A recent probe into asbestos infractions at Massachusetts work sites discovered that perhaps the penalties inflicted on those who ignore asbestos laws simply aren’t enough to keep these violators from doing the same thing over again. Likely, Massachusetts isn’t the only state where this scenario pays out over and over.
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Mesothelioma and the 21st Century Cures Act
A piece of government legislation known as the “21st Century Cures Act” was passed last week by both houses of Congress. It’s a bill that will increase funding for medical research, provide a much-needed overdo of federal policy pertaining to mental health care, and will speed the development and approval of many experimental treatments for diseases that include cancer, Alzheimer’s, and others.
Another Asbestos Whistleblower Loses Job
Employers seem to view asbestos as a four-letter word. Most of them don’t like to talk about the toxic mineral, especially when it comes to its dangers. Many literally turn their heads the other way when it’s time to discuss issues such as proper asbestos abatement.
Thus was the case in the Paterson, NJ school system, where a district Environmental Occupational Health and Safety officer, the only female officer in the department, was let go after she expressed her concerns about the mishandling of asbestos-containing materials at several of the schools within the depressed and money-short school district, located in one of New Jersey’s poorest areas.
Canadian Asbestos Ban Within the Week
The Canadian Broadcasting Company has announced that Canada will be issuing a comprehensive ban on asbestos sometime this week. The media outlet did not reveal its sources but noted that the push for these measures has been hard throughout the last year, though Canadians have been rallying for a ban for far longer.
Study Says Mesothelioma Treatment Needs More Personalization
“Despite more than two decades of intensive research on the possible treatments for malignant plural mesothelioma, or MPM, the results have so far been disappointing. Chemotherapy with cytotoxic drugs is the only treatment that has been proven to improve patients’ outcomes.”
Paper Mill Asbestos Removal Costs a Fortune
An engineering company studying the possibility of asbestos removal from an old paper mill in Lincoln, Maine estimated that the removal of that and other toxins from the defunct property could cost as much as $16 million, reports an article in the Bangor Daily News.
Asbestos Caused Cancer Not Just U.S Problem
Kenya Calls Mesothelioma a National Health Crisis
Because of the widespread use of asbestos sheeting in buildings in Kenya, the African country has now dubbed mesothelioma a “national health crisis” and an “epidemic”, noting that about 10 percent of the country’s health budget is now being spent to treat those who are battling asbestos-caused cancer.
Australian Scientists Make Asbestos Disease Breakthrough
Scientists at Australia’s Asbestos Disease Research Institute (ADRI) report that they have identified a way to manipulate the genes that control the growth of mesothelioma tumors, reports an article penned by 9 News.com, a media outlet in that country.
California Supreme Court Rules For Secondhand Asbestos Victims
Unlike rulings recently made in countless other states, the California Supreme Court determined last week that companies can be held liable if asbestos from a job site causes an individual in the worker’s home to become sick.
It’s a huge victory for those who’ve gotten sick from indirect exposure to the toxin and will allow many secondhand asbestos victims to move forward through the California courts, reports an article in the Los Angeles Times.
Appeals Court Grants Secondhand Asbestos Victim Suit
When Marcella Fletcher was 8-years-old, her mother assigned her the task of doing the laundry for the family. Part of her responsibilities involved washing the work clothing of her father, who was employed as a pipe fitter, sawing and fitting pipes all day long.