Under the Obama Administration, The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was updated to give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) more authority to ban asbestos completely in the United States. The carcinogen was originally banned in 1989, but by 1991 the ruling was over-turned. Anti-asbestos advocates have been fighting ever since to ban all uses of […]
Asbestos in New York City
The steam pipe that exploded in New York City in the middle of July has caused many problems. Asbestos coating the pipe was sent into the air, worrying residents, employees, and city goers in the area. Forty-nine buildings had to be evacuated and people from 250 residential units had to be displaced to avoid the […]
Today is World Lung Cancer Day
Today is World Lung Cancer Day. It is important to be aware of lung cancer because it is the largest cause of cancer deaths for both men and women. Lung cancer kills more people than colon, prostate, ovarian, and breast cancers combined. With such a high occurrence of deaths from lung cancer, people need to […]
What is Benzene and Why Should I Avoid it?
Benzene is a colorless, flammable liquid that has a sweet smell and evaporates quickly. Humans can be exposed to it through natural processes like volcanoes or forest fires, but mostly are exposed through man-made processes. It is used in many industries as a starting chemical for the creation of other chemicals. People are exposed primarily […]
Medical Malpractice
When going to a medical professional, it is expected that he or she will use their expertise to treat their patient to the best of his or her ability. Doctors go through many years of training, so they should be able to treat people with a certain level of competency. Doctors sometimes do not do […]
Fire Curtains: Making People Sick While Protecting Their Lives
Theaters can be dangerous places. One spark can create a fire that grows out of control very quickly, which happened at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago on December 30, 1903. It had only been open for a few weeks, but was cited multiple times for potential fire hazards. Some of the problems included an absence […]
Newly Bought Mingo Junction Mill to be Updated
JWS Steel, an Indian steel company, is renovating its newly purchased Mingo Junction steel mill in Ohio. It is restarting the electric arc furnace and is planning on setting up a second furnace at the location. It is making a $500 million investment for this to happen. JSW Steel is spending $250 million to restart […]
Elder Abuse Awareness Month
June was Elder Abuse Awareness Month. While most people think that elder abuse solely involves physically hurting an older adult, there are many ways in which an elder adult can be abused. Here are the different types of abuse someone over the age of 60 can face: Physical Abuse– Use of physical force that causes […]
Exposure to Asbestos at Power Stations
Creating electricity is a dangerous process. Fuel is burned to create heat, converting water in a boiler into high pressure steam, which then expands through nozzles in a steam turbine, causing it to rotate. The shaft on the turbine spins an electromagnet on an electric generator at high speeds, creating electricity. This entire process creates […]
Asbestos: Proof That Not All Natural Products are Safe
Not all natural substances are safe and healthy to be around. Some of them can be deadly carcinogens that cause horrible health problems in those exposed to them. One of these carcinogens is asbestos, a mineral found throughout the United States, Canada, and other countries. Asbestos is the umbrella term for six fibrous silicate materials. […]