Though mesothelioma comes as a surprise to some of its victims, for many others a diagnosis is confirmation of fears that have been held for decades. Because mesothelioma is an asbestos-related disease that is known to have an extremely long latency period, people who are aware of the rare disease and who know that they had asbestos exposure often spend the better part of their adult life watching and waiting, afraid that every cough and pain is the signal that the disease has finally arrived to claim their life. Though there is no way of knowing who will get mesothelioma and who won’t, recent studies have shown that there is one thing that those at risk can do to boost their overall health, and that is to stay away from heavy consumption of alcohol. read more
Month: November 2018
Prisoner’s Fear of Mesothelioma Leads to Asbestos Lawsuit
Of all the environments that could expose a person to asbestos and put them at risk of malignant mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, state prison is likely the last that would come to mind. But prison buildings built prior to the 1980s are just as likely to have used asbestos in the course of their construction as any other structure, and perhaps even more so. As a result, many prisoners have raised concerns about their own safety in buildings that are not only contaminated, but which also have inadequate ventilation. That is exactly what New Jersey prisoner David Wilson is claiming, and the United States District Court in New Jersey just gave him a green light to pursue with his asbestos lawsuit against several defendants.
Keep Mesothelioma Risk in Mind Before Renovating Your Property
If you’re a do-it-yourselfer who has grand plans for making your home worthy of an HGTV special, we’re excited for you, but we also have an important word of caution – make sure that you understand the very real dangers of a condition called mesothelioma, and watch out for the asbestos that causes it. read more
Will California’s Fires Lead to More Mesothelioma Diagnoses In the Future
Firefighters are working valiantly to save lives and property in the state of California, but health professionals observing the devastation are focusing on the future: will asbestos released into the air from burning structures lead to more mesothelioma diagnoses in the future?
Mesothelioma/Asbestos Advocacy Group to Receive Damages Following Spying Incident
Imagine dedicating your life to the cause of banning asbestos worldwide, protecting people from becoming victims of asbestos-related diseases like malignant mesothelioma. With such a high-minded, compassionate goal, would you ever imagine yourself the subject of espionage? That is exactly what happened to Laurie Kazan-Allen, the founder and coordinator of the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat. Kazan-Allen discovered that she had been specifically identified and targeted by a representative of a professional intelligence agency that had been hired by asbestos industry clients to uncover the group’s anti-asbestos strategies. After years of investigation and litigation, the security firm has been forced to pay significant damages in the case.
Could Historic Library’s Demolition Lead to Mesothelioma in the Future?
Activists in the college town of Ithaca, New York are raising serious concerns about whether the planned demolition of a historic library could lead to future mesothelioma diagnoses in their community. The Tompkins Library was originally built in 1867, more than a century before anybody knew that asbestos was a carcinogenic material. In those days, the mineral was used for insulation, as well as mixed in with other materials to ensure strength and resistance to fire. The building has been confirmed to be heavily contaminated with the hazardous material, yet structural weaknesses have led the developer who purchased the building to change their initial plan for remediation to a straightforward demolition, and safety experts say that doing so will spread asbestos fibers into the air and into the community.
Fines Levied After Washington State Hotel Project Risked Worker Mesothelioma
Despite optimism about the renovation of Spokane, Washington’s historic Otis Hotel, there are also growing concerns as it has come to light that the building’s owner and the subcontractors that they hired have mishandled asbestos and exposed workers to the risk of malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. In response to earlier revelations, the Washington state Department of Labor and Industries has levied vines totaling almost $140,000 and more charges are being prepared by the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency.
Will Boulder City’s Boom Bring Mesothelioma?
Imagine being a resident of a town on the brink of economic boom, only to learn that with the anticipated flurry of new activity and construction comes a heightened risk of malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. That is exactly the situation the citizens of Boulder City, Nevada are facing since the construction of a high-speed interstate bypass connecting the cities of Phoenix and Las Vegas. read more
