Vermiculite, a completely safe, naturally occurring mineral was involved in one of the worst environmental disasters in the country. Vermiculite by itself is completely harmless in addition to being lightweight, fire-resistant, and odorless. It can also be expanded between eight and 30 times its size when heated. These properties make vermiculite a unique and useful […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
The Dangers of Encountering Asbestos as a Firefighter
According to the International Association of Firefighters, cancer is the leading cause of death of firemen. This makes sense because they are exposed to countless carcinogenic chemicals on a regular basis, including asbestos. Asbestos is a problem because it is present in older homes, and when these homes catch on fire, firefighters expose themselves to […]
Home Construction and Asbestos
A large wave of people are tackling do it yourself (DIY) projects inside their homes and are encountering asbestos during this process. In the past, asbestos was used in many different products throughout the home, but now that asbestos is a known carcinogen, it is not in home products anymore. In older houses asbestos can […]
Asbestos Mining Caused Illness in Neighboring Towns
Since asbestos is a naturally occurring material, it is extracted from the earth through mining. When it was more widely used, multiple mines were open throughout the United States (U.S.) and Canada to harvest and prepare it for companies, but the known dangers have caused the mines to shut down. To mine asbestos, mining companies […]
Asbestos Use in the Navy During World War II
Asbestos Use in the Navy During World War II Asbestos – known as the “miracle mineral” because of its heat resistant properties and insulating abilities – was a popular building material throughout much of the 20th century. Asbestos use was particularly popular in shipyards and could be found in materials such as gaskets, valves, cements, […]
Neville Island Residents Concerned About Asbestos After Recent Demolition Local Coke Plant
Neville Island Residents Concerned About Asbestos After Recent Demolition Local Coke Plant The Shenango Coke Works plant on Neville Island, which has been owned by DTE Energy (DTE) since 2008, demolished two smoke stacks and a concrete coal storage bunker by imploding them on May 8, 2018. It has already been closed and nonoperational since January 2016 […]
Take-Home Exposure Duty Could Extend Beyond Family Members
Asbestos exposure in those who did not work directly with the carcinogen, but were exposed through a family member that did, is known as take-home exposure. As workers came home with asbestos dust on their clothes, hair, shoes, and tools, they were unknowingly contaminating their household. Wives have contracted mesothelioma by doing their husband’s laundry; […]