http://www.mesothelioma.com/news/
New study focuses specifically on well-differentiated papillary peritoneal mesothelioma
Well-differentiated papillary peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the protective lining of the abdomen, is a rare subtype of epitheloid mesothelioma usually seen in young women and considered of low malignant potential. However the long-term nature of the tumor is poorly defined, so a study was developed to follow a 60-year-old woman of West African descent who has survived 24 years with well-differentiated papillary peritoneal mesothelioma after receiving extensive local and systemic adjuvant chemotherapy.
The patient’s clinical course included three exploratory laparotomies with intraperitoneal and intravenous chemotherapy over twenty years. She underwent an orthotopic heart transplant when anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy complicated her health situation.
The patient is currently alive and showing stable radiological evidence of peritoneal disease, and she continues to suffer from chronic abdominal pain. Therefore, no consensus exists regarding optimal treatment strategies.
However, given the low malignant potential of the tumor, the scientists, who published their findings in the Journal of Medical Case Reports 2010, advised that careful consideration should be made before proceeding with aggressive interventions. They have concluded that long-term follow-up reports are required to fully characterize this tumor.
Mesothelioma, which can affect the protective lining of the lungs, heart, chest and abdomen, is a rare but extremely aggressive cancer. In 77% of cases, mesothelioma is caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos, a carcinogenic mineral that is also known to cause asbestosis and lung cancer.
South Portland decides whether $41 million loan should be used to bring asbestos-riddled high school up to code
South Portland, Maine’s residents are currently considering borrowing over $41 million to renovate the local high school, which has fallen into considerable disrepair. Some parents believe the money is needed to address concerns highlighted by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEAC), as the school’s accreditation has been threatened because of its “old and deteriorating" building.
The bond issue proposal will be on the municipal ballot in November. South Portland resident and father of three, John Jamieson, explained his support of the proposal to invest in the school by suggesting that “If this continues to prosper, it's a good trickledown effect where, potentially, property values go up, more money is spent in the community, it has a long-lasting positive footprint. And the antithesis is, unfortunately, true too, because if it's not reinvested, if it's not an accredited school, the foundation weakens, values go down."
South Portland High is facing structural cracks, no disabled access, poor ventilation, mold and asbestos. If materials containing asbestos are compromised, toxic fibers can become airborne and easily inhaled, putting students and staff at risk of asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of organs called the mesothelium. This aggressive cancer affects different parts of the body, namely the heart and the lungs, and peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdomen.
The $41.5 million bond money will also go toward building extra classrooms and a new cafeteria. Supporters say more space will be needed when the school population increases from 900 to a projected 1,100 students in seven years.
Hazardous Waste Collection Center in Fulton ready to accept a variety of materials - but not asbestos
Thanks to a $38,207 grant from the Mid-Missouri Solid Waste Management District, a new Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center in Fulton will open from 9AM until 1PM on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Callaway County residents can dispose of hazardous materials, such as motor oil, antifreeze, acetone, paint, paint thinners, household chemicals, pesticides, insecticides, batteries and expired or superfluous medications by simply making an appointment through the Fulton Fire Department at (573) 592-3150.
However, the new center will reject certain substances, including ammunition, explosives, radioactive substances, needles, smoke detectors, tires, commercial waste and yard waste and asbestos, a carcinogenic mineral known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of bodily organs.
The waste not accepted generally has to be disposed of in a specific manner as mandated by law. Asbestos, for example, has to be abated and disposed of at specific waste sites. If not handled according to regulation, asbestos can become airborne, putting the community at large at risk of contracting pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs and abdomen respectively.
The HHW collection site will eventually be located at the new fire station on Tennyson Road, but until then it will be at the fire station on Westminster Avenue. The city will recycle as much of the materials collected as possible, and anything that cannot be recycled will be turned over to a hazardous waste collection service.
Debate over whether asbestos should be abated prior to the renovation of new I-Green Center
The Jasper County Care Facility in Newton, Iowa is about to undergo renovation to become the new I-Green Center. Sources of funding are currently being pursued for the project and include $1 million from the Iowa Power Fund. Alliant Energy and Mid-American Energy are also being solicited for contributions.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers agreed to pay Jasper County $550,000 for the care facility and approximately 40 acres of pasture land surrounding it, but the renovation has an estimated cost of $12 million. One costly project that remains up in the air is the removal of asbestos, a toxic mineral that is known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen.
The county had been pursuing asbestos mitigation. However, IBEW Local #55 assistant business manager Phil Stender said that tests indicated most of the asbestos was in the tiles and believes that the asbestos could be covered up without too much trouble. If Stender is wrong, renovation workers and future workers of the I-Green Center could be put at risk of contracting asbestos-related illnesses that require costly and aggressive treatment. Mesothelioma treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and rarely is it enough to prevent the death of asbestos victims. There is no mesothelioma cure.
Stender is waiting for a hazard inspection of the facility before starting any major renovation work. Classes will be held at DMACC’s Newton campus until the new center is ready.
Re-elected Texas Governor Rick Perry aims to reduce asbestos claims
The votes were cast in Texas last week, and it looks like Incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry will be enjoying his office in Austin another four years. Now that his seat is assured, it’s important to remember the healthcare claims and promises that he presented while campaigning.
Perry said that he helped reform the state's child protective services and that1 out of 3 children are now covered under the Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid. He also claimed to increase healthcare investments by over $20 billion, while promoting prevention and wellness programs that reduce future healthcare costs.
One of Perry’s most prominent efforts was to pass the nation's most sweeping medical liability reforms to crack down on "junk" asbestos claims and frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits. He claims that these efforts have attracted thousands of doctors to Texas. However, some are concerned that legitimate asbestos claims are also being swept into the dustbin.
Asbestos is a toxic chemical used liberally in many industries throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. It has since caused thousands of cases of lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the body’s major cavities and organs. Simply breathing the carcinogenic fibers can cause pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs, or peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdomen.
Many mesothelioma sufferers were exposed to asbestos while serving in the armed forces, as it was used commonly in shipbuilding and munitions production.
Remembering veterans who died on the battlefield and on national soil
Veteran’s Day is the one official holiday in the U.S. dedicated entirely to the men and women who have served or are serving in the armed forces. It’s the one government sanctioned day that exists explicitly to give thanks to those who have died on the battlefield and those who have passed away off of it. Alton Withbroe is one of the latter, and he passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on Oct. 27, 2010.
Withbroe was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin on March 12, 1927 and served his country in the U.S. Navy in the Philippines during the Korean Conflict. The presumed cause of death was the mesothelioma that he had battled for 15 years. Withbroe is not the only veteran to develop and die from this disease.
Mesothelioma is a rare and difficult to diagnose cancer of the protective lining of the lungs, heart, chest and abdomen that in 77% percent of cases is attributable to prolonged exposure to asbestos. Withbroe was a rare and promising patient, as mesothelioma sufferers rarely survive 18 months past detection, even with aggressive mesothelioma treatment, which can involve any combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. There is no mesothelioma cure.
Where Withbroe may have been exposed to asbestos has not been addressed, but as is the case with many veterans, he may have been exposed during his time with the navy. Asbestos was a major component in ship-building and many navy men were exposed during the first half of the 20th century.
Withbroe’s family would like to thank Renaissance and Rennes Healthcare Center in De Pere for the care they provided. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund for the Lung Association has been established.
Recycling carpet: an unexplored, healthy option for both people and the planet
Carpet is made up of three main components: fabric, glue and plastic. This makes recycling carpet a challenge. But 50,000 tons of carpet ends up in the King County landfill near Seattle, Washington each year, so not recycling is a tremendous waste of valuable resources.
Carpet can be ground up and used as an oil absorbent, or its materials can be separated and sold back to carpet manufacturers or other industrial companies. And there are companies, such as Recovery 1, who are open to receiving construction, demolition and land-clearing debris in the hopes of recycling most of it. In the past 17 years, Recovery 1 has recycled over 1.3 million tons of materials.
Additionally, in the last two years, the King County Solid Waste Division has worked with Seattle Public Utilities to create the Northwest Carpet Recycling Strategy, which has outlined a number of actions that need to be taken as well as encouraged carpet companies to start product stewardship programs. This is a particularly environmentally friendly move, as manufacturing one ton of new carpet from virgin materials takes 85,000 more pounds of carbon dioxide than making the same amount of carpet out of recycled materials.
While the strategy gains momentum, Recovery 1 will accept carpeting. The only condition is that the carpet not contain any hazardous materials, such as asbestos, a carcinogen known to cause mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the heart, lungs, chest and abdomen. Anyone handling a carpet with asbestos is at risk of contracting this fatal and aggressive cancer.
Although it takes an average of forty years to develop, mesothelioma is a silent killer that is usually detected around stage four. A combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are required for patients undergoing mesothelioma treatment. There is currently no mesothelioma cure available.
Asbestos-contaminated soil illegally used as landfill on a residential site
Australian property developer Plaza West of the Dyldam group is suing a contractor, Simon's Earthworks and one of its directors for digging up asbestos-contaminated soil at the Parramatta site and using it as landfill at Dyldam’s housing development in Parklea. The suit alleges that Simon’s Earthworks falsified invoices, paid kickbacks to a site supervisor and wrongly claimed payments for work on a Parramatta site.
The court was shown records that indicated that contaminated material was being loaded onto trucks on the same day that six truckloads went to Parklea in western Sydney, suggesting that the contractor knowingly sought to dispose of highly contaminated material cheaply.
Asbestos is a highly toxic mineral that can cause a number of fatal diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the heart, lungs, chest and abdomen. The claim that a huge volume of asbestos material was disposed of and buried at Parklea, where 110 townhouses are being built, poses a hazardous setback for Plaza West.
All asbestos must be removed before it is safe for workers to continue with development. Simply treading on asbestos-contaminated soil can cause the release of carcinogenic asbestos fibers, which are easily inhaled. Once in the lungs, the fibers cause damage over decades.
Mesothelioma takes an average 40 years to develop, but once it begins to show symptoms, the cancer is already in stage three or four. Mesothelioma treatment has to be very aggressive and usually requires some combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. There is no mesothelioma cure.
9/11 workers decide whether to join a legal settlement against the City of New York
When the World Trade Center fell in the 9/11 attacks, a toxic dust covered lower Manhattan. The laborers, police officers and firefighters who worked the cleanup and rescue efforts were exposed to a combination of carcinogens and toxins day after day until New York City was returned to normalcy.
Among those carcinogens was the toxic mineral asbestos. Used widely in construction during the 18th and 19th centuries, it is no surprise that the leveling of two massive towers would release fatal quantities of toxic asbestos fibers. Asbestos is known to produce many types of serious diseases, including asbestosis and lung cancer. However, there is one cancer in particular that is almost always chalked up to asbestos exposure: mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the protective lining of the body’s major cavities and organs, and 77% of sufferers have at some point been exposed to asbestos. When airborne asbestos fibers are inhaled, they lodge in the lungs causing damage over decades. This damage is likely to lead to pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs known as the pleura, or peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the abdomen.
Now thousands of 9/11 workers who suffer from mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases are suing New York City over their exposure to hazardous materials, and they have to decide by Monday, November 8, 2010 whether they will join a legal settlement that could pay them as much as $815 million. More than 10,000 of these workers have already sued the city and several companies that handled the NYC cleanup.
Asbestos found in waterproofing of window lintels in Connecticut home
A house in Litchfield, Connecticut has been stripped down to the lintels supporting the windows and demolition temporarily abandoned because an unforeseen asbestos problem has been encountered. Asbestos is commonly found in houses built before the 1980’s. Now it is widely known that asbestos causes lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the body’s cavities and some organs.
The asbestos couldn't have been foreseen because there were slight differences and times when the buildings at Fairfield Hills were constructed. The demolition will now likely cost more than expected because asbestos removal is time-consuming and must follow government regulations. Asbestos is most dangerous when it is disturbed, so if the asbestos is not removed properly, workers and community members could be put at risk of contracting peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the abdomen.
The waterproofing in the lintels around the windows contained the asbestos. "Because the exterior walls are load-bearing walls, it means the removal and extraction is a much more delicate process," explained Public Works Director Fred Hurley. “I think we have some workable options but it was not anticipated that we would run into this."
Selectman Bill Furrier has questioned why the project is being overseen by the town department rather than the Public Building and Site Commission. First Selectman Pat Llodra says the fact that it was seen as a maintenance project may be the reason.
San Juan won't let asbestos stand in the way of revitalizing the city's downtown area
The City of San Juan, Texas has submitted a federal grant application for assistance in cleaning up the site where San Juan Hospital used to be located. City officials were unaware that the building posed an environmental threat when they purchased it in October 2001. “During an initial assessment (of the building), it was found that it had a bit of asbestos content, as well as lead-(based) paint in there,” said City Manager J.J. Rodriguez.
Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral used widely in construction during the 19th and 20th centuries. Asbestos can cause can cause serious diseases of the lungs and other organs that often lead to death, including pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, rare cancers of the protective covering around the lungs and abdomen respectively.
The building site, located at 512 S. Nebraska Ave., is in the city’s downtown area and is being cleaned up as part of the downtown revitalization project. The Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine sees about 22,000 pilgrims per week and is located downtown. The city wants to make the surrounding area equally as interesting so that it won’t miss out on tourist dollars.
Whether the city decides to demolish or renovate the hospital is still up in the air, but asbestos abatement must take place before anything can be done. Asbestos is most dangerous when it is manipulated, as cracking and crumbling cause it to release toxic fibers that are easily inhaled, putting workers and the community at a great risk of contracting lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The city’s grant application requests will fund up to 80 percent of the total cleanup cost, which is estimated at $250,000.
Louisa County Board awards bid for asbestos inspection of flood damaged sites
The Louisa County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved to release funding to Des Moines County for the repair of a levee near Oakville that was damaged during a devastating June 2008 flood. The Board released nearly $2 million in federal grants that exceeds the cost of the Oakville project. The funds would have had to be returned had they not been transferred, but would be used more efficiently by combining the Oakville project with levee repair in Des Moines County, according to Head Administrator for the Two Rivers Levee and Drainage Districts Vicki Stoller.
The Board also awarded a $3,245 contract to Evans Inspection Services Inc. for the inspection of asbestos in 11 flood-damaged properties. The properties have been bought out by Louisa County, and only one still has a home standing. The inspections will include soil testing and checking remaining buildings.
Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral known to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining around the heart, lungs, abdomen and chest. The presence of asbestos in soil poses a significant environmental threat, as residents could be exposed to toxic fibers that can be easily inhaled. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause asbestos-related cancer that requires aggressive treatment. Mesothelioma treatment usually consists of some combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but is usually only palliative, not curative. There is no mesothelioma cure.
If asbestos isn't found in the remaining structures, bids will be sought for their demolition. Conversely, bids will also be sought to remove any hazardous materials found.
Well-differentiated papillary peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the protective lining of the abdomen, is a rare subtype of epitheloid mesothelioma usually seen in young women and considered of low malignant potential. However the long-term nature of the tumor is poorly defined, so a study was developed to follow a 60-year-old woman of West African descent who has survived 24 years with well-differentiated papillary peritoneal mesothelioma after receiving extensive local and systemic adjuvant chemotherapy.
The patient’s clinical course included three exploratory laparotomies with intraperitoneal and intravenous chemotherapy over twenty years. She underwent an orthotopic heart transplant when anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy complicated her health situation.
The patient is currently alive and showing stable radiological evidence of peritoneal disease, and she continues to suffer from chronic abdominal pain. Therefore, no consensus exists regarding optimal treatment strategies.
However, given the low malignant potential of the tumor, the scientists, who published their findings in the Journal of Medical Case Reports 2010, advised that careful consideration should be made before proceeding with aggressive interventions. They have concluded that long-term follow-up reports are required to fully characterize this tumor.
Mesothelioma, which can affect the protective lining of the lungs, heart, chest and abdomen, is a rare but extremely aggressive cancer. In 77% of cases, mesothelioma is caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos, a carcinogenic mineral that is also known to cause asbestosis and lung cancer.
South Portland decides whether $41 million loan should be used to bring asbestos-riddled high school up to code
South Portland, Maine’s residents are currently considering borrowing over $41 million to renovate the local high school, which has fallen into considerable disrepair. Some parents believe the money is needed to address concerns highlighted by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEAC), as the school’s accreditation has been threatened because of its “old and deteriorating" building.
The bond issue proposal will be on the municipal ballot in November. South Portland resident and father of three, John Jamieson, explained his support of the proposal to invest in the school by suggesting that “If this continues to prosper, it's a good trickledown effect where, potentially, property values go up, more money is spent in the community, it has a long-lasting positive footprint. And the antithesis is, unfortunately, true too, because if it's not reinvested, if it's not an accredited school, the foundation weakens, values go down."
South Portland High is facing structural cracks, no disabled access, poor ventilation, mold and asbestos. If materials containing asbestos are compromised, toxic fibers can become airborne and easily inhaled, putting students and staff at risk of asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of organs called the mesothelium. This aggressive cancer affects different parts of the body, namely the heart and the lungs, and peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdomen.
The $41.5 million bond money will also go toward building extra classrooms and a new cafeteria. Supporters say more space will be needed when the school population increases from 900 to a projected 1,100 students in seven years.
Hazardous Waste Collection Center in Fulton ready to accept a variety of materials - but not asbestos
Thanks to a $38,207 grant from the Mid-Missouri Solid Waste Management District, a new Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center in Fulton will open from 9AM until 1PM on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Callaway County residents can dispose of hazardous materials, such as motor oil, antifreeze, acetone, paint, paint thinners, household chemicals, pesticides, insecticides, batteries and expired or superfluous medications by simply making an appointment through the Fulton Fire Department at (573) 592-3150.
However, the new center will reject certain substances, including ammunition, explosives, radioactive substances, needles, smoke detectors, tires, commercial waste and yard waste and asbestos, a carcinogenic mineral known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of bodily organs.
The waste not accepted generally has to be disposed of in a specific manner as mandated by law. Asbestos, for example, has to be abated and disposed of at specific waste sites. If not handled according to regulation, asbestos can become airborne, putting the community at large at risk of contracting pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs and abdomen respectively.
The HHW collection site will eventually be located at the new fire station on Tennyson Road, but until then it will be at the fire station on Westminster Avenue. The city will recycle as much of the materials collected as possible, and anything that cannot be recycled will be turned over to a hazardous waste collection service.
Debate over whether asbestos should be abated prior to the renovation of new I-Green Center
The Jasper County Care Facility in Newton, Iowa is about to undergo renovation to become the new I-Green Center. Sources of funding are currently being pursued for the project and include $1 million from the Iowa Power Fund. Alliant Energy and Mid-American Energy are also being solicited for contributions.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers agreed to pay Jasper County $550,000 for the care facility and approximately 40 acres of pasture land surrounding it, but the renovation has an estimated cost of $12 million. One costly project that remains up in the air is the removal of asbestos, a toxic mineral that is known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen.
The county had been pursuing asbestos mitigation. However, IBEW Local #55 assistant business manager Phil Stender said that tests indicated most of the asbestos was in the tiles and believes that the asbestos could be covered up without too much trouble. If Stender is wrong, renovation workers and future workers of the I-Green Center could be put at risk of contracting asbestos-related illnesses that require costly and aggressive treatment. Mesothelioma treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and rarely is it enough to prevent the death of asbestos victims. There is no mesothelioma cure.
Stender is waiting for a hazard inspection of the facility before starting any major renovation work. Classes will be held at DMACC’s Newton campus until the new center is ready.
Re-elected Texas Governor Rick Perry aims to reduce asbestos claims
The votes were cast in Texas last week, and it looks like Incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry will be enjoying his office in Austin another four years. Now that his seat is assured, it’s important to remember the healthcare claims and promises that he presented while campaigning.
Perry said that he helped reform the state's child protective services and that1 out of 3 children are now covered under the Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid. He also claimed to increase healthcare investments by over $20 billion, while promoting prevention and wellness programs that reduce future healthcare costs.
One of Perry’s most prominent efforts was to pass the nation's most sweeping medical liability reforms to crack down on "junk" asbestos claims and frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits. He claims that these efforts have attracted thousands of doctors to Texas. However, some are concerned that legitimate asbestos claims are also being swept into the dustbin.
Asbestos is a toxic chemical used liberally in many industries throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. It has since caused thousands of cases of lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the body’s major cavities and organs. Simply breathing the carcinogenic fibers can cause pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs, or peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdomen.
Many mesothelioma sufferers were exposed to asbestos while serving in the armed forces, as it was used commonly in shipbuilding and munitions production.
Remembering veterans who died on the battlefield and on national soil
Veteran’s Day is the one official holiday in the U.S. dedicated entirely to the men and women who have served or are serving in the armed forces. It’s the one government sanctioned day that exists explicitly to give thanks to those who have died on the battlefield and those who have passed away off of it. Alton Withbroe is one of the latter, and he passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on Oct. 27, 2010.
Withbroe was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin on March 12, 1927 and served his country in the U.S. Navy in the Philippines during the Korean Conflict. The presumed cause of death was the mesothelioma that he had battled for 15 years. Withbroe is not the only veteran to develop and die from this disease.
Mesothelioma is a rare and difficult to diagnose cancer of the protective lining of the lungs, heart, chest and abdomen that in 77% percent of cases is attributable to prolonged exposure to asbestos. Withbroe was a rare and promising patient, as mesothelioma sufferers rarely survive 18 months past detection, even with aggressive mesothelioma treatment, which can involve any combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. There is no mesothelioma cure.
Where Withbroe may have been exposed to asbestos has not been addressed, but as is the case with many veterans, he may have been exposed during his time with the navy. Asbestos was a major component in ship-building and many navy men were exposed during the first half of the 20th century.
Withbroe’s family would like to thank Renaissance and Rennes Healthcare Center in De Pere for the care they provided. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund for the Lung Association has been established.
Recycling carpet: an unexplored, healthy option for both people and the planet
Carpet is made up of three main components: fabric, glue and plastic. This makes recycling carpet a challenge. But 50,000 tons of carpet ends up in the King County landfill near Seattle, Washington each year, so not recycling is a tremendous waste of valuable resources.
Carpet can be ground up and used as an oil absorbent, or its materials can be separated and sold back to carpet manufacturers or other industrial companies. And there are companies, such as Recovery 1, who are open to receiving construction, demolition and land-clearing debris in the hopes of recycling most of it. In the past 17 years, Recovery 1 has recycled over 1.3 million tons of materials.
Additionally, in the last two years, the King County Solid Waste Division has worked with Seattle Public Utilities to create the Northwest Carpet Recycling Strategy, which has outlined a number of actions that need to be taken as well as encouraged carpet companies to start product stewardship programs. This is a particularly environmentally friendly move, as manufacturing one ton of new carpet from virgin materials takes 85,000 more pounds of carbon dioxide than making the same amount of carpet out of recycled materials.
While the strategy gains momentum, Recovery 1 will accept carpeting. The only condition is that the carpet not contain any hazardous materials, such as asbestos, a carcinogen known to cause mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the heart, lungs, chest and abdomen. Anyone handling a carpet with asbestos is at risk of contracting this fatal and aggressive cancer.
Although it takes an average of forty years to develop, mesothelioma is a silent killer that is usually detected around stage four. A combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are required for patients undergoing mesothelioma treatment. There is currently no mesothelioma cure available.
Asbestos-contaminated soil illegally used as landfill on a residential site
Australian property developer Plaza West of the Dyldam group is suing a contractor, Simon's Earthworks and one of its directors for digging up asbestos-contaminated soil at the Parramatta site and using it as landfill at Dyldam’s housing development in Parklea. The suit alleges that Simon’s Earthworks falsified invoices, paid kickbacks to a site supervisor and wrongly claimed payments for work on a Parramatta site.
The court was shown records that indicated that contaminated material was being loaded onto trucks on the same day that six truckloads went to Parklea in western Sydney, suggesting that the contractor knowingly sought to dispose of highly contaminated material cheaply.
Asbestos is a highly toxic mineral that can cause a number of fatal diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the heart, lungs, chest and abdomen. The claim that a huge volume of asbestos material was disposed of and buried at Parklea, where 110 townhouses are being built, poses a hazardous setback for Plaza West.
All asbestos must be removed before it is safe for workers to continue with development. Simply treading on asbestos-contaminated soil can cause the release of carcinogenic asbestos fibers, which are easily inhaled. Once in the lungs, the fibers cause damage over decades.
Mesothelioma takes an average 40 years to develop, but once it begins to show symptoms, the cancer is already in stage three or four. Mesothelioma treatment has to be very aggressive and usually requires some combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. There is no mesothelioma cure.
9/11 workers decide whether to join a legal settlement against the City of New York
When the World Trade Center fell in the 9/11 attacks, a toxic dust covered lower Manhattan. The laborers, police officers and firefighters who worked the cleanup and rescue efforts were exposed to a combination of carcinogens and toxins day after day until New York City was returned to normalcy.
Among those carcinogens was the toxic mineral asbestos. Used widely in construction during the 18th and 19th centuries, it is no surprise that the leveling of two massive towers would release fatal quantities of toxic asbestos fibers. Asbestos is known to produce many types of serious diseases, including asbestosis and lung cancer. However, there is one cancer in particular that is almost always chalked up to asbestos exposure: mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the protective lining of the body’s major cavities and organs, and 77% of sufferers have at some point been exposed to asbestos. When airborne asbestos fibers are inhaled, they lodge in the lungs causing damage over decades. This damage is likely to lead to pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs known as the pleura, or peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the abdomen.
Now thousands of 9/11 workers who suffer from mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases are suing New York City over their exposure to hazardous materials, and they have to decide by Monday, November 8, 2010 whether they will join a legal settlement that could pay them as much as $815 million. More than 10,000 of these workers have already sued the city and several companies that handled the NYC cleanup.
Asbestos found in waterproofing of window lintels in Connecticut home
A house in Litchfield, Connecticut has been stripped down to the lintels supporting the windows and demolition temporarily abandoned because an unforeseen asbestos problem has been encountered. Asbestos is commonly found in houses built before the 1980’s. Now it is widely known that asbestos causes lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the body’s cavities and some organs.
The asbestos couldn't have been foreseen because there were slight differences and times when the buildings at Fairfield Hills were constructed. The demolition will now likely cost more than expected because asbestos removal is time-consuming and must follow government regulations. Asbestos is most dangerous when it is disturbed, so if the asbestos is not removed properly, workers and community members could be put at risk of contracting peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the abdomen.
The waterproofing in the lintels around the windows contained the asbestos. "Because the exterior walls are load-bearing walls, it means the removal and extraction is a much more delicate process," explained Public Works Director Fred Hurley. “I think we have some workable options but it was not anticipated that we would run into this."
Selectman Bill Furrier has questioned why the project is being overseen by the town department rather than the Public Building and Site Commission. First Selectman Pat Llodra says the fact that it was seen as a maintenance project may be the reason.
San Juan won't let asbestos stand in the way of revitalizing the city's downtown area
The City of San Juan, Texas has submitted a federal grant application for assistance in cleaning up the site where San Juan Hospital used to be located. City officials were unaware that the building posed an environmental threat when they purchased it in October 2001. “During an initial assessment (of the building), it was found that it had a bit of asbestos content, as well as lead-(based) paint in there,” said City Manager J.J. Rodriguez.
Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral used widely in construction during the 19th and 20th centuries. Asbestos can cause can cause serious diseases of the lungs and other organs that often lead to death, including pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, rare cancers of the protective covering around the lungs and abdomen respectively.
The building site, located at 512 S. Nebraska Ave., is in the city’s downtown area and is being cleaned up as part of the downtown revitalization project. The Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine sees about 22,000 pilgrims per week and is located downtown. The city wants to make the surrounding area equally as interesting so that it won’t miss out on tourist dollars.
Whether the city decides to demolish or renovate the hospital is still up in the air, but asbestos abatement must take place before anything can be done. Asbestos is most dangerous when it is manipulated, as cracking and crumbling cause it to release toxic fibers that are easily inhaled, putting workers and the community at a great risk of contracting lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The city’s grant application requests will fund up to 80 percent of the total cleanup cost, which is estimated at $250,000.
Louisa County Board awards bid for asbestos inspection of flood damaged sites
The Louisa County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved to release funding to Des Moines County for the repair of a levee near Oakville that was damaged during a devastating June 2008 flood. The Board released nearly $2 million in federal grants that exceeds the cost of the Oakville project. The funds would have had to be returned had they not been transferred, but would be used more efficiently by combining the Oakville project with levee repair in Des Moines County, according to Head Administrator for the Two Rivers Levee and Drainage Districts Vicki Stoller.
The Board also awarded a $3,245 contract to Evans Inspection Services Inc. for the inspection of asbestos in 11 flood-damaged properties. The properties have been bought out by Louisa County, and only one still has a home standing. The inspections will include soil testing and checking remaining buildings.
Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral known to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining around the heart, lungs, abdomen and chest. The presence of asbestos in soil poses a significant environmental threat, as residents could be exposed to toxic fibers that can be easily inhaled. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause asbestos-related cancer that requires aggressive treatment. Mesothelioma treatment usually consists of some combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but is usually only palliative, not curative. There is no mesothelioma cure.
If asbestos isn't found in the remaining structures, bids will be sought for their demolition. Conversely, bids will also be sought to remove any hazardous materials found.
New study claims that the use of Cisplatin and Raltitrexed improves mesothelioma survival rate
A recent study addressing possible approaches to the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the lungs known as the pleura, has indicated that the use of cisplatin in conjunction with raltitrexed can improve the median survival rate of pleural mesothelioma sufferers when compared to treatment using cisplatin alone.
Mesothelioma is generally caused by long-term exposure to asbestos, and it is a cancer that can take decades to develop but is still very aggressive. Although this particular study focused on pleural mesothelioma, there are several different types of mesothelioma, including peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the abdomen, and pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the heart.
Experts attending a symposium at the 35th congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), in Milan, Italy, discussed the need for new and effective treatments for mesothelioma, such as the combination of cisplatin and raltitrexed, as the incidence rates of mesothelioma are projected to double in many countries over the next twenty years.
In relation to the study, Professor of Thoracic Oncology at Ghent University in Belgium JP van Meerbeeck has commented that mesothelioma “is a hard to treat, rare cancer with a poor prognosis. New treatment options such as a combination of cisplatin and raltitrexed, which improve patient outcomes with no detrimental effect on quality of life as compared to cisplatin alone are a welcome addition to our therapeutic portfolio.”
Turkish doctor believes that exposure to erionite may cause mesothelioma
İzzettin Barış is the Turkish doctor who discovered that Tuzköy locals in Central Anatolia were developing cancer because of the area’s high concentration of erionite deposits. Mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining covering some of the body’s organs, is usually attributed to asbestos exposure, but it can also be caused by exposure to erionite and other zeolite-based minerals.
To eradicate this threat “Tuzköy’s carcinogenic areas of Cumhuriyet and Hurriyet Yeni, spanning an area of 100,000 square meters, will be covered with soil to a depth of two meters and then reforested,” explained the city’s Mayor Ümit Balak. But Doctor Barış has described this plan as absurd and does not believe it will fix the problem.
Although Mesothelioma is a cancer that takes decades to develop, it is extremely aggressive. Mesothelioma treatment requires some combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, but prognosis is oftentimes grim, as most mesothelioma patients live an average of only 18 months once their cancer has been diagnosed. The typical mesothelioma prognosis is grim, as there is no known cure.
Doctor Barış believes that the problem will only be solved by having inhabitants move out of the villages where erionite deposits are dangerously high. The number of people dying from mesothelioma in Tuzköy is extremely high, but Barış has also discovered that the villages of Karain and Sarıhıdır, located in the same region, are also erionite-rich and their inhabitants also frequently suffered from mesothelioma.
In addition to moving inhabitants out of these cities, Barış says that all the houses made of erionite-rich stones
must be carefully demolished. Then the ruins should be covered with soil and the area reforested
must be carefully demolished. Then the ruins should be covered with soil and the area reforested
City faces delayed state and federal response when it comes to major asbestos cleanup
The Mayor of Greenup, Illinois, Tom Bauguss, has had enough when it comes to the former Ettelbrick shoe factory that burned May 18th. Since the fire, the building has been the source of smoke, airborne materials and a foul odor, and the potential health risk from contaminants is a major concern.
Although the center of town was plagued by a smoky fog for days after the fire, it took nearly five months for a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inspection team to arrive. The state EPA came sooner, but they did not have the money to clean up the debris, so they had to wait for the federal government to get involved.
Sam Borries, the on-scene coordinator for the federal EPA, claims that the agency is placing full attention on the Greenup situation and that the delay in federal involvement was due to a lack of resources generated by the BP oil spill. A federal site assessment was conducted one week ago, and results are expected within another week.
It is already known that there is an abundance of chemical and asbestos residues that pose a tremendous health hazard. Asbestos is particularly toxic and is known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the heart, lungs, chest and abdomen. These diseases can take decades to develop, but they are fatal. Asbestos-related cancers are particularly aggressive, and a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for mesothelioma treatment are rarely as successful as hoped. There is no mesothelioma cure.
A major question for Greenup is where the funding to cleanup these hazards will come from. For now, fire insurance payments could help cover the costs.
Updated EPA report of Eagle Picher Carefree Battery Superfund Site lists lead and asbestos
Region 6 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an updated report about Eagle Picher Carefree Battery Superfund Site, which is located just a few miles from the town of Socorro, New Mexico. The site is contaminated with heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as it was once the location of circuit board and lead acid battery manufacturing.
The EPA has reported that the site’s primary pollutants include trichloroethene, dichloroethene, lead, chromium and cadmium. The site’s remaining structures may also contain lead and asbestos, both of which pose environmental and health hazards. Asbestos is carcinogenic and is known to cause specifically lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the lungs, heart, chest and abdomen.
Asbestos-related disease can take decades to develop, so only time will tell how Socorro’s (which fittingly means “help” in Spanish) 9,000 residents have been affected by these hazardous pollutants. Mesothelioma is a particularly aggressive cancer that is often fatal. Mesothelioma treatment combines surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but often isn’t enough to guarantee much more than an average life expectancy of a year and a half. There is no cure for any type of mesothelioma, including peritoneal mesothelioma.
“Not only was the Socorro site a former manufacturing facility that used solvents and heavy metals, but the location was also used by the city as a municipal landfill,” explains Ben Sublasky, National Director of Client Services for LA Testing and EMSL Analytical, a company that provides comprehensive analyses for superfund sites such as the one at Socorro.
“The mix of pollutants can not only contaminate groundwater, but also contaminated soils that can become airborne and cause health problems for people in nearby areas.”
Cheshire High School closed down to safely remove asbestos from its gymnasium
Cheshire High School, in Cheshire, Connecticut was closed down earlier this month so that repairs could be made to the floor of the West Gymnasium. Air pockets had created an uneven court surface, but more importantly, there was a concern that asbestos could be released.
Asbestos is highly toxic and exposure could put students and teachers at risk of contracting asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the body’s organs. The gymnasium floor dates back to the 1970’s, and at that time asbestos was used regularly, as its use wasn’t banned until the 1980’s.
Moisture initially caused the floor to buckle, so the flooring and the asbestos underneath it had to be removed. There wasn't any danger while the asbestos was underground, but precautionary measures have to be taken when asbestos is removed because it can release carcinogenic fibers. These fibers become easily airborne and can be inhaled, lodging in the lungs and causing irreparable damage. After several decades, signs of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, which affect the lungs and abdomen respectively, can begin to surface.
The gymnasium project cost just under $4,000, and the bulk of the cost, about $3000, was attributed to gluing down the floor. Industry Group of West Haven was responsible for removing the asbestos. The gym was vacuumed and an air sample was taken after for safety.
The legacy of mesothelioma victim Bruce Vento
Ten years ago, Congressman Bruce Vento passed away from mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the heart, lungs, chest and abdomen and caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. In Vento’s case, toxic asbestos fibers were inhaled and lodged in the lungs and later caused mesothelioma to develop silently.
Mesothelioma treatment is as aggressive as the disease itself, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, patients rarely survive more than 18 months after diagnosis, and in Vento’s case, only nine months. There is no mesothelioma cure.
Before being elected to office, Vento taught junior high school science in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Later, during his political career, he worked tirelessly to improve children’s lives and the standard of education in Minnesota’s 4th district. Before he died, Vento was honored for his contributions by the St. Paul Schools, and the former East Consolidated Elementary School was renamed Bruce F. Vento Elementary School.
The dedication ceremony was his last public appearance. There, all the attendees wanted to talk to him and touch him, not realizing the extreme pain that he was facing at the time, but Vento took the time to speak with everyone.
According to Vento’s last district director, “He would've been angered by the last ten years of conservative policy gutting school funding and bashing teachers. But, and this is key, he would've quietly and not so quietly worked to change it. Guided by Bruce's memory, let's do just that.”
Borough Council must determine whether asbestos is a cancer threat at local library
The Borough Council of Madison, New Jersey recently became aware of a potential asbestos issue at the Madison Public Library that could cause the library to close during rehabilitation. Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral used in construction prior to the 1980’s, when it was finally banned from use for causing such fatal diseases as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the protective lining of the chest and abdominal cavities and the organs they contain.
The issue came to light when library employee Abby Kalan expressed her concerns during a public session at the end of a council meeting. "We have a flat roof on our building and periodically it creates situations when we have leaks," Kalan commented. "When we have leaks, we have potential asbestos exposure."
Borough Administrator Ray Codey said that the library had previously contracted an environmental firm to do asbestos readings and that the resulting reports showed levels were below harmful. Codey also added that the affected area is the reference section, not the public area. However, the library staff still works regularly in the asbestos-laced area.
If asbestos has to be abated, the library will have to be vacated to prevent exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled, lodge in the lungs for decades and cause pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs and the abdomen respectively. Should this occur, the board will have to address the issues of employee compensation and how to serve the public when the library is closed.
City faces delayed state and federal response when it comes to major asbestos cleanup
- The Mayor of Greenup, Illinois, Tom Bauguss, has had enough when it comes to the former Ettelbrick shoe factory that burned May 18th. Since the fire, the building has been the source of smoke, airborne materials and a foul odor, and the potential health risk from contaminants is a major concern.
- Although the center of town was plagued by a smoky fog for days after the fire, it took nearly five months for a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inspection team to arrive. The state EPA came sooner, but they did not have the money to clean up the debris, so they had to wait for the federal government to get involved.
- Sam Borries, the on-scene coordinator for the federal EPA, claims that the agency is placing full attention on the Greenup situation and that the delay in federal involvement was due to a lack of resources generated by the BP oil spill. A federal site assessment was conducted one week ago, and results are expected within another week.
- It is already known that there is an abundance of chemical and asbestos residues that pose a tremendous health hazard. Asbestos is particularly toxic and is known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the heart, lungs, chest and abdomen. These diseases can take decades to develop, but they are fatal. Asbestos-related cancers are particularly aggressive, and a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for mesothelioma treatment are rarely as successful as hoped. There is no mesothelioma cure.
- A major question for Greenup is where the funding to cleanup these hazards will come from. For now, fire insurance payments could help cover the costs.
İzzettin Barış is the Turkish doctor who discovered that Tuzköy locals in Central Anatolia were developing cancer because of the area’s high concentration of erionite deposits. Mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining covering some of the body’s organs, is usually attributed to asbestos exposure, but it can also be caused by exposure to erionite and other zeolite-based minerals.
To eradicate this threat “Tuzköy’s carcinogenic areas of Cumhuriyet and Hurriyet Yeni, spanning an area of 100,000 square meters, will be covered with soil to a depth of two meters and then reforested,” explained the city’s Mayor Ümit Balak. But Doctor Barış has described this plan as absurd and does not believe it will fix the problem.
Although Mesothelioma is a cancer that takes decades to develop, it is extremely aggressive. Mesothelioma treatment requires some combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, but prognosis is oftentimes grim, as most mesothelioma patients live an average of only 18 months once their cancer has been diagnosed. The typical mesothelioma prognosis is grim, as there is no known cure.
Doctor Barış believes that the problem will only be solved by having inhabitants move out of the villages where erionite deposits are dangerously high. The number of people dying from mesothelioma in Tuzköy is extremely high, but Barış has also discovered that the villages of Karain and Sarıhıdır, located in the same region, are also erionite-rich and their inhabitants also frequently suffered from mesothelioma.
In addition to moving inhabitants out of these cities, Barış says that all the houses made of erionite-rich stones must be carefully demolished. Then the ruins should be covered with soil and the area reforested.
