Following a display of callous disregard for worker safety that may lead to countless cases of malignant mesothelioma in the future, developer Philip J. Farley III of St. Petersburg, Florida has been convicted of negligently causing the release of asbestos. The federal government says that is actions placed his workers in “imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.”
Month: August 2018
New Partnership will Make Clinical Trials More Accessible to Veterans With Mesothelioma
One of the most devastating chapters in the history of America’s Armed Forces is the role that the military played in exposing so many veterans to the risk of malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. In the run-up to World War II and the years that followed, military buyers were intent on providing service men and women with the greatest possible protection against heat and flame, and to that end they ordered that asbestos be included in all applicable equipment, infrastructure, and supplies: they were unaware that the material’s protective characteristics were countered by its carcinogenic nature. Today more than one third of America’s victims of mesothelioma are veterans who were exposed to asbestos during their time of service. But now an agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the National Cancer Institute will offer those diagnosed with this rare form of cancer as well as other types of cancer the opportunity to more easily engage in national clinical trials that offer them the ability to access cutting edge medical technology.
United Kingdom Mesothelioma Group Releases Study on Communicating with Patients
When we think about the road that a mesothelioma patient travels, we tend to focus on the treatment that they receive and the emotional and financial challenges that they face, but their path starts earlier than that, at the time that they first begin presenting with suspicious symptoms. A group of UK researchers has just completed and published the results of a study that examines that earliest part of the process, and the way that a mesothelioma diagnosis is communicated to those most affected. Based on interviews with patients, their family members, and healthcare professionals who care for and treat them, the RADIO Meso study takes a deep dive into what goes wrong in these dialogues and what steps the medical community needs to take to improve them. read more
New Orleans Council Member Accuses 36 Defendants of Role in His Mesothelioma
After working in and serving Jefferson Parish in New Orleans for decades, Jimmy Lawson never dreamed that his dedication would lead to him being diagnosed with the rare and fatal form of cancer known as malignant mesothelioma. But that is exactly what happened, and now the well known council member is pursuing justice, pursuing a legal battle against the local government, the Jefferson School Board, and almost three dozen companies and organizations that he is accusing of having exposed him to the asbestos that caused his illness.
Philadelphia Expert and Others Warn of Increased Mesothelioma Risk From New EPA Rule
The scientific community and mesothelioma advocates are expressing alarm following a change to United States environmental protection policy under new asbestos regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. Though the Trump administration insists that their new rules are not designed to make things easier on the chemical industry and asbestos companies, those who have been fighting for an asbestos ban for years say that it would be naive to believe it is anything else – and that the new changes represent significant health hazards.
Neighbors Fear Mesothelioma Risk From Abandoned Asbestos-Contaminated Factory
For the 22 years that the abandoned factory has stood vacant in Holbrook, Massachusetts, neighbors never gave a thought to malignant mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease. But now that the property’w owner has allowed renovation work to begin and asbestos warning signs have appeared in the vicinity, residents are crying foul and seeking help from local authorities.
Deadline Looms for Mesothelioma Advocates to Object to New EPA Asbestos Rule
Public outrage is building about a proposed change to the country’s asbestos regulations, but perhaps none are objecting as strenuously as those whose lives have been impacted by malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is the deadliest of several asbestos-related diseases, and health advocates have long fought to have the carcinogenic material banned in the United States. Though there were hopes that this would be accomplished following the passage of a new law under the Obama administration, the Trump administration has taken a different approach to hazardous chemicals and substances: in June, instead of finally announcing a total ban of asbestos the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) “for certain uses of asbestos (including asbestos-containing goods)” that would benefit chemical companies that want to expand their use of the deadly material.
Asbestos-Contaminated Smoke and Ash Raises Mesothelioma Concerns in Denver
Imagine the relief that you would feel after your home escaped involvement in a nearby fire, only to learn that the smoke and ash that blew around your dwelling may have put you at risk for malignant mesothelioma. That is exactly the nightmare that a Colorado neighborhood is experiencing today as they learn that the apartment building that caught fire last week was built using asbestos, and that authorities are now discussing what to do to try to contain the aftermath of the conflagration.
The Steps Firefighters Take To Protect Themselves Against Mesothelioma
Of all the risks that firefighters face, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases ranks pretty high, as any fire-engulfed buildings built before 1980 likely have asbestos hidden behind their walls. Knowing this, imagine the level of dedication and courage that it takes for firefighters to knowingly fight a firefighter in a forest known to be heavily contaminated with years worth of the toxic material. That is exactly what is happening right now in Libby, Montana. read more
