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CDC Report Cites Rising Number of Mesothelioma Deaths in the U.S.
It has been decades since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concluded that asbestos was a health hazard that caused mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases. Despite that revelation and subsequent attempts to cut back on American use of the dangerous mineral, asbestos is still legal in the country, and it is continuing to sicken tens
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Canada Announces Ban on All Asbestos Use by 2018
The Canadian government has made it official: after years of lobbying and advocacy on the part of health advocates, the country is joining much of the developed world in announcing that it has targeted the year 2018 for a complete ban on the use of asbestos and asbestos-containing products. This move will be an important
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Landmark California Mesothelioma Ruling Grants Family Members Right to Sue
A landmark decision on the rights of mesothelioma victims to sue has been handed down by the California state Supreme Court. The issue was whether companies could be held responsible for sicknesses precipitated by a family member carrying asbestos home on their clothing, hair, or skin. The court unanimously decided against the companies and in
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New Study Identifies Major Factor in Mesothelioma Development
Nobody knows why malignant mesothelioma tumors form in some who have been exposed to asbestos and not in others, or why the condition takes such a long time to make itself known. Researchers around the world are working hard to solve this mystery, and now scientists in Japan believe that they have identified a major
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Congress Moves to Ban Asbestos
In a move that may force the hand of the U.S. Congress, California’s Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer has introduced a bill titled S 3427 — the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2016. This would amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to include a complete ban or restriction of the use of asbestos, the
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9/11 Cancer Diagnoses Triples, Asbestos Exposure Likely to Blame
It is hard to imagine that the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. may lose more lives to asbestos exposure than to the collapse of the buildings, but according to experts, it’s true. When terrorists hijacked four commercial jets on September 11, 2001, and crashed them into the iconic buildings in New York and Washington, the
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World Health Organization Calls for Global Ban on Asbestos
The dangers of asbestos have been well-known for quite some time. Made popular for its strength and ability to insulate against heat and flame, asbestos is a dangerous carcinogen that has caused many deaths. It’s the cause of a number of serious diseases, including the rare and fatal form of cancer known as mesothelioma. Now,
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$480 Million Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Fund Agreed To
It’s been years since gasket manufacturer Garlock Sealing Technologies filed for bankruptcy protection. Since then, there’s been an extended legal battle, but the case has apparently been resolved – the parties involved are reporting that they have reached a settlement that would fund an asbestos bankruptcy trust with $480 million. Like many other companies associated
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$72 Million Johnson & Johnson Verdict Similar to Recent Mesothelioma Talc Case
A St. Louis jury recently delivered a $72 million verdict against pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson after hearing details of how its talcum-based powder has been linked to ovarian cancer in women. The verdict is getting a tremendous amount of attention, and is once again shining a spotlight on the dangers posed by this common
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Ford and Its Attempt to Reshape the Research on Asbestos
When it comes to identifying the villains behind mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, it is pretty hard to ignore the Ford Motor Company and its role in exposing its employees and others who worked with their products. As is the case with many other big corporations, there is significant evidence that the automaking company was
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Asbestos Lawsuits Becoming More Common in Japan
In the U.S., the justice system has long recognized the rights of those who have been harmed by the negligence of others. Our legal system provides victims with the opportunity to file civil lawsuits seeking compensation for harm that has been done to them, and this has been at the root of the tens of
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Experts Warn that Asbestos Risk is Real
To many Americans, the idea of being exposed to asbestos sounds like something that might have been a possibility forty or fifty years ago, but not any longer. After all, the carcinogen has been banned in the U.S. for many years. At least that’s what people believe. Though asbestos use has been dramatically diminished since
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Third Wave of Asbestos Victims
When the dangers of asbestos became apparent, it was largely banned for use in the U.S., but its use was never entirely halted. In 2014, there were approximately 400 metric tons of the carcinogenic material used in the United States. According to environmental consultant Barry Castleman, “The consumption’s gone down by over a thousandfold” since
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Asbestos in Schools is a National Problem
Although it has been well established that asbestos is a dangerous, cancer-causing substance, this was not always the case. For many years, the fire and heat retardant set of toxic minerals was a standard component in industrial and construction settings. Asbestos provided effective, inexpensive insulation and fireproofing for buildings and boilers alike. You’d be hard-pressed
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Asbestos in Aging Buildings Poses Dangers to All
When most think of asbestos and the dangers it poses, they probably picture construction workers, military veterans, firefighters and others who work in occupations that put them in close proximity to potentially hazardous materials. Few realize that nearly every building that was built in the United States prior to the 1980s has a good chance of
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Study Shows Little Progress in Mesothelioma Survival Rates
A recent study of the collected mesothelioma data has shown that despite all of the work that has been done over the last four decades, there has been no improvement in mesothelioma survival. This news is of particular concern to veterans with mesothelioma, as they make up over one third of those diagnosed with this
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Collaboration in Mesothelioma Research Yields Promising Results
The Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center is one of the world’s leading research and treatment facilities for all types of cancer, including mesothelioma. The scientists and physicians who make up the MSK team are known for their dedication and commitment. They are unusual in their collegiality and willingness to share data, and to collaborate
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Asbestos Risk Continues Long After Industry Leaves
The asbestos industry has long argued against the idea that exposure to asbestos is as deadly as health proponents say that it is. Companies that once used asbestos mount aggressive defenses in lawsuits, arguing against plaintiffs who blame exposure to small amounts of mesothelioma for their illness, and claiming that small quantity exposures can’t do
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Asbestos Found in Children’s Toys and Crayons
Health and safety advocates are aware of asbestos dangers and how exposure poses risks, but the dangerous set of minerals usually affects those in industrial industries. A report, however, shows that asbestos knows no bounds and can affect children simply playing with toys or coloring. The Environmental Working Group’s sister organization, EWG Action Fund, completed
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Asbestos Death Toll Much Higher Than Originally Thought
Though it has been well established that exposure to asbestos is responsible for numerous deaths in the U.S., a recent report issued by the Environmental Working Group Action Fund revealed that the national fatality numbers are higher than what was originally thought. Some areas are much harder hit than others when it comes to asbestos
