James Hardie, maker of building products and a long-time seller of asbestos goods, had agreed with the New South Wales government to establish a compensation fund for people with asbestos diseases. The questions was whether the fund would be considered a charity for tax purposes. If it was not, the tax man would take a […]
Tax ruling will help out Australian mesothelioma victims Read More »
This month’s Journal of Inhalation Technology has a review article on how animals have been invaluable in research on mesothelioma treatment. Scientists have induced pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma in rodents and then running a variety of mechanistic studies. They’ve looked at development of the disease from the time the fibers enter the body and
Animal models of mesothelioma Read More »
The Associated Press reports that the United Nation’s Environment Programme did not add chrysotile asbestos to the list of hazardous chemicals with special shipping requirements. The Rotterdam Convention, which includes 110 countries, could not agree on this type of asbestos, mainly because of opposition from the countries that export asbestos. Canada, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Iran
UN fails to add chrysotile asbestos to list of hazardous chemicals Read More »
There’s a story out of Wisconsin about former employees of CSX Railroad looking into the use of asbestos in their workplace. “They claim asbestos was present in various types of packing materials, gaskets, floor tile, ceiling paint, brake shoes, steam hoses, firebrick, and welding gloves.” More on asbestos exposure.
Railroad workers concerned about asbestos exposure Read More »
The American Chemical Society announced the 2006 Heroes of Chemistry awards, and included on the list is Edward C. Taylor from Princeton and a couple scientists from Eli Lilly, for introducing pemetrexed (Alimta) to the world. Every type of solid tumor thus far examined clinically has responded to this new agent. The awards ceremony is
Inventor of Alimta hailed as “Hero of Chemistry” Read More »
The blogger Cheerful Oncologist proposed “four freedoms of cancer patients”, modeled after Franklin Roosevelt’s four freedoms. Roosevelt articulated his four freedoms during World War II (although before the United States entered the war). If we adopt the war metaphor – The War on Cancer – the freedoms have all the more resonance. Cheerful Oncologist’s freedoms
Four freedoms of cancer patients Read More »
A judge had appointed a mediator to try to resolve the dispute between W.R. Grace and victims of asbestos hazards created by that corporation. Today in the news there is a story about the breakdown of that negotiation. Too bad, because this might mean more litigation that W.R. Grace cannot possibly win. Grace tried to
W.R. Grace, victims don’t settle Read More »
In February the US Senate considered, and rejected, a bill to create a trust fund and limit mesothelioma lawsuits. Now Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Spector is trying to resurrect the bill to resolve what he calls a “crisis” in an opinion piece in The Hill. Spector wants to prevent mesothelioma victims from suing for full compensation.
Senator Spector calls for asbestos legislation Read More »
A woman in York, England got mesothelioma, and the way she was exposed to asbestos was from her husband’s work clothing. “Marjorie Fox, 61, is believed to have contracted fatal cancer after almost 20 years of shaking the dust from her husband Kenneth’s overalls which he wore while working as a carpenter before putting them
Woman contracts mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos in husband’s clothing Read More »
A newspaper article from Australia reports on Prime Minister Howard’s willingness to re-engage in talks about an asbestos compensation deal. Like the United States, Australia is trying to cope with the legacy of decades of asbestos use the tragedy of people with mesothelioma. It’s a tough public policy problem, and I don’t envy the legislators
Australian government also working on asbestos claims Read More »