News Categories
Resources For Living
Mesothelioma Forum
Legal Help Blog
Find a Doctor Near You
Mesothelioma Blog
Latest News
- Mesothelin Finding Could Lead to Early Detection of Mesothelioma
- New York Attorney Calls for International Ban on Mesothelioma-Causing Asbestos
- Protein Can be Reliable for Diagnosing Malignant Mesothelioma
- Biomarker Successes Remain Elusive For Mesothelioma and Cancer Researchers
- Avastin May Not be Effective for Breast Cancer, But is Still an Option for Mesothelioma
- Options for Funding Mesothelioma Research
- Golf Outing to Raise Funds for Mesothelioma Research
- 3 Year Mesothelioma Survivor Stays Busy Raising Awareness of the Disease
- MesotheliomaHelp Website Offers Mesothelioma-Related FAQs
- CDMRP System Offers Funding Opportunity to Help Military Mesothelioma Sufferers
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Attorney Joseph W. Belluck of Belluck & Fox LLP says overhaul of NYC asbestos abatement program marks progress, but more safeguards needed
New York, NY January 6, 2010 — New York City needs to continue reducing the risk of exposure to cancer-causing asbestos until it is non-existent, a New York attorney said.
Attorney Joseph W. Belluck, a partner in Belluck & Fox LLP, a New York law firm that focuses on representing victims of asbestos-related disease, praised a package of legislation passed by the New York City Council that overhauls the city’s asbestos abatement procedures. Belluck said the new laws represent an improvement in construction safety standards.
“The City should continue to adopt measures similar to this until there is zero asbestos exposure to firefighters, construction workers and residents of New York,” Belluck said.
The legislation, signed into law last month by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, established a permit program for asbestos abatement activities, enhanced asbestos cleanup safeguards, prohibited smoking in any part of a building where asbestos abatement is occurring and barred simultaneous asbestos abatement and demolition activities in the same building.
All asbestos fibers must be carefully contained and removed before a building is demolished because asbestos dust, if stirred up, can be inhaled and cause serious respiratory disease including mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of lungs or abdomen.
The package of legislative measures stemmed from a review panel’s recommendations after a fire at the former Deutsche Bank tower in August 2007 left two New York City firefighters dead. Workers were removing asbestos from the building and demolishing it floor by floor when the fire occurred. A construction worker’s cigarette ignited the blaze. The simultaneous abatement and demolition activities in the building hampered firefighters’ efforts to fight the blaze.
Asbestos use is no longer prevalent, but houses and buildings in New York and throughout the U.S. still have large amounts of asbestos materials and insulation that will eventually have to be removed. Health officials estimate that 1.3 million construction and general industry workers are exposed to asbestos and one of the most common ways is during asbestos removal activities if the dangerous substance is not handled properly.
© MesotheliomaHelp.Net. All Rights Reserved. Reprinting or republication of this article or any portion of its content is permitted but must include the MesotheliomaHelp.Net link.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. Even small amounts of asbestos and infrequent exposure can create a risk for contracting mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Currently, there is no known cure for the disease.
Below are more important facts about mesothelioma and asbestos.
- Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years.
- The number of cases of mesothelioma will peak in the United States in 2010, according to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control.
- About 2,500 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States.
- Asbestos is no longer mined in the United States, but it is still imported and used in construction and automotive products. Large quantities of asbestos remain in buildings that will eventually have to be removed.
- Doctors have diagnosed asbestos-related disease in family members of miners and other asbestos workers who brought home asbestos dust on their clothing. This type of “second-hand” exposure to asbestos is known as para-occupational exposure.
- About 90,000 people die each year around the world due to asbestos exposure, the World Health Organization estimates.
© MesotheliomaHelp.Net. All Rights Reserved. Reprinting or republication of this article or any portion of its content is permitted but must include the MesotheliomaHelp.Net link.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Libby, Montana is home to a vermiculite mine that is blamed for widespread contamination from asbestos exposure. Libby has a high incidence of asbestos-related disease, prompting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to declare a public health emergency in the town and the surrounding area earlier this year. Asbestos contamination in the Libby area has been blamed for the deaths of more than 200 people and the illnesses of more than 1,000 more to date. Many have died from mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the cancer yearly. There is no known cure for the disease.
The hard work of Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, has paid off again by including a passage within the Health Care Reform Bill to expand Medicare to cover certain victims of “environmental health hazards.” Baucus who has been fighting for years to bring some relief to the Libby residents, is also responsible for the declaration of the health emergency requiring the federal government to offer screenings and health care for Libby residents as well as authorizing cleanup work in homes and other structures.
As quoted in a New York Times article Mr. Baucus said “the people of Libby were poisoned and have been dying for more than a decade. We need this type of mechanism to help people when they need it most.”
Read “Types of Mesothelioma” for more information about the deadly disease.
© MesotheliomaHelp.Net. All Rights Reserved. Reprinting or republication of this article or any portion of its content is permitted but must include the MesotheliomaHelp.Net link.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Experts from around the world including the United States, Japan, and Australia have arrived in New Delhi, India for the international conference on environmental hazards. The conference entitled “Preventing Emerging Occupational and Environmental Risks in South Asia and Beyond” is focused on helping Asia prevent occupational diseases as well as to help physicians better understand asbestos-related diseases and the treatment of mesothelioma.
Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI) of India announced in August that 39 cases of pleural mesothelioma and three of peritoneal mesothelioma, cancers caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, were reported.
The conference being held December 17-19, 2009, at the Maulana Azad Medical College (Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health) in New Delhi, India, was organized in collaboration with the Drexel School of Public Health in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Collegium Ramazzini in Italy, and Maulana Azad.
The organizing schools have ties with the Maulana Azad Medical College’s Centre for organizing world class training in occupational and environmental health.
Topics to be addressed during the conference include:
- Occupational & Environmental Health and Corporate Social Responsibility
- Exposure Assessment
- Cancer in the Workplace
- Heavy Metal Exposure and Health Risks
- Noise & Health
- Risks in Health Care work
- Occupational Lung Disorders
Professor Arthur Frank, MD, PhD, from Drexel, one of the featured speakers, has spoken previously regarding the high rates of mesothelioma in many countries as well as the impact mesothelioma, and other similar diseases, has on a global scale.
© MesotheliomaHelp.Net. All Rights Reserved. Reprinting or republication of this article or any portion of its content is permitted but must include the MesotheliomaHelp.Net link.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Monday, December 14, 2009
Bernie Banton, known in Australia and around the world for successfully taking on the James Hardie company to increase the asbestos-related disease victim’s compensation fund, was honored in September by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd with the launch of The Bernie Banton Foundation. Banton lost his battle with mesothelioma in November 2007.
The foundation, led by Mr. Banton’s widow, was officially launched at Banton’s eponymous center on the grounds of the Concord Hospital NSW. Prime Minister Rudd spoke of Mr. Banton at his acceptance speech in 2007 as having represented the great Australian trade union movement” and for being a “beacon of decency in his fight for compensation.”
Mrs. Banton said of the foundation, “we are the breath beneath the wings of asbestos disease sufferers, their carers and loved ones.” The Bernie Banton Foundation website lists their goals to: develop a support and education service for asbestos disease sufferers and their families throughout Australia; facilitate the education advancement and community awareness of asbestos amd its dangers throughout Australia; and promote research into asbestos-related diseases including provision of funding for each of the above purposes.
Banton suffered from asbestosis, mesothelioma and asbestos-related pleural disease (ARPD), which required him to rely on an oxygen tank. Banton was exposed to asbestos when he worked at Hardies for six years from the late 1960′s to the early ’70′s. According to Banton, the group with which he worked was known as the “snowmen” because they were covered from head to toe with the white dust of asbestos in the manufacture of kaylite.
Sources:
The Bernie Banton Foundation
Interview with Bernie and Karen Banton – ABC.net Australia
Bernie Baton Foundation on Facebook
© MesotheliomaHelp.Net. All Rights Reserved. Reprinting or republication of this article or any portion of its content is permitted but must include the MesotheliomaHelp.Net link.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 7:00 AM
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) announces their 2010 conference will be held April 9-11 at the Marriott Renaissance in Chicago, Illinois. The theme focuses on ADAO’s global mission: Action to Prevent, Detect and Treat Asbestos-Related Diseases.
The conference, sponsored by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Institute and the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat, will feature sessions including information on preventing asbesos exposure, identifying occupational and non-occupational exposure, public health and environmental aspects, as well as early warning symptoms and trauma for asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.
Conference awards will be presented to individuals who have made a difference in their work towards ADAO’s mission and towards raising awareness of asbestos-related diseases.
The recipient of the Dr. Irving Selikoff Lifetime Achievement Award is Dr. Hedy Kindler. Dr. Kindler is the Director of the Mesothelioma Program and an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Section of Hematology/Oncology and a Member of the Cancer Research Center at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Kindler who is also on the Science Advisory Board of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation will be presenting several sessions at the conference including “Advances in Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment.”
See the full agenda and list of award recipients for the ADAO conference.
© MesotheliomaHelp.Net. All Rights Reserved. Reprinting or republication of this article or any portion of its content is permitted but must include the MesotheliomaHelp.Net link.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 7:00 AM
Monday, December 7, 2009
When airborne asbestos fibers are inhaled, the fibers may penetrate the breathing passages causing irritation and inflammation of lung tissue. Asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer are all potential risks for anyone that has been exposed to asbestos fibers for a period of time.
Asbestosis is the non-cancerous illness caused by asbestos exposure while mesothelioma is cancer caused by the exposure. Although asbestosis does not develop into mesothelioma, researchers have found that chronic inflammation can contribute to the development of cancer. In the case of asbestosis, mesothelioma can develop.
The inflammation-cancer connection is made when chronic inflammation causes the bodies immune system to constantly fight off infection. While the body typically fights short-term inflammation, an acute “battle” creates a fertile environment for tumors to form.
Researchers are focusing on methods to control the inflammation to reduce the risk of cancer. In one study, patients with pre-cancerous polyps given Celebrex for three years experienced about a two-thirds reduction in the number of polyps likely to become cancerous, compared with patients given a placebo. Antibiotics to combat infection and anti-inflammatory medicines are often prescribed by physicians to help fight chronic inflammation and infection.
According to Richard Peek Jr., MD, of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, “inflammation induced by infection is thought to contribute to between 10 and 20 percent of cancers worldwide.”
There is still more research to be conducted, and scientists have found that there are genetic variations among individuals that can explain why only a certain percentage of those with chronic inflammation get cancer. In addition to asbestosis leading to mesothelioma, other cases have shown inflammation from Hepatitis can lead to liver cancer, and chronic inflammatory bowel disease can lead to colorectal cancer.
See CureToday.com for additional information.
© MesotheliomaHelp.Net. All Rights Reserved. Reprinting or republication of this article or any portion of its content is permitted but must include the MesotheliomaHelp.Net link.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 6:16 PM
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Restoration Environmental Contractors-REC Demolition is celebrating their 20th anniversary of being green. Since its start in 1989, the company has completed over 9,000 environmental restoration and demolition projects, with more than one million hours of on-site work, throughout Canada.
The company specializes in asbestos removal, demolition, lead abatement, site remediation, disaster recovery and emergency response in the industrial, commercial, governmental and institutional sectors.
Some of their projects included completing the asbestos removal, remediation and demolition of the seven story Historic Guild Inn project in Toronto, and exceeding a 94.7% LEED certification at the Regent Park, the Toronto Community Housing Corporation TCHC and Toronto Revitalization environmental remediation and demolition projects.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen and exposure to airborne asbestos fibers is the leading cause for mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 2:00 PM
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is hoping National Asbestos Awareness Week, November 23 to November 27, will help raise the public’s awareness of the dangers of asbestos.
Various informational sessions will be held throughout the week including topics on the James Hardie company and asbestos law, ending with a ceremony on Friday to remember those whose lives were needlessly lost to asbestos-related diseases.
During the week workers will be able to receive health screenings in Sydney or on the mobile Lung Bus. The Lung Bus checkup includes an X-ray, lung function test and examination by a doctor. Australia’s occupational health and safety regulations require health checks for employees that work with hazardous substances including asbestos or crystalline silica.
Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive lung cancer that has no known cure. According to the ACTU, Australia has the highest per capita incidence of mesothelioma.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Funded by a contract from the United States Department of Energy (DOE), and managed by Queens College of the City University of New York, the Worker Health Protection Program (WHPP) provides free medical screenings for former workers and current workers at various DOE sites. The screenings have been designed to check for adverse health outcomes related to occupational exposures including asbestos, beryllium, silica, welding fumes, lead, cadmium, chromium, and solvents.
Employees eligible for the screenings would have worked at any of the following locations: Gaseous Diffusion Plants (GDPs) in Oak Ridge, TN, Paducah, KY and Portsmouth, OH; the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in Idaho Falls, ID; Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) and Y-12 in Oak Ridge, TN and two closure sites: Mound in Miamisburg, OH and Fernald in Harrison, OH.
The goal of the program is to provide medical screenings to detect work-related illnesses at an early stage as well as helping workers determine if a current health condition is the result of a work-related exposure.
Exposure to asbestos is known to cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other respiratory diseases.
Labels: asbestos
posted by Nancy Meredith at 11:28 AM
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Power plant workers can breathe easier now that the Environmental Protection Agency issued a consent decree to allow for the passage of new rules aimed at reducing toxic emissions of soot, mercury, and other chemicals from coal-fired and oil-burning power plants.
The EPA was sued by a coalition of public health and environmental groups claiming that the EPA failed to meet the deadline for issuing regulations controlling toxic air pollution from power plants as per the Clean Air Act of 1990. The agency plans to adopt this new set of rules by November 2011.
Power plants utilized asbestos as an insulation material and some of the workers have since developed malignant mesothelioma, a serious cancer caused by asbestos that attacks the lining of the lungs and has no known cure. While it is unclear if any plants continue to use asbestos containing materials, the new rules may help lower the risk of asbestos exposure.
Mercury emissions and soot pollution were the primary focus of the lawsuit. The pollution from the chemicals can cause respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis and have also been known to contribute to heart attacks and stroke.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 8:00 AM
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Belluck & Fox, one of the leading law firms in the United States representing individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, won a $1.5 million verdict and $750,000 in punitive damages against Fisher Controls International. Belluck & Fox represented the family of Ronald Drabczyk who died from mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos while on the job at Hooker Chemical in Buffalo, New York.
Drabczyk repaired valves, from 1970 to 1988, manufactured by Fisher Controls and sold to Hooker Chemical which contained asbestos gaskets and packing. The evidence presented during the trial proved that Fisher was aware of the presence of asbestos and the associated dangers as far back as 1946, and that they acted negligently in failing to warn of those dangers.
This case is the first instance that Fisher Controls has been found liable for using asbestos in its products, as well as being the first punitive damage award in an asbestos case in New York State in more than 20 years. Attorney Jordan Fox stated, “the punitive damage verdict underscores that corporations have a duty to workers to protect them from hazards known or knowable regarding their products.”
See the full story.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 11:37 AM
Monday, October 5, 2009
Senator Patty Murray (WA) and Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-4) have introduced resolutions in Congress designating September 26th as “National Mesothelioma Awareness Day.” Mesothelioma Awareness Day was introduced by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) over 4 years ago and has been supported by volunteers.
Chris Hahn, Executive Director of MARF, hopes that now “mesothelioma will finally become part of a broad national conversation about its tragic impact on our society.”
Murray and McCollum believe that ‘National Mesothelioma Awareness Day’ is a chance to raise awareness of the disease and to support the victims and their families. They hope this national day will start educating the nation about the causes of mesothelioma and the deadly effects of asbestos.
In addition to the Awareness Day proposal, both women vowed to continue fighting to ban asbestos.
To support this resolution go to the MARF Action Center to send a letter to your representative.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 1:14 PM
Friday, October 2, 2009
Legislation is being considered that would replace the existing ineffective system for regulating toxic chemicals. The new proposal, presented by the Obama administration, will overhaul the regulation of thousands of chemicals that are used in everyday products and in the workplace. The Senate version of the legislation is sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).
The current law is stringent requiring the EPA to determine that any risks posed by a chemical are not outweighed by the substance’s economic and societal benefits. The lack of concern for human safety was demonstrated when after years of documenting the hazards of asbestos, a carcinogen known to cause mesothelioma, the EPA ban was overturned by a federal court.
EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson, said that “as more and more chemicals are found in our bodies and in the environment, the public is understandably anxious and confused.” The legislation, she states, is overdue.
Chemical manufacturers would now have to disclose information about the risks of any existing products as well as any new products developed. The companies will no longer be able to claim trade secrets should prevent them from having to disclose the information. They would also need to comply with regulations requiring safety tests on the chemicals.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Nancy Meredith at 1:37 PM
Monday, June 15, 2009
A study of lung cancer patients in Japan has revealed that more of these patients show signs of asbestos exposure than has traditionally been recognized. 60,000 people die from lung cancer every year in Japan, but only a tiny percentage of them are regularly recognized as asbestos-related, and therefore, eligible for government aid. In 2007, less than 700 cases were deemed eligible. The results of this recent study suggest that the number of people with asbestos-related lung cancer is actually in the thousands.
The researchers derived this figure by examining 471 patients with primary (non-metastatic) lung cancer to see if they discovered any evidence of pleural plagues, which are a thickening of the lung membrane that is only caused by asbestos. They found that 28 (5%) patients showed evidence of pleural plaques on traditional chest x-ray, but that the number rose to 58 patients (12%) when they used CT scanning to make their diagnosis.
To learn more about this study, please see:
http://www.physorg.com/news163091089.html
Labels: asbestos, LungCancer
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 2:27 PM
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The United Nations has recently assured staff members that its $2 billion dollar renovation is being conducted in a safe manner. Part of the renovation includes the removal of asbestos-laden ceiling tiles from one of its buildings and concerns had been raised by workers that the removal process was not taking all of the precautions that were necessary to protect them. A spokesperson assured everyone that not only was the company handling the abatement taking the necessary precautions, but that the UN had a hired an independent company to monitor air quality for any signs of asbestos-contaminated air.
Labels: asbestos
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 4:08 PM
Friday, April 17, 2009
Even though asbestos use is highly regulated or banned in most developed nations, it still poses serious risks to large numbers of citizens. Home renovators and repairmen are especially at risk for the development of asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, because of the thousands of homes where asbestos was used as a filler or fire-retardant. Asbestos poses a very low risk to people when it remains in an undisturbed state, but the risks increase when the mineral is disturbed during any kind of repair or renovation. The problem is especially acute when non-professionals engage in the repairs because they do not take the necessary precautions when attempting this kind of work. Asbestos is carcinogenic at very low levels and no safe level has been documented, so stringent safety methods are required whenever one is potentially working with it.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 10:21 AM
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Source: Washington Post
The Secretary of the Smithsonian, G. Wayne Clough, recently assured Congress that the existence of asbestos in various Smithsonian buildings was not a safety hazard for workers or museum visitors. The Secretary’s testimony was in response to allegations that the institution failed to provide adequate warnings about the asbestos after it was a discovered that a long-time employee was diagnosed with asbestosis, a non-malignant lung disease that is caused by asbestos exposure. Secretary Clough stated that no indication of risk was observed for museum visitors. He also stated that he’s also ordered free medical screenings for any employees and volunteers of the museum who want them.
Labels: asbestos
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 10:47 AM
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Source: Journal of Hazardous Materials
Even though the use of asbestos has been banned or seriously curtailed in most developed nations, its immense popularity during the early to mid 20th century means that huge numbers of structures and products containing it are still a fact of life for millions of people all over the world. These people are all potential victims of asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. It’s often said that as long as the materials in which the asbestos is a part of remain undisturbed, then the exposure risk in relation to these materials remains low. While this is true, the reality of the situation is more complex than this statement allows. Environmental corrosion of these products could possibly release asbestos fibers in the air, as could unexpected and non-controlled structural trauma, such as earthquakes and vandalism. Although there is a clear need for good models describing fiber dissemination after such events, they have not yet been developed.
In light of these pressing needs, Jozef S. Pastuszka, a researcher with the Siliesian University of Technology in Upper Silesia, Poland, embarked on a study which examined this issue and his findings were published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.
The study looked at the emission rate of asbestos fibers in relation to age, environmental corrosion and the effects of structural impacts on the samples and compared the resulting fiber concentration levels in these results between heavy urban environments with buildings covered in asbestos-containing cement sheets to rural and suburban environments where buildings did not use the same asbestos-containing sheets.
Samples used for the analysis were taken from the concrete sheets used on the exterior facades of buildings, where the sheets ranged in age from 15 to 35 years. The study found that age itself was not a predictor of increased fiber dissemination, but the quality of the surfaces was significant. Those surfaces considered in good or very good shape, such as those without visible cracks or with only slight cracks emitted smaller fiber amounts than those considered in “bad shape,” where cracks were easily seen.
The study also showed that the indoor air quality of the houses covered in asbestos-cement featured much higher concentrations of asbestos than did those houses which did not use such sheets. This was an important finding because it showed that even though the interior spaces of a building may not contain asbestos in a disturbed form, the fibers released when the external facades were disturbed can become concentrated inside, putting people in such areas at a higher risk for developing lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 3:59 PM
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Source: Google News
UK Researchers have recently published the results of the largest study yet completed on the incidence rates of asbestos-caused cancers among certain classes of British workers. The article, which appeared in the prestigious British Journal of Cancer, has concluded that the lifetime risk of mesothelioma among British men born in the 1940s is about 1 in 170. Within these numbers, the article states that 1 in 17 carpenters, 1 in 50 electricians, plumbers, and decorators, and one in 125 construction workers will die from mesothelioma. The study also suggests that for every case of mesothelioma, there’s also one case of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure, so the total incidence rate of asbestos-caused cancers rises to 1 in 10 in some cases.
The researchers concluded that the highest rate of disease onset was found among people who were exposed to asbestos regularly before they were 30.
Labels: asbestos, LungCancer, mesothelioma
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 4:51 PM
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Source: HARN report considers health risks of high aspect ratio nanomaterials in relation to asbestos
A group of scientists in the United Kingdom have recently published a paper showing that high aspect ratio nanomaterials (HARN) may have toxicological/pathological effects on the human body similar to asbestos. The report looked at certain kinds of these materials, such as carbon nanotubes, that share similar physical characteristics as asbestos fibers and it concluded that they would likely trigger the same, or similar, physiological reactions that lead to diseases such as mesothelioma. In making this analysis, the researchers conducted an extensive review of the available literature on asbestos and asbestos-related diseases, as well as prior studies of HARN and their possible health effects. The report makes a number of specific recommendations on the direction of future research into this question.
One of the difficulties associated with this kind of research is that asbestos-related diseases often take decades to develop, so the actual health effects of HARN exposure may not be seen for years to come. The report’s recommendations are directed at learning more about the pathological potential of these materials and, should this potential be confirmed, developing proper safety mechanisms to ensure the well-being of those who work with the materials.
Carbon nanotubes, and other such nanomaterials, are revolutionizing multiple industries and have the potential to remake many more, so identifying their potential health effects and developing safety precautions now will prevent problems in the future. To learn more about some of the medical research being conducted with carbon nanotubes, please read the following articles:
- ‘Smart bomb’ Nanoparticles Stop Cancer’s Spread
- Researchers Use Nanotech to Target Chemo Cancer Treatment
Labels: asbestos
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 12:56 PM
Monday, January 26, 2009
Source: Hamner Institute for Health Sciences
The Hamner Institute for Health Sciences in North Carolina has signed a $2.1 million contract with EPA to conduct a long-term study of the asbestos-contaminated vermiculite ore that was once mined in Libby, MT. The mine was shut down in 1990 when the asbestos contamination first received public notice. Sadly, thousands of people were sickened or killed before this happened. The town of Libby, as well as many of the surrounding towns, has rates of mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis that are much higher than the national average. Researchers from Hamner will analyze the vermiculate on a number of fronts and will attempt to quantify the toxicological nature of this mineral. The study will take three years to complete.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Belluck & Fox at 4:23 PM
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Source: Medical News Today
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has announced the recipients of their yearly awards that recognize individuals for their efforts in increasing awareness about asbestos and for fighting to limit its use. The ADAO is recognizing the following people for this work:
- U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (Tribute of Hope Award)
- Margaret Seminario, AFL/CIO (Tribute of Unity Award)
- Dr. Stephen Levin (Dr. Irving Selikoff Lifetime Achievement Award)
- Pralhad Malvadkar and Raghunath Manwar Tribute of Inspiration Award)
The awards will be given out during ADAO’s conference in March.
More details about ADAO and the awards mentioned here can be found on their website: http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/.
Labels: asbestos
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 12:01 AM
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Source: The Western News
The Western News is running an article on the need for continued state funding of many of Montana’s most important asbestos treatment and research agencies. Unless they receive additional state funding, projects funded through the Libby Asbestos Medical Plan (LAMP) and Asbestos-Related Diseases Network (ARD-Net) are in danger of shutting down during 2009. ARD-Net will lose its funding in June and LAMP some time later, unless the State steps in and provides the needed money. Gov. Brian Schweitzer is being petitioned by regular citizens and many of the people involved with these organizations to continue to fund these programs.
Even though it’s rarely in the news these days, the tragedy associated with the asbestos contamination of the vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana continues to this day. Residents of Libby, and the surrounding areas, have the highest rates of mesothelioma and asbestosis in the nation and people will continue to be affected from these diseases for years to come. LAMP and ARD-Net coordinate resources to help provide care and resources to disease victims. These are difficult diseases to endure and the treatments they require—especially mesothelioma treatments—are expensive and difficult to endure, so there is large swell of public support to continue their funding.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 6:04 PM
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently released a report detailing the numbers of deaths and years of productivity lost among people who died before 65 years-old because of asbestosis. The CDC’s report only looked at asbestosis-related deaths, so these numbers do not take into account deaths from any of the forms of malignant mesothelioma, such as pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma, or from asbestos-induced lung cancer. Even without including these other diseases, however, these numbers speak to the devastating effects that decades worth of asbestos use have had on human health.
To create this report, the CDC looked at all examples of asbestosis-related deaths between 1968 and 2005, which totaled 9,024. From within this figure, they identified 1,169 individuals who died between the ages of 25 and 64. 65 years-old is the common cutoff used to differentiate a hypothetical worker’s most productive years from his or her less productive ones, so asbestos-related deaths among people 65 and over were dropped from this study. Among the 1,169 cases identified, the CDC then developed a scale of “annual years of potential life lost before age 65”, which has been abbreviated to YPLL. This figure is the difference between a person’s age at time of death and 65, so a person who died at 55 had would have a YPLL of 10. The CDC looked at trends within these cases in 5-year periods and they also counted the total YPLL for the entire study period.
As we said above, there were 1169 individuals who died from asbestosis before they were 65. Total years of potential life lost were 7267 YPLL, with a mean YPLL for each person who died of 6.2 years. The CDC also reports that YPLL is increasing over time—even though asbestos use has been heavily regulated since the 1970s. For the first five years under steady (1968-1975), YPLL was 146.0. For the last five years however (2001-2005), YPLL was 239.6: an increase of 64%. While the available data on industry and occupation were a small subset of the total study population statistics, the study also showed that construction, ship building and repair, and military were the hardest hit industries, while insulation workers, and then administrations, plumbers and pipe and steamfitters were the hardest hit occupations.
This study is a further example of the tragedy of asbestos-related diseases in the United States and around the world. Even though regulations regarding the handling of asbestos have been in place for decades now, it’s clear from this study that more and more people are dying from asbestosis.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 12:03 PM
Monday, December 22, 2008
Source: Science Daily
Scientists from Ohio State University have announced exciting results from a study they were conducting on the manner in which asbestos fibers interact with human cells and, possibly, cause mesothelioma. For the first time in the history of asbestos science, the scientists have identified a particular mechanism by which crocidolite fibers bind to the cell surface of human cells. The scientists are hopeful that an understanding of the molecular biology of fiber and cell interaction will lead to the development of more effective treatments for pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma, as well as asbestos-induced lung cancer.
The findings are still quite preliminary and the scientists caution that any therapeutic development is years ago, but these results are still important as an identification of part of the carcinogenic pathway that leads from asbestos exposure to malignant mesothelioma. Some asbestos fibers are thought to dissolve when exposure occurs, but most do not break down over time, so the identification of the binding mechanism can focus scientists on the particular signaling cascade that occurs after the fiber binds to the cell. An understanding of this cascade could possibly let scientists develop treatments to arrest the growth of the mesothelioma, or possibly, give scientists a target to develop therapies that will prevent mesothelioma’s development in the first place.
The scientists were only studying the crocidolite asbestos, which is also known as blue asbestos, but they hope to expand their study to include the give other common forms of the mineral. Crocidolite is considered among the most carcinogenic forms of asbestos.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 11:29 AM
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Source: Occupational Health & Safety
State Assets LLC, a building development company based in Brooklyn, NY was fined by OSHA for 18 alleged violations of a number of different health and safety statutes, including statues regulating the handling of asbestos. Alongside the asbestos violations, OSHA also cited the company for violations of fire and electrical codes. The violations allegedly occurred at a New Haven, CT redevelopment site that State Assets was controlling. OSHA alleges that employees were handling asbestos without proper equipment and were put at risk for other work place safety issues.
State Assets has 15 days to respond and/or to contest OSHA’s complaint.
To learn more about this case, please read the full story on the Occupational Health and Safety website: NY Developer Cited for Willful Lack of Asbestos Monitoring.
Labels: asbestos
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 5:11 PM
Friday, November 21, 2008
Source: Associated Press
The European Union is calling for the development of new rules that govern the breakup of oil tankers and other large shipping vessels to better protect workers and environmental interests. Because most of the yards where ships are torn down are now located in Southeast Asia, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas is also calling for financial aid and technical assistance to countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh that are directly affected by the break down of these ships.
The EU is concerned about the affects that ship break down has on workers involved in the physical dismantling of the ships, as well as the environmental problems that are associated with improper handling of toxic chemicals and other substances. Many of these vessels were built with asbestos and other hazardous materials, so their break down requires proper training and equipment – two things that some shipyards in Southeast Asia have not been able to provide.
The problem is especially acute because new regulations enacted by the EU and the USA are phasing out single-hulled oil tankers in favor of the use of double-hulled tankers, which are safer and less likely to be involved in catastrophic oil spills.
Labels: asbestos
posted by Belluck & Fox at 3:51 PM
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Source: Environmental-Expert
Environmental Expert is running an article highlighting the asbestos awareness campaign that is being promoted by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The campaign, entitled Asbestos: The Hidden Killer Campaign attempts to educate the British public, especially tradesmen such as plumbers, joiners and electricians about the continued dangers of asbestos exposure. The article notes that asbestos-related deaths among these workers are growing, likely because individuals do not realize that asbestos is present in many houses and old buildings, so precautions designed to cut down on exposures are not taken.
The article states that 20 tradesmen are killed a week and more than 4000 people die a year from these exposures, with mesothelioma the most lethal and feared of the diseases. The HSE hopes that their awareness campaign will motivate people to take greater precautions in areas in which asbestos is likely to be found.
Labels: asbestos
posted by Belluck & Fox at 3:32 PM
Monday, November 17, 2008
Source: Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a relatively rare disorder characterized by the growth of fibrous tissue along the vessels that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Depending on the size of the masses formed, the urine can be completely blocked from passage and left untreated the RPF can cause kidney failure. Little is actually known about the condition and no single cause has been determined for it. It has been suggested that exposure to asbestos may be an independent factor for its appearance and a recent study among Finnish RPF patients indicated that exposures to the mineral were common in almost 20% of these patients. The literature on this relationship is still, however, quite small and much more research is needed to properly understand it.
The researchers who conducted the study on RPF and asbestos exposure in Finland have recently announced the results of another study they conducted, this time looking at the existence of common asbestos-related pleural and lung disorders among RPF patients. They analyzed 16 RPF patients without asbestos exposures, 22 patients with known exposures and 18 people without RPF who also had asbestos exposures. Their results showed a number of interesting findings among these patients groups.
High resolution CT imaging showed that 16 of the 22 RPF patients with asbestos exposures had some form of asbestos-related pathology in their chests. The authors report that the “prevalence of pleural plaques, DPT [diffuse pleural thickening] and lung fibrosis found in the asbestos-exposed RPF patients was similar to that determined for the asbestos-exposed controls…” In noting that the majority of the asbestos-exposed RPF patients demonstrated some form of asbestos-related pleural fibrosis, they also stated that RPF patients without asbestos exposure were not associated with these kinds of issues.
The authors recommend that all patients with RPF be evaluated for asbestos exposure. Not all cases of RPF are associated with asbestos, but those that are associated with it are likely to demonstrate asbestos-related pleural pathologies as well.
Labels: asbestos
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 4:18 PM
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Source: Bio Med Central
One of the primary goals of contemporary asbestos research is a better understanding of the underlying biological changes that lead from exposure to asbestos to the development of mesothelioma or lung cancer. Medical science has known for decades that exposure to the mineral is a primary causative agent of lung cancer and is the only known cause of mesothelioma, but an understanding of the precise cellular activity that leads to carcinogenesis has, thus far, eluded research scientists. A number of important studies have been conducted on this topic and their results have certainly led to a greater understanding of these processes, but much more research is needed before we can truly grasp the totality of biological events responsible for these malignancies.
In an effort to learn more about these processes, a team of Finnish and German researchers conducted a study that investigated the signaling pathways involved with asbestos-inducted lung cancer. Their paper describing this research has recently been published.
The researchers conducted gene expression analysis on 28 patients with lung cancer: 14 with a history of asbestos exposure and 14 who were not exposed to the mineral. They found significant differences in the normal and malignant tissues between the two groups and concluded that asbestos-induced lung cancer is mediated by different signaling pathways and molecular activity than is non-asbestos-induced lung cancer. The researchers specifically note “up-regulation of the pathways associated with ion transport and down-regulation of the functions related to protein ubiquitination” between the two populations.
It is hoped that the information learned from this study, as well as similar ones, will lead to better treatment options for people with asbestos-induced lung cancer.
Labels: asbestos, LungCancer
posted by Belluck & Fox at 11:23 AM
Friday, November 7, 2008
Source: Vermont Public Radio
The State of Vermont is warning residents to stay clear of an abandoned asbestos mine in the Eden/Lowell area after a state-sponsored study showed a statistically significant increase in asbestosis and lung cancer among residents within 10 miles of the mine. State Health Commissioner Wendy Davis, MD, recently gave an interview on Vermont Public Radio where she discussed that the implications of the study and the guidance the State is providing residents.
The study examined health records and death certificates among people who lived, or lived, within 10 miles of the mine and they found that the odds of dying from asbestosis were 12 times higher among those who lived close to the mine than were those who lived far from it. Although the radio program didn’t mention the specific ratio, it also noted that that the study found incidences of lung cancer to be higher in this population as well.
The State is recommending people to stay away from the mine as they complete more testing in the area surrounding.
Labels: asbestos, LungCancer
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 10:25 AM
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Source: The Guardian
A coalition made up of Canada and a number of developing countries has successfully lobbied to keep chrysotile asbestos from being added to the Rotterdam Convention’s list of hazardous substances. Chrysotile is the most commonly used form of asbestos and the majority of other nations had wanted it included on the dangerous substances list because of its causative association with mesothelioma and lung cancer. In successfully lobbying for its position, Canada has said it will continue to mine, and trade, the mineral.
The decision to keep asbestos off the list was met with disappointment by a number of parties, from national governments to consumer and medical advocacy groups. The carcinogenic aspects of asbestos exposure have been known for years and thousands of people die every year from diseases, such as pleural mesothelioma, associated with the mineral. The Canadian Medical Association Journal recently published a scathing editorial in opposition to the government’s position.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 4:05 PM
Source: UPI.com
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has released its anticipated report on asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana. The Agency found that the vermiculite from Libby contaminated 28 exfoliation sites and may have exposed workers at these sites, their families and people living close to the plants to amphibole asbestos, which is the most carcinogenic family of asbestos fibers.
ATSDR reports that the asbestos was released from the vermiculite during exfoliation, which is a process where the vermiculite is heated and expands. Vermiculite is generally a safe and commonly used mineral, but because Libby’s ore was contaminated with asbestos, the dust from these fibers were released into the air during exfoliation. ATSDR recommends that workers from these plants and people living around them speak with a medical provider about their possible exposures. Asbestos is a highly dangerous mineral and is associated with the development of mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Labels: asbestos, LungCancer, mesothelioma
posted by Joseph DiCastro at 3:16 PM
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Source: Respiration: International Review Of Thoracic Diseases
The journal Respiration: International Review of Thoracic Diseases has recently published an overview of mesothelioma and a number of other diseases caused by asbestos exposure. The article specifically covers the pleural conditions that exposure causes, so asbestos-related diseases that affect only the lungs, such as lung cancer and asbestosis, were excluded. After giving a brief introduction to the use of asbestos and the various types of fibers included in its definition, they cover four of the non-malignant conditions that have been linked to the fibers, as well as a review of the current knowledge regarding pleural mesothelioma.
This article is a summary of their article with a focus on the non-malignant diseases, as we have cover mesothelioma extensively throughout the site.
Introduction to Asbestos
The authors note that asbestos has been used for centuries, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that advances in the ability to process it enabled the large scale, general use that continued through much of the 20th century. The development of techniques that allowed the fibers to be spun and weaved into various forms led to their use in products as diverse as brake linings and cement.
Sadly, this large scale use is what led to the development of diseases specific to exposures to the fibers. Asbestos-related diseases now make-up an entire class of medical conditions. While lung cancer and mesothelioma are by the far the worst of these diseases, a number of other conditions can also lead to pain and trouble breathing. The following four pleural conditions are directly linked to asbestos exposure: benign asbestos pleural effusion (BAPE), pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening (DPT) and rounded atelectasis.
Benign Asbestos Pleural Effusion (BAPE)
Benign asbestos pleural effusions are non-malignant effusions that commonly occur within twenty years of asbestos exposure. The authors describe BAPE as “an effusion that occurs in the setting of asbestos exposure, in the absence of other conditions and is not followed by the development of malignancy within three years.” Thus, BAPE is a diagnosis given in the absence of more serious conditions. Whenever a patient presents with a pleural effusion a full round of tests should be conducted to rule out malignant conditions.
BAPEs commonly appear within 20 years of a person’s exposure to asbestos, but like many of the other asbestos-related diseases, a longer latency period is not out of the question. A BAPE is not a particularly dangerous condition and most people who develop one do not require treatment, but some individuals will present with large effusions that require draining.
The authors note that BAPEs are not themselves indicative of a future malignant development, but they do share a common causative ancestor to mesothelioma (and lung cancer).
Pleural Plaques
It is well known in medical circles that pleural plaques are a common development in asbestos-exposed individuals. Pleural plaques are a type of fibrosis that arises in the parietal pleura, typically 20-30 years after asbestos exposure. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that pleural plaques are quite rare in non-asbestos-exposed populations and are found in a small number of people with environmental exposure to the fibers, but that their incidence greatly increases in individuals with occupational exposures to asbestos.
Many cases of pleural plaques are not symptomatic, but a subset of patients will experience restricted pulmonary function. Pleural plagues, like BAPEs, are a non-malignant condition and their development is not indicative of a future malignancy.
Diffuse Pleural Thickening (DPT)
Diffuse pleural thickening (DPT) is another condition that can be related to asbestos exposure, but is not solely caused by asbestos. It is a fibrosis of the visceral pleura that leads to its fusion with the parietal pleura. Among those exposed to asbestos, DPT is less common than pleural plaques, but—unlike pleural plagues—it is often associated with serious pulmonary symptoms, including chest pain and “significant restrictive ventilatory impairment.”
Rounded Atelectasis
Rounded atelectasis is another pleural disease that is strongly linked to asbestos exposure, even though it is less common than either pleural plaques or DPT. It affects the visceral pleura and can be confused with primary lung cancer during radiological analysis. The condition is also known as folded lung, asbestos pseduotumor, or Blesovsky syndrome.
Malignant Mesothelioma
As we have covered extensively on this site, malignant mesothelioma is the most serious asbestos-caused disease because there is no cure for it. Even as very isolated cases of significant survival have appeared in the literature, the disease is still associated with a median survival time of under 16 months.
To learn more about mesothelioma, we suggest you read the following articles: pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, mesothelioma treatments.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Belluck & Fox at 11:22 AM
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene
The causative relationship between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma has been clearly established for almost a century. While scientists are still working out the precise biological mechanisms responsible for the development of the malignancy, there is no question that workers who’ve been exposed to asbestos are candidates for pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma or the rarer forms of the disease. Even as no safe exposure limit has been established, studies have shown that workers with a significant lung burden of asbestos fibers are more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma than are others workers. This means that workers from industries which featured greater uses of the mineral have an elevated risk for disease development as well.
One such industry that has been investigated for the risk that employment posed to its workers is the field of automotive brake mechanics. Vehicle brakes featured a significant amount of asbestos and workers in the field have definitely developed mesothelioma. However, the issue of general causation due to work exposure has become controversial due to the publication of some recent studies that have raised questions regarding the exposure that individual mechanics had to asbestos dust. These studies indicated that the sample of brake workers they investigated did not show higher lung burden counts than a control sample of workers who did not have occupational exposure to asbestos. Thus, these studies concluded that brake mechanics were no more likely to develop mesothelioma than were those other workers.
However, an article has recently been published in the Annals of Occupational Hygiene that calls these studies and their conclusions into question. The author, Murray M. Finkelstein of the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Canada, has identified a number of methodological problems in the previous studies that limit their conclusions. Mr. Finkelstein has deployed a statistical apparatus that overcomes these methodological problems and he has concluded that brake mechanics are more likely to develop an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma, because of their occupational exposures to asbestos.
Overview of the Article
The author quotes two articles published in 2004 that individually concluded that brake mechanics were not of a higher risk for developing mesothelioma due to their occupational exposures to asbestos. He then identified the common sources of data between the two articles, which included a comparative analysis of asbestos fiber burden between 10 brake mechanics who developed mesothelioma and 19 control subjects who did not work in asbestos-exposed occupations. The analysis conducted by the original researchers indicated that the brake mechanics in their study did not have a significantly higher burden of asbestos fibers in their lungs when compared to workers from fields without occupational asbestos exposure, so it was concluded that brake mechanics are not more likely to develop asbestos-related illness because of their exposures.
It is at this interpretation of the original researchers’ data that the author’s article is directed at.
The author’s analysis and interpretation of the data is based on the same published dataset as the previous articles. In his analysis of their methods, he concluded that a different statistical apparatus was necessary for a proper investigation of the question, so his study is based on a combination of methods that each parsed the data in specific ways. It is through the analysis of these individual methods that he draws his conclusions from.
His study specifically compared the counts and distributions of two different asbestos fiber types, chrysotile and tremolite, in the lungs of the control and case groups. Along with the general carcinogenicity of asbestos, the incidence rate of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases, increases based on the type of asbestos fiber that a person has been exposed to. There are two main classes of asbestos fibers and the fibers identified in this study are representative of each class: tremolite is an amphibole fiber, while chrysotile is a serpentine fiber. The individual classes are distinguished by their shape and structure. Amphibole fibers have a needle-like shape and a rigid structure that make them quite durable. Once amphibole fibers lodge into a person’s tissue structures, they are very difficult for the body to remove. Serpentine fibers have a curved shape (hence their name) and are more pliable than the amphiboles, which means they are slightly easier for the body to breakdown. Even though both fiber classes have been shown to be carcinogenic, the amphibole fibers are known to be more dangerous than the serpentine fibers.
Conclusion
When the author compared the datasets using the modified statistical apparatus, he found that brake workers did, in fact, have a higher general concentration of these fibers than did the control group. More importantly though, he found that they had significantly higher count of tremolite fibers, which means they would be even more at risk for mesothelioma than if they “only” had a higher count of the chrysotile fibers.
Labels: asbestos
posted by Belluck & Fox at 4:56 PM
Monday, June 23, 2008
Source: Business Wire
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) and The John McNamara Foundation have announced the formation of the Committee to Ban Asbestos in America (CBAA), an advocacy group dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure and eliminating asbestos-caused diseases. The CBAA, along with its constituent organizations, supports the asbestos ban that is currently being reviewed by the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment & Hazardous Materials.
In the press release announcing the formation of the Committee, ADAO and CBAA chairperson Linda Rothstein is quoted as “We are calling on the U.S. Congress and the President to do the right thing and ban asbestos in America and fund critical medical programs. Doctors and scientists agree: asbestos is a carcinogen and that there is no safe level of exposure. Preventing asbestos exposure is the only way to eliminate asbestos caused diseases.”
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is an organization devoted to the victims of asbestos exposure and their families. ADAO’s goal is to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and they accomplish this through a number of activities, including product safety checking. The John McNamara Foundation is an organization that works to ban asbestos and provides support and assistance to mesothelioma victims.
Labels: asbestos
posted by Belluck & Fox at 1:05 PM
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Source: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
From the earliest reports of lung disorders in asbestos workers, which date from the early 1900s, to our current time where asbestos has been conclusively shown to cause a number of terrible cancers and diseases—with the various forms of mesothelioma, such as pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma, probably the most feared of them—the mineral’s health effects are as terrible as they are common to those exposed to it. In light of these hazards, most industrialized nations have banned any use of the mineral, but some, such as the United States and Canada, have preferred strict regulations to an actual ban. However, even for those nations that actually have banned the use of asbestos, the extreme latency that is often associated with asbestos-related diseases means that people will continue to develop lung cancer and mesothelioma for years to come.
One of the great questions of asbestos-disease epidemiology is whether or not the underlying changes that lead to the development of these diseases can be identified earlier in an exposed person’s life, before any outward manifestations of the malignancies make themselves known. If these initial changes could be identified and subsequently tracked, then people at risk could possibly begin treatments to counteract, or at least to attempt to slow down, the progression of the biophysical changes whose endpoint is the worker’s premature death. To accomplish this, former asbestos workers would have to undergo regular screening procedures which would track the precise physiological changes being undergone, as well as quantify them to previously identified changes.
A study that completed such a process has recently been released by Austrian researchers, who analyzed many years of screening data among a cohort of former asbestos workers. Their findings definitely indicate the presence of quantifiable changes among the study’s population members.
Overview of the Study
In 1974 a number of workers from an Austrian asbestos cement factory agreed to take part in a long-term study investigating asbestos exposure. Information dating back to 1950 was captured for some of these individuals and new members were possibly added to the cohort until 1981, when the use of unprotected asbestos was banned in Austria. All these workers received regular checkups and their vital statuses were tracked as well. In 1989, additional screening procedures, including clinical examination, lung-function tests and chest x-rays, were made available to the workers. A total of 322 workers took part in these checkups and the study reports on 309 of them.
For each of the study members, a complete asbestos exposure history was available, as were the results of all checkups from 1989 to 2006. Information on each worker’s smoking history was incorporated into the overall analysis as well. The authors analyzed a number of individual factors for their effects on life expectancy and cause of death.
The workers reported on their individual work histories, including the type of work accomplished and the places in the factory in which the work took place. From this information, an analysis of the average asbestos concentrations found in the various locations was conducted and a table developed that grouped these exposures on a scale of 0 to 4, with 0 meaning very low exposure and 4 meaning very high exposure. This table was developed using an exposure scale of fibers/cm3 and was then combined with the number of time the worker spent in this location to determine a worker’s cumulative asbestos exposure, reported in “fiber years.” Chrysotile was the most common asbestos used and most workers were only ever exposed to it, although a subset of workers were exposed to amphibole asbestos fibers, of which, crocidolite was the major form.
Results
The authors report that by the end of their study in 2006, 82 of the original 309 workers had died. Of these 82, 34 died from cancer, 30 from cardiovascular diseases, 6 from respiratory diseases and 10 from other reasons not quantified. Of the 34 cancers, 6 were from lung cancer, 7 were from pleural mesothelioma, 4 were gastric cancers, 9 were digestive cancers, and there were 8 other individual cancers.
The authors found that for those who died of lung cancer, even after controlling for smoking and pure amphibole exposure, cumulative fiber years of asbestos exposure was a significant predictor of lung cancer. This was in contrast to the workers who developed mesothelioma. For this group, fiber years alone was not predictive of pleural mesothelioma onset, but amphibole exposure was highly predictive, as was long latency from first exposure to asbestos. The authors conclude, as have a number of other studies, that any exposure to amphibole asbestos is always a high risk for the future development of pleural mesothelioma.
The authors were surprised to see that higher fiber year figures were significantly predictive of stomach and some digestive track cancers. The worker’s exposures were not implicated in the development of colon or rectal cancer, but the findings linking asbestos exposure to these other cancers are some of the first to clearly show this relationship, so the authors call for more research into this question.
In terms of overall cumulative exposures, workers exposed to asbestos in excess of 70 fiber years saw their life expectancy figure decrease by 25%. Although this was smaller than smoking, it still correlated as a negative prognostic factor.
One of the most significant set of findings was the correlation between reduced lung function and a reduction in life expectancy. Any of the lung function parameters which showed a reduction in an individual worker’s lung efficiency were predictive of a reduced life expectancy. In fact, the authors state that lung function tests were much more predictive of a reduced life expectancy than were x-rays, other clinical examinations or a simple exposure history analysis. This finding should be a clear indication that measurable reduction of lung function for asbestos workers is indicative of potentially serious future medical issues.
Conclusion
The authors conclude their paper by recommending regular screening examinations of former asbestos workers. They state that their findings clearly indicate that screening exams could identify precursor stages of serious illnesses, which could allow patients to start receiving treatments before they present with full-on malignancies. They also recommend that former asbestos workers who are currently smokers immediately stop smoking, as there is an immediate benefit to one’s life expectancy when one quits smoking. All in all, this study goes a long way in showing that even as asbestos workers are prone to the development of a number of difficult malignancies, screening procedures and early treatment for them could be helpful to their future lives.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Belluck & Fox at 5:30 PM
Friday, April 11, 2008
Source: Science Magazine
In the article “Innate Immune Activation Through Nalp3 Inflammasome Sensing of Asbestos and Silica,” that was recently published in the journal Science, an international team of researchers identified the manner in which asbestos fibers cause scarring and damage to the lungs and to other body tissues. While the article does not specifically chart the path by which asbestos exposure leads to the development of cancers such as pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma or lung cancer, their findings are considered among the first to offer specific avenues in which to investigate this carcinogenic activity.
Overview of the Study
Although we’ve known for decades that asbestos causes cancer and lung damage, the precise biological processes by which the damage occurs have never been fully understood. Even as significant amounts of research were applied to the investigation of these mechanisms, the underlying biology has always remained mysterious, so the development of targeted therapeutics for those with asbestos exposure has remained merely a dream in the minds of scientists and patients. However, with the publication of this article, these researchers have provided a clear pathogenic path from asbestos exposure to lung damage and they have even proposed the use of a currently-approved drug as a means of treatment for those at risk.
The authors of the study applied their knowledge of the inflammatory activity they previously discovered was responsible for gout—an inflammation of the big toe and foot that is often quite painful—to the immune system’s response to asbestos exposure and determined that a similar complex of proteins, known as inflammasomes, was responsible for the tissue damage characteristic of exposure to asbestos fibers. When exposed to asbestos, the immune system stimulates the inflammasome Nalp3 to release interleukin-1b(IL-1B), a chemical responsible for inflammation. Because asbestos fibers do not easily break down, the researchers speculate that when the fibers become lodged in one’s system, they trigger the regular activation of Nalp3 and IL-1B, which leads to chronic inflammation and its attendant scarring and tissue damage. The researchers compared IL-1B levels and lung inflammation between normal mice exposed to asbestos and asbestos-exposed mice bred specifically to lack the Nalp3 inflammasome and they discovered the Nalp3-less mice demonstrated lower levels of IL-1B and less inflammation than did the normal mice, clearly showing a relationship between Nalp3, IL-1B and lung inflammation.
Along with these findings, they propose that Anakinra, a drug that blocks IL-1B expression and has already been approved for rheumatoid arthritis, could be given to those with known asbestos exposure. If their model is correct, then Anakinra should prevent tissue damage to those already suffering or at risk for developing asbestos-related disease. For the same reasons, Anakinra is already being investigated for a treatment of gout.
Conclusion
As is the case with every scientific study, further research needs to be completed to confirm the conclusions of the article. Assuming, however, that this confirmation does take place, these findings represent a very important step in our understanding of the biological mechanisms involved with asbestos disease. By identifying the immune system’s response to asbestos exposure, the researchers have discovered the starting point of the pathogenic process that often leads to the development of mesothelioma and lung cancer. An elaboration of these findings, then, will hopefully lead to a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms of asbestos-related cancer genesis, as well as to the development of treatments that target these particular biological functions.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Belluck & Fox at 3:50 PM
Monday, March 10, 2008
Source: Industrial Health 2007, 45, 787-792
As awareness of the hazards of asbestos exposure became more common during the last few decades, many developed nations implemented statutory protocols strictly regulating the manner in which asbestos could be commercially used. Some of these nations even moved past regulation and enacted outright bans on the use of asbestos-family minerals. However, this pattern has not been duplicated among developing nations, where the use of asbestos has often continued unabated. Safety procedures that are necessary to protect the health of the work force have not been implemented in many of these nation’s factories and without active regulatory enforcement there is rarely any monitoring of air quality levels. The result is that workers continue to operate in unsafe environments where they are regularly exposed to extremely high levels of a known carcinogen, conclusively shown to cause all forms of mesothelioma, especially the two most common forms of the disease: pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma, as well as lung cancer and asbestosis.
In order to understand the exposure risks in these kinds of factories, Iranian researchers collected air samples from a brake lining manufacturing plant in Iran and compared their findings to the permissible exposure limit (PEL) regarding asbestos exposure developed and currently utilized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Overview of the Study
The authors state that Iran has 26 brake lining manufacturing plans in current operation and the total workforce employed in those plants is approximately 3,000 people. They selected one of these plants to study overall air quality levels and to analyze the exposure risks of specific manufacturing processes. In selecting the lining manufacturing plant, the authors described some of the tasks performed, which included the grinding, beveling and drilling of materials, as well as a number of other procedures. Many of these tasks are dry processes, where the materials at hand release large amounts of dust into the air.
In measuring overall airborne dust samples, the authors found an average of particle concentration of 9.6 mg/m3, with the highest levels found in workers employed in the beveling process: 16.32 mg/m3. While the average figure is just below the threshold limit of 10 mg/m3 per day for total dust set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, the bevellers, as well as those responsible for polish (11.40 mg/m3) and reassembly (11.54 mg/m3) found the particle density in their air exceeding ACGIH’s limits. OSHA’s threshold limit for this test is 15 mg/m3 , so the bevellers exceeded that limit as well.
To analyze the asbestos density in the plant’s breathable air, the authors used phase contrast optical microscopy (PCM), which is the standard technique for asbestos testing. The results returned showed an average fiber concentration of .78 f/cc, with the highest recorded level at 1.85 f/cc. With OSHA’s PEL (permissible exposure limit) for asbestos density set at only 0.1 fibers/cc, the average concentration level was 7.8 times greater than OSHA’s recommendation.
The authors completed their study in the summer, when ventilation was at its most effective, as the plant’s windows were all open because of the summer heat. The authors speculate that dust and asbestos levels during winter months would be much greater than the levels they measured because windows wouldn’t be open during winter, so ventilation would be less effective.
Conclusion
The results of the study clearly indicate asbestos and dust levels greater than OSHA recommendations. These levels also clearly indicate a heightened exposure risk for asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. In describing their paper as the first to look at asbestos levels in a brake lining manufacturing plant in Iran, the authors also see it as representative of asbestos levels found in plants in most developing countries. They strongly recommend improvements in ventilation and housekeeping to reduce contaminant levels.
Labels: asbestos
posted by Belluck & Fox at 9:54 AM
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Asbestos does not refer to a single type of mineral, but to a family of six individual minerals that share common structural properties. The most common form of asbestos used in commerce was chrysotile. It is known as serpentine asbestos because of its short, curly fibers. The other five types of asbestos—crocidolite, amosite, anthrophylite, tremolite, and actinolite—are known as amphibole fibers and are characterized by long, rigid, needle-like fibers. The amphibole fibers are considered the most carcinogenic of the asbestos family, but all fiber-types are dangerous and are documented causes of malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Amosite, known officially as grunerite asbestos, was one of the major amphibole fibers used commercially. It is considered among the most dangerous of the amphiboles, although its mechanisms of actions are not fully understood. In fact, scientists are still identifying the precise physiological effects that asbestos exposure has on the human body. Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health in Isreal have recently summarized the available literature on amosite in an effort to better understand its carcinogenic properties.
Epidemiological Studies
There have been three epidemiological studies on populations exposed to amosite in the workplace. The first study looked at a factory in Patterson, NJ. This factory closed in 1954 and then moved to Tyler, TX. The second study looked at the cohort of workers employed by the Tyler factory. The last study looked at amosite and chrysotile factory in Uxbridge, United Kingdom.
Patterson, NJ
Record indicate that the Patterson, NJ factory only used amosite asbestos, so it makes an excellent study on the health effects of amosite exposure. A total of 820 workers were employed at the facility between 1941 and 1954 (the year the factory closed). It was an older, mainly white workforce. Through 1989, when the last study on Patterson was completed, 740 of the 820 employers had died and of those, 17 had mesothelioma. Previous studies reported at least 111 deaths attributable to lung cancer and 31 from asbestosis, but the 1989 study that listed mesothelioma deaths at 17 did not report on these other diseases. There were 8 cases of pleural mesothelioma and 9 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma. The average latency period of the disease was 31 years for both, but the mean duration of employment was quite different: 25.6 months for pleural mesothelioma and 43.8 months for peritoneal mesothelioma. Interestingly, the pleural group survived, on average, 12 months after diagnosis, while the peritoneal group only averaged 8 months. This is notable because peritoneal mesothelioma often presents with a slightly better prognosis.
The concentration of asbestos in the air was never definitely measured in Patterson, although estimates exist that place the levels between 14–75 f/ml. As a point of reference, current US regulations regarding asbestos concentration demand a figure of less than .1 f/mL.
Tyler, TX
After the Patterson factory closed, it was moved to a location in Tyler, TX, where the same equipment was reinstalled and used again. The cohort of workers studied here was employed between 1954 and 1972, when the plant closed for good. Unlike the Patterson location, air quality was measured and the levels varied between 15.9 f/ML and 91.4 f/ML for different parts of the factory. To put the latter number into prospective, with concentrations that high, a worker who only spent six months in that part of the factory would have a cumulative lifetime exposure level of greater than 45 f/mL years, which is 11-times higher than the 4 f/mL years figure for someone who worked forty-years at the current legal levels.
For workers of the Tyler, TX facility, 6 were diagnosed with mesothelioma, 35 with lung cancer and only three with asbestosis.
Uxbridge, UK
The last of the studies focused on a factory in Uxbridge in the United Kingdom. The factory was operational between 1947 and 1979. Between 1947 and 1972 the factory processed both amosite and chrysotile. Starting in 1972, the factory processed amosite only. The air quality of the Uxbridge factory got better over time. Although no studies were completed in the 1950s, exposure levels were estimated at over 100 f/mL. In 1964, efforts were made to reduce the dust that workers were exposed to and by the late 1960s, air studies returned a value of 30 f/mL for asbestos concentration. This was reduced to 2 f/mL by the early 1970s.
A total of 4820 workers were studied here. There were 5 mesotheliomas, of which 4 were pleural and 1 was peritoneal. There were also 57 cases of lung cancer and 9 of asbestosis.
Conclusion
The preceding descriptions indicate the malignant potential of grunerite asbestos. While asbestos exposure is always potentially harmful, certain forms of the mineral, such as amosite, are certainly more harmful than others. The studies summarized in this article clearly show that asbestos is too dangerous a substance for anyone to use.
Labels: asbestos, mesothelioma
posted by Belluck & Fox at 5:08 PM
Friday, January 4, 2008
In the 1960s, Reserve Mining was one of the largest mining companies in the United States, responsible for 11% of the total US iron production and almost 25% of taconite pellet production in the State of Minnesota. Reserve Mining rose to this position through the development of an innovative production process that created easy-to-store and ship taconite pellets from unprocessed taconite ore. The development of these pellets created surplus mineral waste, called “tailings,” that was then deposited at the bottom of Lake Superior. The environmental effects of these tailings on Lake Superior and the health effects they had on people who used water from the Lake became a major issue and Reserve Mining was eventually sued in Federal Court.
The journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology has recently published an article on the litigation history of this case that discusses the issues that were involved and summarizes the various rulings handed down.
Introduction to the Story
At the beginning of the iron mining industry, high-grade hematite ore was found in abundance and could be extracted from the earth and directly shipped to processing mills. However, as the industry grew and the demand for ore increased, hematite ore became more and more scarce and the ore that was left was relatively low-grade taconite ore, which required intermediate processing—known as beneficiation—before it could be shipped to mills for production. The beneficiation process created surplus mineral waste, called tailings, which had to be disposed of.
Reserve Mining grew to the position it did because of the work of Dr. E.W. Davis, the director of the Mines Experiment Station at the University of Minnesota, who developed a production process that created taconite pellets, which were more efficient to ship and easier for mills to use. Reserve Mining received a permit to build a taconite processing plant on Lake Superior and quickly grew from there.
In the early 1960s, the environmental effects of Reserve’s use of Lake Superior became an issue. By the end of the decade, Reserve found itself in state court fighting new water regulations that it claimed would force it to shut down and then, in 1972, it was sued by the EPA in federal court for violation of federal and state water standards. During this time, the discovery of asbestos-like materials in both the water supply of those who used water from Luke Superior and the air around the taconite mines and processing plants created a sense that Reserve Mining was poisoning the health of thousands of citizens.
The Federal Cases
Reserve Mining lost badly in the first round of the federal case, as Judge Miles Lord ordered in 1974 that its processing plant had to immediately cease depositing the taconite tailings into Lake Superior, meaning the plant itself would have to close. This order, however, was stayed and the Appeals Court gave Reserve Mining time to develop an on-land processing system.
One of the major issues involved with the case had to do with the health effects of the taconite that was being processed. As the structure of the taconite that Reserve Mining processed appeared similar to amosite, many people were rightly concerned that it could have the same carcinogenic properties that asbestos had. However, as asbestos disease is a disease of latency they couldn’t make those determinations then. A number of other issues were raised about fiber length and exposure levels, but these, too, were left unanswered.
The case was eventually settled in 1982, with Reserve Mining agreeing to pay $2 million to Duluth, MN and its surrounding communities. In its settlement, Reserve Mining did not admit any wrongdoing.
Conclusion
The Reserve Mining case was notable for a number of reasons, but most directly because the rulings raised important questions about the role between science and industry. The authors of the article note that we are now in a time where many of these questions can be answered and they advocate a new look at this important case.
Labels: asbestos
posted by Belluck & Fox at 4:33 PM