February 7, 2022
In the not-too-distant past, asbestos seemed like a miraculous and harmless substance. It was relatively inexpensive and could be used in everything from tires to insulation. It is no surprise that asbestos found its way into schools, too. As the people who handled asbestos got older, it became clear how dangerous it could be to handle and be around asbestos. Now, asbestos has limited uses but remains in older buildings, including schools. Here’s what you should know about the asbestos that could be in your child’s school. There are Rules Removing asbestos can be an intense project, especially for large […]
January 25, 2022
For centuries, numerous industries have relied on the naturally heat-resistant and fire-resistant properties of asbestos. As the carcinogenic properties associated with ingestion or inhalation of the asbestos fibers became well-known, consumers and manufacturers alike moved to abandon use of the material. Many organizations chose to create dumping sites for asbestos disposal. Unfortunately, as dumping sites were merely plowed over with fresh soil, the possibility of exposure continued. Officials had hoped the positive-negative chemical interaction between the asbestos fibers and the surrounding soil would trap the materials, preventing any additional exposure. Unfortunately, dissolved organic matter (DOM) can potentially upset that balance […]
January 18, 2022
Asbestos exposure and the deadly lung cancer mesothelioma continue to be a world-wide danger. It seems like every few days, a news reports adds a new occupation to the exposure at-risk list. Due to recent events at a New Zealand Department of Corrections facility, a significant number of prison officers risked asbestos exposure and severe [...]
January 13, 2022
The battle to protect US citizens from asbestos has been lengthy, with 40,000 Americans losing their lives annually due to exposure. Numerous settlements have been reached but with little impact in providing the real protection necessary. Concurrently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been anything but comprehensive in its work to identify the actual dangers of all forms of asbestos. For years, they attempted to impose regulations governed by the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) with little success. Meanwhile, people died from exposure to seemingly harmless insulation, plaster, and floor tiles in homes, schools, and places of employment. Still, […]
December 20, 2021
The news startled you and everyone else where you worked. Evidence exists of asbestos exposure in the workplace. Inhaling its particles which may lead to serious health complications. Now that you suspect asbestos exposure, what do you do? Contact your doctor and explore legal options If you were recently exposed to asbestos, please understand that the signs of illness such as mesothelioma do not surface for decades. However, it would be a much different story if you have been regularly exposed to asbestos in the workplace for decades and only learned about it now. Here is what you need to do: Immediately […]
December 8, 2021
A California man’s plight and subsequent death from mesothelioma played a pivotal role in state lawmakers’ decision to remove an unsympathetic legal restriction that prevented families of terminally ill people from recovering damages for their decedent’s suffering in civil lawsuits. On Oct. 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate bill 447, a new law that allows families to collect damages for mental suffering on behalf of loved ones who died. Previously, California was among a few states declaring that if a plaintiff died before a trial took place, the claim for damages of suffering died with them. Man died before lawsuit decided Alfonso […]
November 30, 2021
Living with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) presents a multitude of challenges for those diagnosed with the disease. It is known to be an aggressive tumor linked to asbestos exposure. Survival is at best limited with the odds against patients. No cure exists to date, although systemic therapies have had minimal impacts on surviving this deadly form of cancer. Complications from COVID-19 When COVID-19 entered the United States and created a pandemic, one of the main priorities was to protect those with “pre-existing conditions” that could further compromise immune systems. Near the top in severity was and remained mesothelioma in any […]
November 23, 2021
A Chico, California, businessman found out the hard way that the improper disposal of asbestos can be costly. Meanwhile, his neighbors face uncertainty as to whether their lives were endangered by potential exposure to the toxic mineral illegally dumped near their residences. Prosecutors contended that the asbestos was disposed of in a way that would [...]
November 16, 2021
ERROR Every year, various media outlets commemorate the September 11 terrorist attacks. They often look back at past events related to the attacks, but also the continuing impact on surviving family members and first responders. Countless firefighters courageously ran towards, not away from the horrific sites. Those who survived are dealing with the aftermath of [...]