Sixteen Consecutive Years of Mesothelioma Awareness Day Every September for the past 15 years, Mesothelioma Awareness Day has taken place. This year marks 16 years of the annual autumn event that aims to educate and inform society about the dangers of asbestos exposure and the fatal cancers associated with it. Asbestos was a popular building […]
Lawsuit Alleging BOP Implosion Endangered Lives
Lawsuit Alleging BOP Implosion Endangered Lives The Basic Oxygen Plant in Weirton, West Virginia, once deemed the plant of the future, was demolished by implosion in March. The building was first completed in 1967, and brought basic oxygen steel production, vacuum degassing, and continuous casting together into one operation. Before the plant, the steps were […]
The 30 Year Anniversary of Asbestos Almost Being Banned
The 30 Year Anniversary of Asbestos Almost Being Banned This past Friday was the 30th anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) trying and failing to ban asbestos. Before trying to ban it the EPA had spent a decade and paid $10 million creating a 100,000 page report outlining the extreme danger of asbestos, with […]
States are Suing the EPA for not Protecting People from Asbestos
States are Suing the EPA for not Protecting People from Asbestos Eleven attorneys general are suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for not protecting people from asbestos. Asbestos is a dangerous mineral used industrially due to its fire and heat resistant properties. Once in the air people can inhale the microscopic fibers and develop lung […]
Cleanup Finished on a Section of the Libby Superfund Site
Cleanup Finished on a Section of the Libby Superfund Site A section of the Montana asbestos cleanup site was removed from the Superfund list by U.S. officials, pointing to the 17 year cleanup coming to an end. The 45 acre area five miles north of downtown Libby is the first of eight units of the […]
Asbestos Manufacturer Liability Redefined by Supreme Court
Asbestos Manufacturer Liability Redefined by Supreme Court The Supreme Court has redefined the liability of a company under general maritime law for asbestos-related injuries caused by third party integrated parts. In the Air & Liquid Sys. Corp. v. Devries case the Supreme Court held that manufacturers need to warn users when their products contain other […]
The Introduction of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act
The Introduction of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act Earlier last month, the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN) was introduced. If passed, it will ban the use and importation of asbestos without exceptions. A new right to know campaign is also being made, requiring current importers, processors, and distributors to report and […]
How Asbestos Shingles Started and Why They are so Dangerous
How Asbestos Shingles Started and Why They are so Dangerous When asbestos was considered a safe material, it was used in many different products because of its strength and insulating properties. One man, Lutwig Hatscheck, purchased an asbestos factory in 1893, and in 1900 invented asbestos cement. He was then able to patent the product […]
The Difference between COPD and Asbestosis
The Difference between COPD and Asbestosis COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease obstructing airflow from the lungs. It is caused by irritating gases and particulate matter, which is usually cigarette smoke. The two biggest contributors to COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is caused by inflammation of the lining of […]
The Facts About Asbestos Exposure and Lung Cancer
The Facts About Asbestos Exposure and Lung Cancer Asbestos exposure causes more than just mesothelioma cancer. It can be a contributing factor to a lung cancer diagnosis – a cancer than that affects about 14% of cancer victims, making it the second most common cancer in both men and women according to the American Cancer […]