Asbestos & Mesothelioma: June 2007 Archives

Minnesota Health Commissioner Faces Angry Crowd

Dianne Mandernach, the State Health Commissioner of Minnesota, is being heavily criticized for not publicizing data showing that shows that there is an increase in death from mesothelioma in the Mountain Iron Range. About 200 people, including many people affiliated with the mine, gathered to criticize the suffering that they have had to endure as a result of having been exposed to asbestos.

Minnesota Health Commissioner Faces Angry Crowd on Iron Range

Mandernach apologized for not revealing the details sooner. "It was a real mistake," she said. "I do apologize." One audience member yelled "it's not acceptable" in response. Mandernach has been heavily criticized since June 17 when it was learned that the agency had waited a year to make an announcement that 35 miners had contracted mesothelioma between 1997 and 2005.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 01:22 PM | Permalink

Husband's and Father's Clothing Exposed Arkansas Woman to Asbestos

An Arkansas woman who is suffering from mesothelioma has filed a lawsuit against 96 defendants in Madison County Circuit Court on June 14. She says that she was exposed to asbestos fibers brought home by her family members' clothing. Tammy Schwartz says that her current husband, Joseph Schwartz, was self-employed from 1989 to 2007 as a pipefitter and an electrician and that her first husband worked with automobiles. Her father was a heavy machine operator rom 1954 to 1995. Schwartz says she now suffers from mesothelioma as a result of having been exposed to asbestos fibers brought home by the men.

Husband's and Father's Clothing Exposed Arkansas Woman to Asbestos

"Dust created by working with and around asbestos and asbestos-containing products would permeate the person and clothing of the plaintiff's family members," the complaint states. "This dust contained asbestos fiber." Schwartz herself was employed as a machine operator and as a cashier from 1982 to 2006.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 01:04 PM | Permalink

Board Told to Apologize to Widow

An NHS board has been instructed to apologize to the widow of an asbestos-related cancer victim. A communication error caused "very real suffering" for the couple, according to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.

Board Told to Apologize to Widow

A report says that the couple, known only as Mr. and Mrs. C., did not receive "timely and appropriate care" after Mr. C was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mr. C. died from the condition in September 2004.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:47 PM | Permalink

Statement on Minnesota Asbestos Data

Dianne Mandernach, the Minnesota Commissioner of Health, has apologized for not releasing information about the asbestos-related deaths of 35 miners. The newly released data provides evidence that cancer cases are far more common in Iron Range miners than was previously believed. The Minnesota Health Department learned in early 2006 that 35 miners had been diagnosed with mesothelioma since 1996; this is twice as many cases as in the previous nine year period. However, instead of making the information public as soon as possible, the health department said nothing and planned more research.

Statement By Minnesota Commissioner Of Health Dianne Mandernach Regarding Release Of Mesothelioma Data

Mandernach's statement, in part, reads: "As the head of Minnesota’s lead public health agency, I want to apologize for delaying the release of information about the deaths of 35 miners from mesothelioma. With the benefit of hindsight, we should have provided this information earlier. It was clearly the right thing to do."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:28 PM | Permalink

Mesothelioma Victim Wins Large Payout

Ken McDonald, 67, has been awarded £100,000 for his exposure to asbestos at the Vickers shipyard in Barrow in the 1960s. McDonald was diagnosed with mesothelioma last October. The Vickers shipyard is known for having manufactured the United Kingdom's first nuclear submarine, the HMS Dreadnought.

Mesothelioma Victim Wins £100,000 Payout

Tom Brennan, McDonald's lawyer, said that he was happy with the verdict: “I am pleased we have been able to win compensation for Mr McDonald during what is a difficult time for him and his family.”

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:06 PM | Permalink

Contractor Pleads in School Asbestos Case

Branko Lazic, the owner of Bilaz Inc., was hired by Mattison Elementary School in Ambler, Pennsylvania in June 2002 to remove asbestos from the school. Lazic did not adequately complete the job; he left school grounds while work was being done, even though he was aware that his workers were unlikely to do the job properly. Lazic pleaded guilty to a criminal violation of the Clean Air Act.

Man Pleads Guilty in School Asbestos Case

Lazic will face up to five years and a $250,000 fine. Lazic's lawyer did not return a phone call on Monday.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:19 PM | Permalink

Talcum Powder Stops Growth of Lung Tumors

Researchers from the University of Florida say that talcum powder can help stop blood flow to metastatic lung tumors. Because metastatic tumors depend on blood flow to fuel their growth, the finding has important implications. Talc helps stimulate healthy cells to produce endostatin, which is a hormone that has been championed as the magic bullet for treating lung cancer.

Talcum Powder Stunts Growth of Lung Tumors

Veena Antony, M.D., a professor of pulmonary medicine and chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at UF's College of Medicine, says: “We found, to our surprise, that talc causes tumor growth to slow down and actually decreases the tumor bulk. Talc is able to prevent the formation of blood vessels, thereby killing the tumor and choking off its growth. The tumors appeared to grow much slower and in some cases completely disappeared.”

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 01:39 PM | Permalink

Information about Abdominal Mesothelioma

Abdominal mesothelioma, also known as pleural mesothelioma, is diagnosed at a rate of more than 2000 to 3000 per year. It is a dangerous form of cancer that forms in the sac lining the abdominal cavity or the lining of the heart. Death is certain after contracting the form of cancer and usually occurs about two or three years after diagnosis. Pleural mesothelioma typically develops 30 to 50 years after asbestos exposure.

Information about Abdominal Mesothelioma

80 percent of all mesothelioma cases occur in workers in the asbestos industry. It is seen most frequently in men between the ages of 50 and 70. Those who worked in shipyards, mines and insulation factories are at greatest risk for the disease. In all cases of mesothelioma, the employer can be held responsible and affected parties should seek legal action.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:57 PM | Permalink

Texan Says Father's Clothing Caused Mesothelioma

Allen Donely says that he contracted mesothelioma as a result of having been exposed to asbestos on his father's clothing. Donely's father worked as a painter and an auto body repairman across the United States. The complaint states that: "Dust created by working with and around asbestos and asbestos-containing products would permeate the person and clothing of the plaintiff's father," the complaint states. "This dust contained asbestos fiber."

Texan Claims Father's Clothing Caused Mesothelioma

Donely's father worked from 1966 through 1988 as a painter, a steelworker, a factory worker, a drilling rig worker, a print operator, a laborer, and a hod carrier. Donely was diagnosed with mesothelioma in June 2005. His suit says that the defendants did not require and advise their employees of important hygiene practices that are necessary to prevent asbestos from being carried home. Donely says that he was wrongfully exposed to asbestos and his exposure has disabled and disfigured him.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:04 PM | Permalink

Researchers Look for Link Between Taconite and Mesothelioma

While it already is known that mesothelioma is caused by breathing asbestos fibers, it is less certain if taconite also poses a danger. The Minnesota Department of Health says that men in northeastern Minnesota have twice the rate of mesothelioma than men in other areas and want to find out if the reason for this is fibers from taconite in the Iron Range.

Researchers Look for Links Between Taconite and Mesothelioma

Jim Kelly, a retired worker from the Northshore mine at Silver Bay, says that he doesn't believe the unsubstantiated claims that taconite is linked to mesothelioma: "It appears to me that the scientific community and the medical community cannot come to agreement on what is the specific hazard here," he says. "At least I have to date never heard anything specific." A 2003 report concluded that mesothelioma is much more common in Northeastern Minnesota than it should be. Researchers concluded that the most likely explanation for the higher rates of mesothelioma was exposure to commercial asbestos. However, 14 out of 17 miners who had developed mesothelioma had been exposed to asbestos as well as taconite dust.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:12 AM | Permalink

June 29, 2007

Minnesota Health Commissioner Faces Angry Crowd

June 28, 2007

Husband's and Father's Clothing Exposed Arkansas Woman to Asbestos

June 27, 2007

Board Told to Apologize to Widow

June 26, 2007

Statement on Minnesota Asbestos Data

June 25, 2007

Mesothelioma Victim Wins Large Payout

June 22, 2007

Contractor Pleads in School Asbestos Case

June 21, 2007

Talcum Powder Stops Growth of Lung Tumors

June 20, 2007

Information about Abdominal Mesothelioma

June 19, 2007

Texan Says Father's Clothing Caused Mesothelioma

June 18, 2007

Researchers Look for Link Between Taconite and Mesothelioma