Leigh Carlisle, who pioneered treatment for mesothelioma, has died aged 28. It was believed that Leigh was the youngest sufferer of the disease in the UK

How Leigh became a victim of the asbestos related lung cancer is unknown but, given that the disease usually takes more than 20 years to develop, it is possible that she was affected at her school in Oldham, Lancashire. Lawyers have placed a Freedom of Information request with Oldham council to try and determine whether asbestos may have been present in her classrooms.

Asbestos was widely used in British schools in the latter half of the twentieth century, resulting in the death or terminal illness of 200 school workers.

Rochdale Online

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 02:14 AM | Permalink

It's a fact that homes built before the 1980's or remodeled before this time are likely to contain asbestos. With the current pressure of rising energy prices, many people will be looking to minimize their heating use - and the number one way is to make sure your home is adequately insulated.

And there lies the problem. If your home was built between the 1920's and the late 1980's, the loft is likely to be contaminated with asbestos in the form of Vermiculite insulation. Vermiculite is a mineral that was mined by W R Grace and Co in Montana, where the mines were riddled with asbestos. Vermiculite from these mines is, therefore, contaminated with asbestos. The mining of Vermiculite at the Grace mines continued until the 1990's.

If you have any doubts whatsoever, your best advise is to hire an asbestos professional who will ascertain whether there is a problem with asbestos or not. If asbestos is present you will be given advice on how it should be handled.

Med Headlines

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:20 AM | Permalink

A story in the New York Sun today that might interest you.

Thomas Pavese, a tenant at the Hudson Hotel, claims that his health has suffered as a result of the hotel's laxity regarding asbestos.

A lawsuit filed yesterday claims that the hotel knowingly put dozens of permanent tenants at risk when it removed asbestos from apartments it was planning to convert into guest suites. The asbestos waste was dumped in "an eight foot box, in very poor condition, which was OPEN at all times and read Danger Asbestos."

As if that wasn't bad enough, the workers then allegedly proceeded to blow the asbestos out the window with a metal hose, spreading it over the street and inside the building. The lawsuit also claims that asbestos was put in tenants' garbage containers in the hallways.

Mr. Pavese, who is seeking more than $50 million damages, claims that, as a result of the hotel's actions, he has trouble breathing and has been hospitalized for a chronic illness.

The Hudson Hotel, formerly known as the Henry Hudson Hotel, apparently began the asbestos removal in 1999.

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 03:05 AM | Permalink

I happened upon a very interesting document today. It was published by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in 2005 so, in the scheme of these things, it can be classed as 'current.'

U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1255-KK is a 63 page pdf file that is a fairly easy read. The section of this document that interested me the most was the one entitled Present Uses. In 2003, the US is reported as using 5,000 tonnes of asbestos, broken down as follows:

Roofing Products 3,000 tonnes
Coatings and Compounds 1,000 tonnes
Other uses 1,000 tonnes

This does represent a dramatic reduction on the 795,000 tonnes used in 1973 but surely it is still too high?

Perhaps of most interest to those involved in home improvement programs is the fact that as recently as 1990, US asbestos usage was as follows:

7,000 tonnes in asbestos cement
2,000 tonnes in coatings and compounds
9,000 tonnes in friction products
3,000 tonnes in packing and gaskets
130,000 tonnes in roofing products
1,000 tonne other uses

There's obviously still a lot of it out there. If you have any suspicions that you are dealing with an asbestos containing material - do not touch it, just contact your local DEA.

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 03:55 AM | Permalink

A report in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine predicts that, in the next 10 to 20 years, Libby in Montana will experience a mesothelioma epidemic.

Dr. Alan Whitehouse, a pulmonologist on the front line of asbestos disease treatment in Libby, wrote the report with input from four other doctors, including Dr. Brad Black of the Center for Asbestos Related Disease, or CARD Clinic, in Libby. More than 200 asbestos deaths have been confirmed in Libby, and the CARD clinic is following about 2,000 additional asbestos cases.

The Daily Interlake

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 04:32 AM | Permalink

A Dutch newspaper has published a story about Senator Obama and his role in getting action on asbestos in a badly neglected housing project. The newspaper reports that the story is 'stirring scene from his memoir.' The following is a direct cut and paste from that article:

(note: Altgeld refers to a badly neglected housing project)

Obama wrote that one day an Altgeld parent handed him a newspaper advertisement soliciting bids to remove asbestos from Altgeld’s management office.

Reveling in his success, Obama says "I changed as a result of that bus trip, in a fundamental way, it was the kind of action that hints at what might be possible and therefore spurs you on."

Yet Obama's detractors insist that the would-be President of the US based his campaign on the previously successful campaign at Wells and that it was teamwork that was successful in getting action, not just the one man.

Read the full article for yourself and decide for yourself whether Obama should take all the glory for this undoubted success.

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 04:38 AM | Permalink

A scientific study has been undertaken to investigate whether or not there is a genetic component to mesothelioma.
The study looked at the effect of a specific type of asbestos, crocidolite, on the cells that line the human lung (the A549 cells if you're interested!).

This methodology - that of introducing the catalyst for disease and watching the changes it evokes - has not been undertaken before, so this is a ground breaking piece of work. It will be a valuable in initiating further studies of this type and understanding exactly how the mesothelioma disease process works.

Genetic responses to the crocidolite were noted. This is important because understanding how the genes are involved is the first step towards developing a cure. It has to be said that these are very early days in the process - there's a long way to go yet. Nonetheless, every step in the right direction is a step worth taking.

Biomed Central

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:16 AM | Permalink

One day, over thirty years ago, Lolli's husband came home with a piece of cement board intended for the wall behind the wood burning fireplace. The board was too big, and Lolli's husband cut it to size; for one reason or another, he didn't tape the raw ends and, for years, those edges continued to flake.

Lolli thought that the board might contain asbestos and those raw ends caused ongoing arguments between the couple. In those days though, there was no internet to confirm or refute her suspicions. Every day, Lolli would vacuum up the flakes, sometimes bending down to get up the more persistent particles that stuck in the carpet.

Six years ago, Lolli had x-rays that revealed spots on her lung. Her doctor reassured her that the spots had nothing to do with asbestos.

Two years ago, having broken a wrist, Lolli had several CAT scans. The spots were noted again and this time the doctors said that the spots weren't asbestosis because, if they were, "you would be dead by now." As Lolli herself commented, "this just isn't logical because asbestos mesothelioma has a 10 to 50 year period of latency."

Unfortunately, by this time, Lolli had started to experience the symptoms of asbestos related disease. She is now a confirmed sufferer of asbestosis.

Lolli is 56 years old.

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 03:17 AM | Permalink

In Waukegan, Illinios, there has been an a shoreline asbestos problem from just above the Wisconsin state line through Waukegan for many years and now the lethal material is cropping up in Chicago as well. However, local company, Midwest Generation, has initiated a pilot project to clean sand contaminated with asbestos, which they hope will help provide a regional solution to the asbestos problem.

If successful, the project, which includes sifting sand in a controlled environment to remove asbestos containing materials, could provide a positive alternative to landfilling contaminated sand.

A spokesman for the company said that, if the pilot project is successful, the sand might be appropriate for use in road projects such as the construction of roadbeds and airport runways.

The pilot project has received a permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which allows Midwest Generation to test up to 15,000 cubic yards of sand that has been dredged from the company's lake-front intake canal.

Lake County News-Sun

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 03:21 AM | Permalink

In 2006, Dr Dr. Saeed Behshid was awarded $12.6 million in compensatory damages following his claim that his mesothelioma had been caused by using Bondex joint compound. Dr Behshid had been involved in the remodeling of several homes and had used the joint compound each time.

The company appealed against the decision, claiming that Dr Behshid had not provided enough evidence to prove that Bondex joint compound had caused his malignant illness. They also argued the legal technicalities of the original case.

On August 11 this year, an appellate court upheld the original decision, ruling that 'there was substantial evidence from which the jury could conclude that exposure to asbestos from Bondex joint compound was a substantial factor in causing his disease.' The court also upheld the legalities of the previous proceedings.

Dr Behshid, now 73 years old, holds a PhD and is a former banker. Back in the 1960's and 70's he remodeled between 12 and 15 homes. For all of these projects he used Bondex joint compound and claims that he inhaled asbestos dust produced during the mixing and sanding processes. There were no warnings on the product and, therefore, Dr Behshid did not wear protective clothing. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2004.

Bondex Appeal

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:15 AM | Permalink

Benny G. Gladding of Norfolk, building and grounds Superintendent for Massena Central School District building, pleaded guilty to providing materially false information to EPA Special Agents related to illegal asbestos removal and disposal activities within Massena Central School District buildings. He also entered a guilty plea to the charge of preparing a materially false report related to the presence of asbestos in a public school.

In an interview on February 22, 2007 with Special Agents from the Environmental Protection Agency, Gladding falsely stated that he had never removed any asbestos-containing material from any school building at any time during his employment with the Massena School District. The truth is that the Superintendent had engaged in numerous, illegal asbestos removal activities.

He also admitted that on December 21, 2006, during a regular six-month asbestos inspection at the Jefferson Elementary School in Massena, he failed to accurately record significant amounts of asbestos that had been disturbed and had fallen from pipes onto the ground within the school building.

When sentenced in July of this year, Gladding was ordered to serve two years probation for each of the counts; the sentences are to run concurrently. The disgraced superintendent is also required to complete 100 hours of community service and to resign from his position with Massena Central School District.

Newswatch 50

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 04:00 AM | Permalink

Currently, there is a great amount of media and political interest in traumatic brain injury, the signature wound of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is all very laudable, but the truth is there are veterans from long ago wars who are still fighting for compensation.

Take, as an example, the case of Lawrence T. Hess. Hess, a World War II Navy veteran who also served as a Secret Service agent, was diagnosed with asbestos-related pleural disease. He died in 2006, aged 79, a victim of mesothelioma. His widow, Susan Hess receives "dependency and indemnity compensation" for his years of service, December 1944 to July 1946.

Before he died, Hess helped author and veteran, William S Burton Sr, to research cases of military personnel who may have been exposed to asbestos while serving. Three years ago, Burton published the second edition of his book "Asbestos — The Silent Killer of Navy Veterans," in which he explains asbestos related disease, and outlines the steps veterans should take to prove their compensation claims for war-related illnesses.

Burton, now aged 83, is concerned that many veterans are still not aware of the dangers of asbestos. If they are not aware of the dangers, how can they know that they are entitled to compensation?

Read more about Burton's crusade.

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 04:22 AM | Permalink

Robert Horton, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Engineering, admitted yesterday evening that asbestos and radioactive material from the Bahamian Club Med site has been accidentally shipped to the US.

An inquiry has been launched following the US authorities discovery of the materials on a ship in New Jersey. The materials have been returned to Bermuda.

Two containers were found aboard the ship, one containing asbestos and the other containing a boiler that had been in use for 40 years. The boiler had actually been destined for the US and all asbestos had been removed prior to shipping. However, when testing revealed signs of radioactive materials, it was returned to Bermuda for decontamination.

The Club Med site has been derelict for 20 years and is currently being demolished.

The Royal Gazette

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 03:24 AM | Permalink

Over twenty years ago, a group of investigators at the National Cancer Institute and Louisiana State University set up a study to assess if differences in diet could hold to answer to why not everybody exposed to asbestos went on to fall victim to mesothelioma.

The Diet and Mesothelioma task force located 58 people who had mesothelioma and 58 people who had similar asbestos exposure, income, and use of tobacco but who had escaped the disease. The researchers tried to find a connection between mesothelioma and eating three popular snacks, two kinds of sweets, three dairy products, seven kinds of fruit, seven sea foods, eleven kinds of meat, and sixteen kinds of vegetables.

Their findings can be summarized as follows:

People exposed to asbestos who stayed cancer-free ate, on average, twice as many servings of home-grown or locally grown fruits and vegetables per week as those who developed mesothelioma.

People who developed mesothelioma ate more cake, candy, and pie than those who stayed cancer-free.

Beta-carotene (the stuff that makes carrots and pumpkins orange) was also found to be important. However, it was interesting to note that eating too much beta-carotene gave no additional benefits than if a person ate a 'normal' amount - categorized as four servings per week. Oil is known to help in the uptake of beta-carotene by the body, so it is advisable to have something oily with your carrots, pumpkin, or squash.

The beta-carotene results were replicated by a later study in New York.

The number one danger food seemed to be sugar. Study participants who developed mesothelioma were eight times as likely to have eaten dessert every day as those who did not. Those who stayed cancer-free also ate some desserts, occasionally, but an average of one serving once or twice a week.

We're not advocating natural therapies per se, but if eating a healthy balanced diet that includes colorful, locally grown vegetables and the occasional sweet treat can help, what's not to try?

Asbestos, Diet, and Mesothelioma - Could Eating Right Prevent One of the Deadliest Cancers?

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 04:16 AM | Permalink

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had put plans in place to change the toxicity ratings of six types of asbestos, including chrysotile. In doing so, they would be flying in the face of decades of experience and research documenting the true hazards of these minerals.

The EPA were to be thwarted by a panel of 20 experts appointed to the Scientific Advisory Board's asbestos panel, which, along with activists and advocates, testified against the plan at the July 21 and 22 hearing into the way the agency estimates potential cancer risk to those who inhale fibers of asbestos.

The EPA newsletter has now reported that that the panel's decision is likely to delay development of a model that EPA and industry officials hope can be used to set more site-specific cleanup levels at contaminated sites, rather than relying on conservative default assumptions.

The truth of the matter is that the EPA is not required follow the recommendation of its advisory scientists, although one commentator is reported as saying that it is unlikely the Agency will push forward with its plans in the near future.

SeattlePi

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:22 AM | Permalink

The June issue of the British Journal Cancer carried the results of an Italian study into the effectiveness of combining Alimta (pemetrexed) and Paraplatin (carboplatin). The conclusion of the study is that the drug combination is highly effective in patients presenting with pleural mesothelioma over the age of 65 years.

The Alimta and Paraplatin combination gave a one-year survival rate of over 60% and has proved to be very effective in older mesothelioma patients, with a median survival rate at about 14 months for individuals in the older age group (age 70 or older) compared to a survival rate of 11 months in participants in the younger age group.

Alimta and Paraplatin combination found to be especially successful in older mesothelioma sufferers

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:55 AM | Permalink

A while back I told you the story of school janitor, Randy Ecker, who involved 5 special needs kids in a clean up operation that exposed them to asbestos. Now, if this had been unwitting exposure, it would be a sorry accident. But this wasn't unwitting - Ecker was well aware of the presence of asbestos.

Ecker's misguided friend, Rick Kerin Bozeman, has written to a local paper in defense of Ecker's actions. Some folk just don't get it, do they!

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 06:53 AM | Permalink

I wrote earlier in the week about Rosetta Genomics and their work on a new diagnostic test for mesothelioma. Yesterday the company announced their acquisition of Parkway Clinical Laboratories, a privately-owned laboratory that is CLIA-certified.

The facilities were acquired for $2.9 million, plus an additional $300,000 to be paid 'upon the achievement of certain milestones.'

Bio Medicine

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:29 AM | Permalink