Yesterday, we had reached the part in the story where the Seattle-Post Intelligencer exposed the terrible truth about what was going on at the W R Grace works in Montana.

Within a week of the story breaking, the US Environmental Protection Agency were all over Libby like a rash. Scandal wasn't new to the Grace story. The company had at one time been notorious due to its shady dealings with former Nazis. Then, in the 1980's, J Peter Grace, a company executive, was allegedly able to put paid to an EPA investigation into health problems associated with the vermiculite industry, due to the authority he wielded as head of President Reagan's Grace Commission.

Millions of buildings are insulated with Zonolite and it is known that W R Grace supplied asbestos contaminated vermiculite for fire-proofing the World Trade Center. That is why, when the air was tested by the EPA after the 9/11 outrage, dangerously high levels of asbestos were found in the air of lower Manhattan.

More than 124,000 claims have been filed against the Company and tens of thousands of lawsuits get filed every year. Because asbestos related illnesses have such a long latent phase, it is likely that this will be the situation for years to come. However, not content with their notoriety for the cover up, in 2001 W R Grace filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In simple terms, this means that they are protected from their creditors while they restructure their business. In this case, however, their creditors are the sick and the dying - people who are terminally ill due to the cover up. These people don't have long to wait, yet it has been estimated that even coming up with an estimate for the damages could take until 2010.

Exposure in Libby Montana

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:23 AM | Permalink

The town of Libby, population around 12,000, sits amongst the conifer forests of north west Montana and, historically, it has always been a place where work tends to be seasonal and associated with logging. So when a local man discovered plentiful supplies of vermiculite, a good and lightweight fire-proofer and insulator, the town thought their luck had changed for the better.

The vermiculite mine was known locally as Zonolite, which was also the name given to insulation produced there. The townspeople were proud of the product, even stating that the vermiculite could be used in the baking of wholemeal bread, producing a mold-free loaf. Jobs at the mine were sought after.

The mine was bought in 1963 by W R Grace, a large multinational but, for the miners, nothing really changed. Their work was hard and dusty, they worked long hours. But the money was good.

Then, in the 1970's, some operatives started to complain of shortness of breath, some of them becoming housebound and permanently attached to oxygen tanks. Some of the workers developed rare forms of cancer. In fact, the cancer was not just confined to the workers, their wives and children suffered too. Eventually, even townsfolk who had nothing whatsoever to do with the mine also developed severe respiratory symptoms. Some doctors recognized the symptoms for what they were, that is, signs of asbestos induced disease - asbestosis. But there were many, many deaths before people came to understand that the towns biggest employers, W R Grace, had knowingly exposed their workers and the residents of Libby to tremolite. Tremolite is a particularly noxious form of asbestos and it was present in large amounts in the vermiculite deposit.

Company officials spent years covering up the truth that had first been discovered back in the 1930's - that asbestos was not good for human health. They also covered up the extent of asbestos contamination at the Libby mine, avoiding inspections and under-reporting fiber counts. Of course, the increasing numbers of people falling ill eventually alerted people to the problem but, strangely, the mine remained a 'local problem' and was little heard of outside of Libby. Until the Seattle Post-Intelligencer took the bull by the horns and published the story.

to be continued.........

Libby Asbestos

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 11:57 AM | Permalink

As I write this blog, I become increasingly aware of the problem of second-hand exposure to asbestos. For instance, I recently wrote about the l lady who became ill as a result of washing her husband's asbestos contaminated clothing.
I thought that this was a fairly new phenomenon but, having just scraped the top of the research mountain, I find that as long ago as 1966 it was demonstrated that more than 50% of the cases of mesothelioma in women were as a result of household exposure to someone who worked directly with asbestos. I'll see if I can dig out details of the study for later on this week.

Living with an asbestos worker is not the only way of contracting the disease, however, there are various risks within the community - the story of the now-defunct W.R. Grace vermiculite mine is well known.

So, in view of the foregoing, I thought this week we'd take a more in-depth look at secondary exposure - the risks, the various ways you can protect yourself, and some well-known cases.

We'll start tomorrow by looking at the W R Grace story.

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:10 AM | Permalink

We spoke recently about research being carried out in the Minnesota Iron Range that is looking for links between Taconite and Mesothelioma.

On Thursday of last week, the Iron Range Resources Board pledged funding of $250,000 for medical testing within the larger research project. The money won't be spent unless Iron Range Resources Commissioner Sandy Layman and Gov. Tim Pawlenty also approve.

My blog entry of two days ago, which discussed the ethics of withholding data, also feeds into this particular story. Dianne Mandernach, former Health Commissioner for the Minnesota Health Department, resigned after admitting that she waited a year to release data on 35 miners who got mesothelioma.

Perhaps by not only agreeing the funding but also matching it the Minnesota Health Department could redress their poor track record for dealing with Mesothelioma.

Iron Range board approves money to study rare cancer in miners

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:20 AM | Permalink

This follows on from last week's news from England about a Law Lords' judgment that could prevent thousands of British sufferers from pleural plaques from claiming.

A group of 13 Labour MPs tabled a parliamentary motion demanding legislation to ensure that sufferers of this asbestos related disease will be able to make compensation claims.

The new motion calls on Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, to introduce legislation to overturn the Lords judgment, because it is now clear that workers suffering the condition will not get justice in the courts.

For full story, follow the link: MPs urge new laws to give justice for N-E asbestos victims

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:56 AM | Permalink

It is known that the Minnesota Department of Health recently sat on data they had collected about miners' deaths from Mesothelioma. They defended their tardiness a by saying that a delay was necessary while the department designed a research program to study the information they had collected.

In effect, an administrator decided that the data should not be released in its raw form because the public wouldn't understand it. Not only is this patronizing, it is dangerous. Miners who have been exposed to asbestos can make better decisions about their health care if they know the full risk of their past exposure.

Bad reasons for withholding public data

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:47 AM | Permalink

In Western Australian Supreme Court, a decision made earlier this year was turned over by the Court of Appeal. The original ruling had awarded a sum of $5 million (Australian) in compensation to the widow of Denis Walter John Moss. Mr Moss had been exposed to asbestos during occasional work he did for Amaca Pty Ltd, who produce the known carcinogen.

If Amaca continues to win such cases, the ability of thousands of future victims to obtain compensation could be reduced.

Anxiety over Amaca asbestos case

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:19 AM | Permalink

This powerfully written article needs no extra comment from me - click on the link and read it in full.

...the War on Cancer has made astonishing breakthroughs in finding and treating the disease, but it has left unscathed known carcinogens like radiation, benzene, asbestos and other toxic materials (including tobacco, until recently). Virtually ignored have been the incompletely tested 80,000 industrial chemicals found -- in infinite combinations -- in everything from cosmetics to carpet glue....

Sunday Forum: The war on cancer, cont'd

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:07 AM | Permalink

Given the rate of decline of other cancers it is, perhaps, not difficult to understand public misunderstanding and apparent disinterest in mesothelioma. This dreadfully painful asbestos related cancer bucks the trend and is rising in incidence.

Of the cancer research purse, only 3% goes towards mesothelioma studies. The Federal Government must engage and help to find a cure.

Mesothelioma still needs more attention, research funding

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 07:59 AM | Permalink

Despite neighbors trying to block the explosive destruction of the three-decade-old hotel, The Sands Hotel in Atlantic City was blown up on Thursday 18th October. The objecting neighbors had been concerned that the resulting dust and debris would contain dangerous asbestos particles.

Kim Townsend, president of Pinnacle Atlantic City, told the press there was lack of understanding of the stringent environmental that was required before demolishing a building. She said that all toxic materials had been removed from The Sands.

Judge William Nugent said the neighbors claim that the implosion might create a health hazard wasn't strong enough to overcome the harm of postponing the event.

Sands to implode tonight, judge rules

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 01:35 PM | Permalink

On September 24, 2007, Justice Marcy S. Friedman, Supreme Court, New York County, announced a ruling that joins two mesothelioma cases, both being legal claims for mesothelioma/asbestos exposure in the workplace, for a single trial to begin on November 5, 2007.

The ruling concerns the cases of Joel and Sharon Rosenberg and Joseph and Dolores Casale.

Mr Rosenburg. a lifelong electrician, was a victim of pleural mesothelioma, from which he later died, aged 64.

Mr Casale, worked as a pipe fitter in shipyards - a trade now known to have been high risk for asbestos related diseases. He now lives in Florida, also a victim of mesothelioma.

The joint claims result from the fact that both men suffered significant exposure to asbestos while working in New York City.

New York Supreme Court Justice Orders Joint Trial For Two Asbestos/Mesothelioma Legal Claims

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:03 AM | Permalink

There is fierce political debate in Australia currently, with Work Place Relations Minister, Joe Hockey, declaring that the role of the unions is "essentially over.

Bernie Banton, leading asbestos campaigner and mesothelioma sufferer, has angry retaliated that, "without the union movement, we would have been getting absolutely diddly squat for all those victims (of asbestos related illness)."

Unions essential: Asbestos campaigner

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:52 AM | Permalink

For many years Rochdale, a town in northern England, was home to the world's largest asbestos works, Turner Brothers. Many inquests in the town and surrounding area have ended with a verdict of death by industrial disease as a result of prolonged exposure to asbestos.

In a crippling blow to sufferers, Law Lords (legally qualified members of the House of Lords) have ruled that Rochdale workers suffering from an asbestos-related disease will not be able to claim compensation. Lawyers were working on several cases prior to the decision, which removes an established right to compensation for pleural plaques.

This ruling follows closely on the heels of a separate Law Lords ruling last year, which denioed compensation for mesothelioma.

The case dates back to November 2004 when 10 Rochdale men went to court seeking compensation from insurance companies who wanted to stop the payments. The case went on to the High Court and then the Court of Appeal before finally reaching the Law Lords.

Disease compensation claims ruled out

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 04:30 AM | Permalink

LOS ANGELES—A former Navy sailor who was exposed to asbestos more than 50 years ago has been awarded $35.1 million in compensatory damages after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Former Navy sailor, John R. "Jack" Davis, was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in January 2007 after exposure to asbestos over fifty years ago.

Davis, a former boiler tender, claimed that his illness was triggered by exposure to asbestos-containing pipes and valves during his career. He had also worked in the private-sector.

This confirms, if confirmation were needed, what I said in my entry for 10th of October - serving your country can take your life in more ways than one.

Former Navy sailor wins $35m asbestos suit

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 01:07 PM | Permalink

Yesterday, we looked at Chrysotile, the 'modern' asbestos that is being mined in Canada. Today, I thought we'd look at another material - Taconite.

Just like asbestos and chrysotile, taconite is a naturally occurring substance that is mined from the earth. It is, in fact, a low grade iron ore. Years ago, when high grade iron ore was plentiful, taconite was considered to be a waste product and was not used. However, as the supply of high-grade natural ore decreased, industry began to view taconite as a resource. Many years were devoted to finding ways of extracting iron ore from taconite and, eventually, a process was developed to create taconite pellets. As a result, it was considered that taconite saved Minnesota's iron ore mining industry.

BUT

The Minnesota Department of Health have reported that men in northeastern Minnesota have twice the expected rate of mesothelioma. As we know, mesothelioma is primarily caused by asbestos but the Health Department wants to find out whether it can also be caused by fibers in the taconite on the Iron Range.

This new study of taconite miners will take up to three years to complete and will comprise of three strands as follows:

First, there will be an in-depth look at the dust in the Iron Range, particularly in Taconite mines, to determine what issues the long–term exposure to asbestos raises.

Second , medical evaluation will be undertaken with current and former miners to determine what types of lung problems they might have.

Third, recorded deaths of more than 70,000 former Iron Range miners will be analyzed to determine the exact cause of death, including mesothelioma.

Information gained from the study, should lead to better understanding of the causes of mesothelioma and other illnesses, not only in the Minnesota Iron Range miners, but globally.

Researchers look for links between taconite and mesothelioma

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:49 AM | Permalink

Following yesterday's blog entry about Canada's 'new type of asbestos,' I thought perhaps we ought to look at what exactly this new type of asbestos, Chrysotile, is.

Chrysotile is not as dusty and is more easily eliminated from the human body than traditional asbestos. Studies of workers exposed to high levels of this dust did not show any excess lung cancer or mesothelioma.

BUT the Health and Safety Executive in Britain have explained this fact by reminding us that asbestos-induced
lung cancer, like fibrosis (asbestosis), is a threshold phenomenon. That is , the more you inhale the more likely you are to contract the disease. Which is why the incidence of Mesothelioma continues to rise - men and women who have been exposed for twenty to thirty years are only now beginning to show signs of disease.

Canada produces 22% of the global Chrysotile output - 510,800 metric tonnes in 1995 - so they are not exactly unbiased in their arguments that Chrysotile is safe.

The Asbestos Institute

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:21 AM | Permalink

The Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) fears mesothelioma, which can take decades to develop, will soar in coming years. Yet, as clinic director, Jim Brophy, reports, there is nobody keeping track. He added that the frequency of calls to the clinic is higher this year than in each of the last three years. A fact which mirrors experience worldwide due to the long development phase of Mesothelioma.

Canada, one of the world's leading producers of asbestos, is among the few developed countries that hasn't banned the material. The Canadian government defend their stance by saying that recent science proves that the type of asbestos mined in Canada is much safer than others; and that properly handled, Canadian asbestos is safe to use.

One mesothelioma sufferer likened Canada to a drug pusher in the way it promotes and sells asbestos.

Worker deaths from asbestos exposure rising

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 05:08 AM | Permalink

The Maritime Union of Australia reports an incidence of exposure in the port of Townsville on 4th October this year, when workers unloaded cargo from the bulk carrier, Sea Sparkle, which is registered in Panama. There are also safety concerns for Chinese crew members living on board.

There are reports that asbestos containing material is present in in the living quarters, in the crew's cabins, in the galley, and in the mess room.

Ironically, this came to light on the same day that a new Australian group was set up to lobby for better treatment for asbestos sufferers.

ABC News

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 04:58 AM | Permalink

A Michigan man with mesothelioma is suing the Chrysler Corporation, claiming he was exposed to asbestos dust brought home on the clothes of his father. His father worked for the company as a metal finisher at their Detroit plant.

The man, Walter Nalezyty, also claims that he has been unable to obtain full disclosure of relevant documents and information from the defendants, which leads him to believe that asbestos related documents have been destroyed.

Nalezyty is suing 50 other other defendants and is seeking compensatory damages in excess of $700,000, as well as punitive damages.

Michigan metal finisher claims mesothelioma in Madison County

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 06:08 AM | Permalink

The campus at Louisiana State University has been constantly plagued with asbestos problems. The cause is the huge number of old buildings that are in a state of disrepair.

A new report states that there have been several more asbestos exposure incidents since the start of the school year. The blame for these latest incidents is being put on the numerous renovation projects of those old buildngs.

According to assistant director of Occupational and Environmental Safety, Michael Hooks, there are more than 300 buildings on campus and any building built between the 1940s and the 1970s might have used asbestos as a building material. Most dormitories were built during this time period, so students have been urged to use caution and report structural damages when they are seen.

Asbestos poses problems for campus buildings

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 05:56 AM | Permalink

A steam pipe that burst in Boston at the weekend released a small amount of asbestos.

The release has been confirmed by the Boston Fire Department, who said that in addition to large chunks of asphalt, asbestos pieces were flung onto the street as the pipe exploded. This is the second such explosion in Boston in less than one month.

The rupture occurred just after 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and caused the evacuation of a three-story group home. Luckily, there were no injuries caused. It is reported that asbestos-tinged asphalt and dust were spewed over a 50-foot area. The road will remain closed until the site has been cleaned.

Ruptured Pipe Causes Release of Asbestos in Boston

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:21 AM | Permalink

Many US veterans, including Navy shipyard workers, were exposed to the toxic hazards of asbestos in their daily routines; asbestos was used more frequently in shipyards than in any other military location. Since meso and other lung-related disease become apparent in later life, those veterans who were in the military between 1940 and 1970 are at increased risk of developing the disease now.

Read more about how How Mesothelioma Affects Veterans

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:06 AM | Permalink

South Africa was once one of the world's top producers of asbestos; a history that has marred its future. For, although asbestos mining ceased here in the mid-1980s, people are still being diagnosed with ARDs like mesothelioma and asbestosis on a regular basis. To make matters worse, unsecured sites continue to pose a risk.

In the small, northern cape towns, tens of thousands of people are reported to be suffering from ARDs and, in the past half-dozen years, foreign-owned mining companies have paid out tens of millions of dollars in settlements to an estimated 10,000 South African victims of their activities. A typical pay-out to a mesothelioma sufferer is $4,000 (28,000 rand).

What price life?

Asbestos Disease Cripples SA Mining Towns

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 04:45 AM | Permalink

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, has been asked to take action against Ronnie E. McCoy of McCoy Construction by the IEPA.

McCoy owns the former Mount Sinai Baptist Church in East St Louis, which was demolished after many years of disuse. It is alleged that McCoy improperly handled asbestos, failed to have a licensed asbestos contractor oversee the demolition, and failed to notify the IEPA of the demolition,

Spokeswoman, Maggie Carson, said that, when the IEPA inspected the site after the demolition in response to a complaint, materials such as floor tile and pipe insulation tested positive for asbestos, so the attorney general was notified.

IEPA says demolition site contains asbestos

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 04:34 AM | Permalink

British conman, Barrie Christy, has been jailed after defrauding four companies.

Christy, who worked in health and safety, had spotted a business opportunity in checking premises for asbestos. He sold his services as an asbestos investigator via an agency. Because he wasn't trained or accredited for asbestos analysis, he was supposed to take samples to North Lincolnshire Analytical Limited for analysis and certification. He should then have written up the reports, sent them to client companies and invoiced for payment. However, Christy cut corners by forging signatures of the analytical company.

Christy's ex-wife, Lesley Christy, told the court that her husband had been "faking findings of asbestos" and had been paid by companies.

CONMAN SENT TO JAIL FOR 18 MONTHS

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:15 AM | Permalink

The Department of Housing and Works will carry out asbestos inspections of all its 19,000 public housing dwellings constructed prior to 1990, Housing and Works Minister Michelle Roberts said on Tuesday of this week.

She also directed the State Government inter-departmental Asbestos Steering Committee - WA Government Buildings to monitor that all State Government agencies complete asbestos registers and management plans for all their buildings within 12 months.

It will be the task of the Asbestos Steering Committee to ensure that all registers are up-to-date and that appropriate management plans are in place.

Full Story at:
Media Newswire Press Release Distribution

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:05 AM | Permalink

The State Controlling Board gave approval on Tuesday for a $3 million Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund (CORF) grant for the Ashtabula County Port Authority’s cleanup project of the former FirstEnergy Plant C site on Lake Road.

The CORF funds will be used to clear asbestos from inside the multi-storied former FirstEnergy electric power plant. The port authority board has the engineering and bidding work in place already.

A time line for completion of the clean up will be prepared at a meeting today, October 5th.

For the full story:

ACPA clears final hurdle for Clean Ohio Fund grant

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 07:58 AM | Permalink

The makeover team from ABC rallied a crowd to help them build a new house for Connie Chapin and her four children. John Littlefield, from the show's design team, said that the environment was so unhealthy that it should be demolished. Which is what the team planned to do, until they realized that it wouldn't be that simple. Builder, Diamon Doyle said, "We've got lead in there. We've got asbestos we've got to abate. So it's going to be complicated taking it down."

The home was made with toxic paint and insulation, which means it must be taken apart piece by piece, then rebuilt, all within a week.

Kirkland home no easy job for ABC's 'Extreme Makeover' team

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 07:48 AM | Permalink

When a dumper truck smashed through the walls of a primary school classroom in England, it spread deadly asbestos fibers. The result was that every item in the room had to be thrown away and replaced because it had been contaminated with asbestos.

The truck had been stolen by David Bush, who caused £7,844 worth of damage.

The noise of the impact caused headmaster, Duncan McAlpine to investigate. He reports seeing a 'gaping hole' in one of the classrooms.

A teacher, who lost 20 years of work in the classroom, broke down in tears when she heard everything in the room had to be thrown away.

20 years' work lost after truck hit school

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 07:36 AM | Permalink

In Middlesborough, North East England, an inquest heard that a fire-fighter’s wife died of cancer contracted as a result of washing his clothes. Kathleen Thompson's husband, Alan , came into contact with asbestos through his work as a firefighter and, although his wife was not exposed to asbestos at work, she was exposed to it when laundering her husband's clothes.

The inquest heard that the malignant mesothelioma with which Mrs Thompson was diagnosed was “almost certainly” caused by exposure to asbestos fibers.

A statement from Mr Thompson, which was read to the inquest, stated that in Middlesborough fire station, where he previously worked, there was a large pipe in the basement which was lagged with asbestos. He reported that the lagging on the pipe was broken and hanging free. Workers would often sweep up the asbestos left lying around.

He further said that firefighters used to hang their kit in the basement, where they would spend a lot of their time.

Sunday Sun

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 04:56 AM | Permalink

Applauding the Bill, which would ban the importation, manufacturing and distribution of virtually all products containing asbestos, Environmental Working Group (EWG) Executive Director Richard Wiles said:

"Now, the full Congress needs to step up to the plate and put the public’s health first by sending this bill to the President."

Environmental Working Group Applauds Senate Panel’s Passage of Landmark Asbestos Legislation

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:14 AM | Permalink