Mesothelioma Blog

The Pump Handle blog had a post the other day by David Michaels (a professor at George Washington University) questioning government efforts in occupational exposure of beryllum.  Chronic Beryllium Disease is an inflammatory lung disease.  OSHA regulations are based on old data which has been superceded by new findings.  The Department of Energy has already […]

The new year brings in establishment of a new asbestos management plan in the Australian state of Queensland.  The rules was instituted in 2006, but employers were given time to meet the new code.  Good news for everyone concerned with workplace safety.

The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) released a report claiming asbestos isn’t all that bad this week.  Pretty lame.  ACSH is well known as a biased think tank beholden to Washington conservatives.  In the words of Sourcewatch, the organization “it takes a generally apologetic stance regarding virtually every other health and environmental hazard […]

Quaker Chemical settled with an insurance company and agreed to pay part of the costs “in connection with asbestos bodily injury claims” according to the Associated Press.  Part of the long shake-out of the tragic asbestos legacy.

No details, but a report out of Britain about two “first degree” relatives being diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma at more or less the same time.  Sad, but a too-often occurance.  Asbestos is either in the home or is brought home by someone from the workplace.

Almost 6 years after the terrorist attacks, lower Manhattan has recovered somewhat; Building 7 of the WTC was rebuilt, plans are underway for more buildings, and over 15,000 people have moved into the area in recent years.  However, the legacy of asbestos remains.  The Deutsche Bank was damaged back in Sept 2001 and has never […]

Minnesota’s state health department did an analysis of iron miners and found a high incidence of mesothelioma.  Another case of occupational exposure to asbestos resulting in cancer.  Of course  there are other pulmonary diseases associated with mining.  The asbestos in question here was present in the ore pulled out of the ground.

The Pump Handle reports that Senator Murray’s hearings included testimony from a worker in the U.S. Capitol tunnels.  We reported last year on the asbestos found underneath the Capitol building and the risks it poses to people working down there.

The Senate Health Committee’s employment and workplace safety subcommittee held a hearing yesterday and the widow of Bruce Vento testified.  Vento was a congressman who died several years ago from mesothelioma.  Senator Patty Murray is continuing her crusade to ban asbestos, and reintroduced her bill to ban the material.   Murray has tried to get this […]

General Electric is charging $115 million after-tax charge on its accounting books to cover asbestos cases. The company has already paid $500 million to settle asbestos cases, and has 509,000 claims pending. Like many large industrial companies, GE used asbestos in its products, even though it was not a primary asbestos maker. […]