Mesothelioma & Asbestos Cancer News: June, 2009
North Dakota—A study on asbestos could end up facing delays, because officials cannot gather enough volunteers willing to have their lungs tested in the area.
Officials are still searching for residents who will agree to undergo lung testing for the study, which was jointly created by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and state officials in North Dakota.
Korea–On Monday, the Korean Ministry of Environment said that it will inspect the level of asbestos in the soil, water, and surrounding areas in villages near 22 closed mines nationwide by April next year.
The surrounding areas are defined as being within 4 kilometers of the mines. Health checks will also be conducted by the ministry on residents and former miners. Facilities where asbestos was stored will also be subject to examination. This will remain ongoing until 2012.
Missoula, MT—The trial of construction and mining giant W.R. Grace and Co. continues, and its judge recently excluded most of the evidence that had been introduced by prosecutors.
Of 53 exhibits that the prosecutors had submitted, only 7 will be allowed, ruled U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy. Most of the evidence consists of documents, including memos written by high-ranking Grace officials.
MURRUMBA DOWNS, Australia–Workers cut Fibro brand wall sheeting in a classroom, just meters from a play area at the Undurba State School, in Murrumba Downs, north of Brisbane. This created a dust cloud that could have students and staff exposed to the asbestos fibre.
Niagara Falls, NY—A number of homes in Niagara Falls neighborhoods, some of them just blocks away from an area of the city frequented by tourists, are slated for demolition in order to eradicate vermin and remove asbestos-containing materials.
Washington—This week, criminal charges were brought against a Tennessee financial advisor who allegedly tried to cash in on the federal baking bailout.
Ottawa—A British scientist is accusing the government of Canada of covering up his findings in order protect the Ottawan asbestos industry.
SYDNEY—An Australian civil court ruled this week that 10 former employees of building products company James Hardie Industries misled victims of asbestos-related diseases into believing that they would be compensated for their exposure to the carcinogen.
WASHINGTON, DC—Asbestos is a well known carcinogen that consists of long, thin fibers that were widely used before being banned in the 1970s. Various infrastructures contain this heat-, chemical-, and electricity-resistant material because it is cost-efficient. Exposure to it leads to various asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Missoula, MT–Government prosecutors called their final witness after more than two months of testimony for the W.R. Grace & Co. trial. The environmental crimes case will not stop until a federal judge rules on various pending legal waverings.
Assistant United States Attorney Kris McLean said, “I don’t feel like we can technically rest until those motions have been decided.”
New York—A $2 billion renovation project at the United Nations headquarters is worrying some employees, mostly because of asbestos-contaminated ceiling tiles that must be removed from the building.
President of the U.N. staff union, Stephen Kisambira, called a rare news conference last week to express concerns on behalf of U.N. workers that the asbestos abatement will not be carried out safely and effectively.
Charleston, SC—The South Carolina Cancer Registry, a collaborative project between the CDC and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, is expected to release a 10-year study tracking cancer trends later this month.
Springfield, IL—The Illinois Supreme Court recently handed down a decision in favor of a defendant in an asbestos lawsuit.
AUSTIN, Texas—The Texas Senate passed legislation Thursday that allows an easier recovery of damages for certain people who have been exposed to asbestos. This is a very rare win for personal injury trial lawyers.
The bill, which passed 20-11 a preliminary vote, only applies to lawsuits that involve mesothelioma.
Albany, OR—Owners of a commercial property in Albany have been fined for asbestos violations, according to a recent press release from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
Timothy John Fitzpatrick and Kelli Ellena Fitzpatrick have been issued a penalty in the amount of $1000. The fine stems from their violation of asbestos-abatement regulations.
ROME, New York—A $7.7 million housing project will be discussed at an informational meeting held by Housing Visions on Friday, April 24th. At 7pm, contractors who are interested in working on the Canal Village housing facility on South James street will meet in the Common Council Chambers.
CHURCH CREEK, MD– A house which is contaminated with asbestos and which has various other problems, is being offered free of charge to anyone who wants it.
Perth, Australia—An asbestosis victim whose court battle was victorious is now seeking further damages in order to pay his legal costs.
Antonino Lo Presti, 59, worked for the Ford Motor Company as a mechanic in the 1970s and 1980s. In the course of his work, he used an air compressor to blow out asbestos brake drums and brake lines. He was diagnosed with asbestosis in July 2001.
MISSOULA, Montana—A former W.R. Grace & Co. environmental engineer ran laps for half an hour while wearing an asbestos monitoring device. Randy Geiger said he did this in order to collect asbestos-tainted air samples at Libby’s high school track. The Missoulian newspaper reported Geiger’s testimony Monday in the Grace environmental crimes trial in Missoula on their website.
Charleston, WV—The “next wave” of asbestos lawsuits is beginning to gain force, and it’s focusing on so-called premise liability cases. These lawsuits go beyond a worker’s employer, accusing property owners.
Benguet, Philippines—A mining corporation in the Philippines has been ordered to clean up its act, following the discovery of asbestos-contaminated materials.
The Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation (LCMC), is one of the country’s biggest producers of gold. The company is alleged to have illegally, and secretly, dumped asbestos waste material and construction debris.
ALBANY—In a depressed economic time, the capitol of New York is spending $463,000 in order to renovate public restrooms on the third floor of the state Capitol building.
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