports over 20% of the country’s talcum and distributes it to over 300 companies who use it in producing their own line of products. Once the discovery that the talc was contaminated with asbestos went public, many consumer and medical products are being recalled and banned for sale. L’ocean’s cosmetics, a handful of unnamed pharmaceutical companies, and several manufacturers of different brands of baby powder and baby products are all pulling their products from shelves, recalling products, and offering exchanges or refunds. Asbestos tainted talc is also suspected to be in some brands of gum, candy and balloons.
Several government agencies, such as The Shanghai Industrial and Commercial Administration Bureau and Korea Food and Drug Administration, as well as a local civic group, the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements, are taking action to investigate the extent of health risk caused by the asbestos contamination. The Korea Food and Drug Administration has already agreed to immediately recall and ban talc-containing drugs. The list of products is expected to expand in the coming days as the investigation continues.
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Canada Accused of Sending Asbestos to India, Indonesia and ThailandA member of the Canadian Parliament, Pat Martin charged the federal government of exporting asbestos to developing Third World Countries, despite the known risk and banned use of this toxic mineral in much of the industrialized world. On April 1, Marin filed a motion before the Canadian House of Commons asking for an end to the use and exportation of asbestos, to improve health services for those suffering from asbestos related diseases, and to make April 1st of every year Asbestos Disease Awareness Day.
- Following Congressional Hearing of Unsafe Asbestos Allegations at the National Air & Space Museum, Deputy Director Resigns Unexpectedly
After seven years at the Smithsonian, and one year of being deputy director, Joseph T. Anderson was unexpectedly asked to resign at the latest management meeting by the museum’s director Gen. John R. Dailey. No information as to the cause of the request was given, however it does come only one week after a congressional hearing that is investigating allegations that the museum did not protect workers from occupational exposure to asbestos, a known carcinogen. A spokeswoman says that there is no connection between the resignation and the asbestos hearing.
The hearing came after a long time worker at the Smithsonian was diagnosed with an asbestos related disease known as asbestosis. Another serious and fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos is mesothelioma.
- Fugitive Convicted of Asbestos Crimes Sought by EPA
Albania Deleon owned and operated the largest asbestos training school and abatement company in Massachusetts. She was accused and convicted of selling bogus training certificates, hiring undocumented workers to perform asbestos removal without proper training or protection, and multiple counts of fraud and tax evasion. She was convicted last November and has been missing since she failed to show for her sentencing in March.
Deleon is the first woman to be added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) fugitives list. People who knowingly and willfully violate environmental regulations put many innocent people at risk of serious diseases and death and are seen as criminals.
- Britain Contractors Warned to Follow Asbestos Safety Standards
In an effort to improve standards of safety in the construction industry, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Britain is campaigning for more strict compliance to regulations around the removal and management of asbestos. The HSE has strict requirements in regards to handling and removing asbestos containing materials, and hefty fines are being given for known violations. The HSE hopes that their warnings to contractors will serve to improve working practices and to increase safety conditions in the construction industry.
EPA Adds New Asbestos Site To Superfund List
This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added the BoRit Asbestos Site in Ambler, Pa. to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). From the early 1900’s until the late 1980’s, Ambler was the site for major asbestos manufacturing plants that produced many asbestos containing products, including insulation for water pipes and siding. Before the dangers of asbestos were widely accepted and regulations put in place, the plants dumped their contaminated waste. It has long since been known as a site highly contaminated with asbestos, estimated to be up to 3 million tons spread across 66 acres.
The EPA has covered a large majority of it, decreasing risk of exposure. However, residents are asking that the agency manage the asbestos program using a new high-temperature technology that is purported to destroy 100% of every single fiber of asbestos, making it into a non-toxic substance.
Sites added to the Superfund list have been thoroughly investigated and determined to contain hazardous contaminates that pose a risk to human health and to the environment. In Ambler, the EPA has determined that there is potential for nearby residents to be exposed to airborne asbestos. Because of this, it qualifies to be a part of the Superfund Cleanup efforts. For more information on the Ambler site and others, please visit http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/current.htm.
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