This site was created to provide a resource of Mesothelioma cancer related topics to anyone looking to inquire about Mesothelioma cancer related information. All topics relating to Mesothelioma cancer, Mesothelioma cancer research, Mesothelioma symptoms, Mesothelioma treatments, Mesothelioma doctors and lawyers, etc. can be found on this site. The information here will be updated periodically to provide you with the latest knowledge base of Mesothelioma information. Thank you for visiting MesotheliomaCancerInfo.org!
- MesotheliomaCancerInfo.org Staff
Filed under: Uncategorized on November 29th, 2007 | No Comments »
Built in 1916, Schenley High School is one of the most beautiful buildings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the first American high school to cost more than a million dollars to build. Its threatened demolition has initiated an enthusiastic “Save Schenley” movement. The historic high school has a Skinner pipe organ, as does the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. And the school has hosted famous people in many fields as they passed through school there: pop icon Andy Warhol; jazz musicians George Benson, Ray Brown, Walt Harper and Stanley Turrentine; professional athletes Larry Brown, Darnell Dinkins, Maurice Lucas and Shawn Hawkins; physics Nobel laureate Clifford Shull; and Derrick Bell, the first black professor at Harvard Law School; as well as Pittsburgh favorites Bruno Sammartino and sportscaster Bob Prince. But asbestos was used extensively throughout the building, making it very difficult and expensive to save the school. The school district estimates that it will cost $64.4 million in public funds to make the school safe and functional
For the full story, go to
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/mistick/s_539655.html
Filed under: General, Legal, Medical, Support on November 29th, 2007 | No Comments »
A new study by Italian researchers published in the November issue of
The Oncologist suggests that CT screening may help in early detection of lung cancer among people with a history of asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure increases the risk of developing lung cancer and
mesothelioma, a rare cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs or abdomen. In a group of more than a 1,000 people exposed to asbestos, CT screening found non-calcified nodules in 44 percent of the participants. Chest X-ray detected such nodules in only 4 percent of the study participants. Researchers also found nine cases of early stage lung cancer through the use of CT screening. None of these cases were detected by chest X-ray. The tumors were surgically removed, which potentially cured these individuals before their tumors were even visible on chest X-ray. CT screening also gave 11 false positive results. The researchers concluded that baseline CT screening was beneficial for people with a history of asbestos exposure who are consequently at high risk for developing mesothelioma or lung cancer. They also concluded that additional research should be done to determine whether CT screening may assist in early detection of mesothelioma as well.
For the full story, go to
http://professional.cancerconsultants.com or
http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org
Filed under: General, Legal, Medical, Support on November 28th, 2007 | No Comments »
New Porte Landing, a 150-acre commercial and recreation area in La Porte, Indiana, is undergoing extensive environmental cleanup to remove asbestos from the site. The site includes a former industrial facility and an old city landfill. No plans for redevelopment have been finalized, and there is concern that presence of asbestos, and the consequent length of the cleanup process, may cost La Porte some development opportunities. Negotiations are underway, but if something is not worked out by the beginning of December, there is concern that the window will close and the property may remain undeveloped for some time. The city received grants of $100,000 for assessment and planning of the cleanup of the former Allis-Chalmers industrial complex and $300,000 to assist in the extensive asbestos removal. The buildings on the site will be demolished after all of the asbestos has been removed. If the buildings were torn down before completing the asbestos removal, asbestos fibers could be released into the environment, creating a public health hazard. The old city dump will also be cleaned up and landscaped as open space, with trails provided for recreation. This work is expected to be complete by April 2008.
For the full story, go to
http://heraldargus.com
Filed under: General, Legal, Medical, Support on November 27th, 2007 | No Comments »
State officials are concerned that mishandling of asbestos during a 2006 remodeling project at the West Salem retirement community could have caused some residents or employees to be exposed to respirable asbestos fibers. An investigator with the Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) has said that the department cannot rule out the possibility that residents or workers at the facility inhaled asbestos. The owner and two contractors have been fined a total of $64,058 for asbestos violations. Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Division had previously cited the facility for workplace violations–including failure to perform an exposure assessment before tearing out drywall. ODEQ’s investigation followed the workplace safety complaint and found that the contractors cut into asbestos-containing walls, piled the asbestos-containing material in the open, and disposed of it by throwing it into open dumpsters. Mishandling asbestos can cause people to inhale the cancer-causing fibers. Asbestos exposure causes
mesothelioma, lung cancer, and various other cancers and respiratory diseases. The owner of the retirement community has paid its $29,948 fine and has acknowledged its fault.
For the full story, go to
http://www.statesmanjournal.com
Filed under: General, Legal, Medical, Support on November 26th, 2007 | No Comments »
The 130-year-old former elementary school in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania will be torn down as soon as asbestos and other hazardous materials are removed from the building. The building belongs to the Huntingdon Community Center and is being leveled to make room for a larger activity center. Hazardous materials must be removed before a building can be demolished to prevent it from being released into the environment and exposing the public to toxic substances. Asbestos has been found in the floor tiles, piping, roofing materials and plaster and represents the major contamination problem at the site. But inspectors have also found PCBs and lead paint in the building. The abatement and demolition project is expected to be completed in the next 3-4 months. The community center must raise additional funds before construction begins. .
For the full story, go to
http://www.altoonamirror.com
Filed under: General, Legal, Medical, Support on November 25th, 2007 | No Comments »
The Rochdale Memorial Gardens, home of the International Asbestos Memorial, was the scene of a short ceremony to recognize work done by the Rochdale Council’s Environmental Services Department and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers on the International Asbestos Memorial. 5,000 crocus bulbs were planted to represent the number of asbestos-related deaths that occur in the United Kingdom each year. The clusters of flowers represent disease clusters that arise in geographical areas of high asbestos exposure. The crocuses are largely white (for remembrance) and purple (for the color of ribbons worn to remember those who have died from occupational disease). The planting is anticipated to be in full bloom for Action
Mesothelioma Day in late February. Since the International Asbestos Memorial opened last year, visitors have come from across the UK, Europe, Canada, Australia and the United States. Rochdale, the city that hosts the asbestos memorial, was the home of the world’s asbestos textile industry.
For the full story, go to
http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk
Filed under: General, Legal, Medical, Support on November 24th, 2007 | No Comments »
An underground explosion cut power, telephone and computer access to many businesses and households in Holyoke, Mass. The explosion struck one electrical circuit and required that utility workers temporarily take down additional circuits, leaving approximately 3,000 households without power for a period of time. Because some of the electrical cables were covered with asbestos, utility workers could not begin repairs until after state officials controlled the fire and asbestos hazards were dealt with. Because optic fire cable was also damaged in the fire, about a dozen businesses and city offices remained without telephones and computers for some time.
For the full story, go to
http://www.masslive.com
Filed under: General, Legal, Medical, Support on November 24th, 2007 | No Comments »
City officials look to stronger code enforcement to help clean up Holbrook, Arizona. The city’s emergency abatement program allows the city to clean up private property that creates a public threat. The owner can then be billed for the cleanup, and if they don’t pay, the city places a lien against the property. The city’s typical abatement project costs $200 to $400. Older properties require expensive asbestos testing and abatement, however, which is also billed to the owner of the property. The city is trying to publicize the strict code enforcement campaign so that property owners will have an opportunity to clean up their property without city intervention. The city also expects to put its first efforts into cleanup of city-owned properties before enforcing code provisions against private landowners. For people who are unable to handle the cleanup of their own property, either because of health problems or financial limitations, the city maintains a list of volunteer groups and companies that can help. The city warns that waiting for the city to clean up the property could cost from $200 up to several thousand dollars and could also subject owners to civil or criminal citations of code violations. Officials expressed concern that, in addition to stronger enforcement, code provisions need to be modified to speed up enforcement efforts; city staffers will work on recommendations for changes to the code.
For the full story, go to
http://www.azjournal.com
Filed under: General, Legal, Medical, Support on November 23rd, 2007 | No Comments »
In just the last three and a half years, State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz and/or contractors working at the school have received 17 citations from state asbestos inspectors for improper asbestos removal. These violations include not having a proper license for asbestos removal, not conducting required air sampling, not following proper procedures for hazardous waste removal and not having workers in protective clothing. SUNY representatives and even some state officials dismiss the violations as “typical,” “garden-variety,” “technical” or “minor.” Since being cited for having employees handle asbestos without proper licensing, training or gear, SUNY New Paltz has obtained its own asbestos-removal license and trained employees to deal with asbestos when needed. Some students have been concerned recently about possible asbestos exposure during building repairs, but inspectors found no violations when they visited the worksite.
For the full story, go to
http://www.recordonline.com
Filed under: General, Legal, Medical, Support on November 21st, 2007 | No Comments »