June 25, 2008
On Monday, the Supreme Court denied an appeal by W.R. Grace Company. This paves the way for a criminal trial against the company. In 2005 the company and several officers were indicted on charge related to improper disposal of asbestos-containing materials which was linked to many residents of Libby who are either currently suffering asbestos-related disease or who have died from such diseases.
The executives could be facing fifteen years in prison if convicted and the company could be facing up to 280 million dollars in restitution costs. W.R. Grace had already agreed to refund to the federal government 250 million dollars to cover decontamination costs in Libby. It has been estimated that W.R. Grace could, by the time the criminal trial is over, be paying out over a billion dollars.
“We will be prepared to defend ourselves,” stated Grace Spokesman Greg Euston.
Asbestos exposure has been conclusively linked to the onset of mesothelioma, a deadly form of lung cancer that has a survival rate of less than 1%.
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Asbestos, Court, Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma | Tagged: Asbestos, Libby Montana, Mesothelioma News, Supreme Court, WR Grace | 
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Posted by Dave Austin
June 4, 2008
The Johns-Manville Superfund Site is located in Waukegan Illinois and is host to about a million tons of asbestos waste. It’s 150 acres contain about 3 million cubic yards of wastewater sludge and -off-specification materials. Water from the site is released and goes into Lake Michigan where the current transports the asbestos fibers southward thus washing up on beaches along the way.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ran tests in 2002 and found that water coming from the site contaminated the lake with millions of asbestos fibers per liter of water. Lake dredging did not help the situation because it only disturbed the sediment allowing fibers to break loose and wash ashore.
A major concern is the fact that much of the asbestos contamination is tremolite asbestos, which is considered to be several hundred times more hazardous to human health than asbestos fibers commonly found in urban settings. Exposure to tremolite asbestos has been strongly linked to the development of Mesothelioma (http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/) cancer. Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive cancer that attacks the body’s mesothelial cells, which compose the mesothelium lining that protects organs and body cavities. Very few cases of mesothelioma have ever been cured, putting the mortality rate at nearly 100 percent.
While public officials claim there is no threat to public health, Jeffery Camplin disagrees. Mr. Camplin is an environmental/health safety engineer and nationally known asbestos expert. He was hired by the Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society to review studies done by the EPA, the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and a Chicago Park District contractor. He found those studies to be “deeply flawed and severely lacking in standardized scientific protocols.”
The Illinois Duneland Preservation Society offers some advice as to how to minimize the exposure and inhalation of the asbestos fibers. They warn against shaking off towels and blankets since this can release asbestos fibers into the air, against eating and drinking at contaminated beaches and suggest that beachgoers vigorously clean belongings and shower before leaving.
Concerned beachgoers are likely wondering what, if any, activities are free from the risk of exposure to asbestos at Lake Michigan’s beaches. According to Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society President Paul Kakuris, “Waves wash fibers onto the beaches where sand releases asbestos during beach activities, exposing millions of unwitting victims to deadly asbestos fibers while corrupt public officials and polluters’ consultants rigged studies, using government funds.” Naturally, the society strongly advises against anyone visiting Lake Michigan’s contaminated beaches.
Leave a Comment » | Asbestos, Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma | Tagged: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, ATSDR, Chicago Park District, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Illinois Beach State Park, Illiois Dunesland Preservation Society, Johns-Manville, Mesothelioma, tremolite asbestos | Permalink
Posted by Dave Austin
June 3, 2008
A three-judge panel of the New Jersey Superior Court has determined that Spanish citizens who worked on U.S. Navy warships while docked in Spain can bring suit in the U.S. for the illnesses brought on by their asbestos exposure.
The plaintiffs, 15 Spanish citizens, contend that their illnesses developed because they worked on the navy vessels between 1950 and 1998. Suit is being brought against Owens-Illinois which manufactured the asbestos-based insulation in 2 plants in New Jersey.
Lawyers for Owens-Corning had argued that the case should be heard in a Spanish court and apparently had received a decision in their favor. This current ruling overturns that and sends the case back to Superior Court for trial.
In overturning the earlier ruling, the judges found that, wherever they are docked, Navy warships are considered U.S. territory and liability for the plaintiffs’ exposure should therefore be heard in a U.S. court, not a Spanish one.
This is significant and if the ruling sticks could mean many more mesothelioma lawsuits brought by foreign citizens in our courts.
Leave a Comment » | Asbestos, Court, Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma, lawsuits | Tagged: asbestos illness, Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, mesothelioma lawsuit, navy ships, New Jersey Superior Court, overseas asbestos exposure, owens-corning | Permalink
Posted by Dave Austin
June 2, 2008
The Canadian Labour Congress is calling for a ban on all asbestos mining in Canada. Health Canada recently hired seven scientists and medical professionals to examine the link between asbestos and cancer. That report was submitted in March but has not yet been released. However, Leslie Stayner, one of the report’s authors, has said that there is nothing in the report that would argue against the sensibility of an asbestos ban.
The CLC passed a resolution that bans the mining of asbestos and also provides financial support for the 700 miners who would be affected by the shutdown. Quebec province has the only 2 Canadian asbestos mines and that province has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world.
Canada still exports asbestos to countries like India and Pakistan even though most countries have banned asbestos.
Leave a Comment » | Asbestos, Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma, legislation | Tagged: asbestos exposure, asbestos mining, Canadian Labour Congress, cancer, Health Canada, Mesothelioma, Quebec | Permalink
Posted by Dave Austin
June 1, 2008
TOM CRUISE, KATIE HOLMES, JOHN TRAVOLTA and KELLY PRESTON have been told to seek medical attention, after deadly asbestos was found on a cruise ship they have all sailed on.
The foursome have all celebrated birthdays or other functions aboard Church of Scientology cruise ship the MV Freewinds, which was recently discovered to be contaminated with dangerous levels of blue asbestos.
Toxicologist Dr. Chris Coggins says, “This is the most dangerous type of asbestos because the fibres are smaller than the white asbestos and can penetrate the lung more easily.” Asbestos particles can stay dormant in the lungs for years before causing a deadly cancer called mesothelioma.
Dr. Coggins adds, “Once diagnosed with mesothelioma, the victim has six months to a year to live. It gradually reduces lung function until the victim is no longer able to breathe and dies.”
Yes they may have been exposed, but come on, it take 40 years for the mesothelioma diagnosis to show up, just ask all the pipefitters, and shipbuilders around. The news media has again latched on to a none issue here.
Leave a Comment » | Asbestos, Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma | Tagged: Asbestos, blue asbestos, John Travolta, Katie Holmes, Kelly Preston, Mesothelioma, Tom Cruise, toxic substance | Permalink
Posted by Dave Austin
