tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2009-11-13:/This site is dedicated to spreading information and awareness about asbestos exposure. We update regularly with news articles and editorials.MokoFeed2009-11-13T05:23:44+01:00tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2007-09-14:/2007/09/14/blue_lady_to_be_scrapped_despite_protest~2981802/mesoblog2007-09-14T22:56:07+02:002007-09-14T22:56:07+02:00 <p>India - Despite vigorous protests and numerous feature stories highlighting the problems of India's shipyards, India's Supreme Court will allow the scrapping of the Blue Lady/S.S. Norway.</p> <p>The ship which was originally used for cargo was purchased and later served as a cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Lines before a 2002 boiler explosion killed 7 and left the ship in a state of flux.</p> <p>For years the vessel sat idle before being towed to India to be scrapped. It waited for months just off the coast of the Alang shipyard as environmentalists protested the demolition.</p> <p>The ship is thought to contain thousands of tonnes of asbestos, lead, and PCBs. The workers removing these substances would not have any protection compared to US/UK workers who would be wearing almost armor like suits. </p> <p>In the end, whats the cost of losing a number of lives when you can make so much money off scrap metal and materials. Thats not my point of view but ultimately thats how it ended. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2007/09/14/blue_lady_to_be_scrapped_despite_protest~2981802/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2007-08-09:/2007/08/09/who_could_change_stance_on_known_carcino~2778334/mesoblog2007-08-09T01:34:31+02:002007-08-09T01:34:31+02:00 <p>The World Health Organization has been considering whether or not to change their stance on a form of asbestos commonly used by developing countries.</p> <p>Chrysotile asbestos has been banned by the EU and a majority of developed countries because, when inhaled, asbestos fibers can become stuck in the lungs and cause scarring.</p> <p>However efforts by a number of asbestos exporting countries, including Canada may cause the WHO to leave the use of asbestos to be determined by national agencies, thus continuing the cycle of death plaguing developing nations.</p> <p>Asbestos has long been viewed by the general public as a way for lawyers to get rich and environmentalists to gain media coverage. </p> <p>But the real dangers of asbestos aren't very well understood.</p> <p>Basically when you inhale asbestos fibers, most of them will be expelled by your lungs. Remaining fibers will then be attacked by white blood cells that try to "kill" them through phagocytosis (bascially trying to swallow them whole). </p> <p>However your cells are not large enough to engulf asbestos fibers and burst. The contents of the bursted cell scar the areas around it which given enough exposure, could lead to lung problems later on even if you don't develop a serious disease directly related to asbestos. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2007/08/09/who_could_change_stance_on_known_carcino~2778334/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2007-07-23:/2007/07/23/interesting_story_about_nice~2689690/mesoblog2007-07-23T23:48:15+02:002007-07-23T23:48:15+02:00 <p>I read this the other day and thought I would pass it along. Its my first post in quite some time. I've been away but I'm still rolling along. </p> <p>Anyways check it out, its about a cancer drug that extends lives but was denied coverage because of cost. The decision has now been reversed.</p> <p><a href="http://americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=31779"> NICE Reverses Drug Ruling </a></p> <p>Also this is just for technorati so I claim my blog, pay no attention</p> <p><a href="http://technorati.com/claim/4i5vy7wnhg" rel="me">Technorati Profile</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2007/07/23/interesting_story_about_nice~2689690/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2006-11-28:/2006/11/29/imrt_therapy_following_pleural_pneumecto~1380439/mesoblog2006-11-29T00:50:40+01:002006-11-29T00:50:40+01:00 <p><strong>Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy as an Adjuvant to Extrapleural Pneumonectomy</strong></p> <p>As a follow-up to our recent interview with Dr. Roy Smythe, we had the pleasure of speaking with his colleague, Dr. Craig Stevens, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor - Radiation Oncology, regarding his part in the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center trial of extrapleural pneumonectomy followed by IMRT therapy. Following is a transcript of that interview. Those wishing to become a possible candidate for this protocol should visit <a href="http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org">Mesothelioma Clinical Trials</a></p> <p><strong>Staff:<br> </strong></p> <p>"What is Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), and why was it chosen as an adjuvant therapy with surgery for the treatment of mesothelioma?"</p> <p><strong>Dr. Stevens: </strong></p> <p>"Mesothelioma is a disease with a very high likelihood of recurrence within the chest even after extensive surgery. Traditionally, when any type of tumor recurs locally, the first thought is to add post-operative radiation therapy to "clean up" any tumor cells that might be left after surgery. Applying this strategy to mesothelioma has been quite challenging because the regions at risk are large (the entire chest cavity and chest wall, and the lymph node regions between the lungs), and there are many radiosensitive normal structures nearby (the remaining lung, heart, esophagus, liver, kidneys, etc.). Several groups have tried to get around the normal structure problem with novel radiation delivery techniques. Unfortunately, the published descriptions of the techniques suggest that some volumes would be under-dosed while others would get very high radiation doses. This led us to try IMRT.</p> <p>"IMRT is a technique that allows for radiation doses to be delivered to very complex shapes or to tumors with nearby normal structures. The best results with IMRT have been obtained in prostate cancer and head & neck cancers. IMRT to the prostate has allowed 10-15 percent higher radiation doses to be delivered while lowering side effects caused by radiation to the nearby rectum and bladder. Similarly, IMRT to the head & neck has allowed for excellent tumor control while sparing the glands that make saliva. Technically, IMRT treatment planning breaks the target volumes up into tiny cubes, and the dose to each cube is optimized by very fast computers. IMRT has, until recently, only been used to treat relatively small tumors. We thought that IMRT had many advantages in the treatment of mesothelioma as well. Our initial experience confirmed that IMRT could deliver the complex radiation distributions needed to treat mesothelioma, so we began this trial."</p> <p><strong>Staff:<br> </strong> </p> <p>"How long has IMRT been used in the treatment of cancer? How does IMRT differ from traditional radiotherapy? To date, radiation has proven of little value in the treatment of mesothelioma except perhaps for palliation. Why is IMRT different?"</p> <p><strong>Dr. Stevens: </strong> </p> <p>"IMRT has been used for almost a decade now, and has had the most success with treatment of the prostate and head & neck. We think that IMRT has great potential to improve local control in mesothelioma, especially since there is now data from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to suggest that "conventional" radiation techniques can reduce local recurrence by about 50%. Since the dose distributions with IMRT will in most cases be superior to "conventional" treatment, we hope to do better. Clearly, mesothelioma is responsive to radiation. The problem has been delivering the radiation to the tumor-containing regions while sparing the normal nearby structures."</p> <p><strong>Staff:<br> </strong> </p> <p>"When IMRT is being used over a large area such as the chest cavity, how is it possible to deliver different doses of radiation to different areas? How are highly sensitive areas such as the heart and spinal cord as well as areas of normal tissue protected? What percentage more radiation can be delivered with IMRT than with conventional radiation?"</p> <p><strong>Dr. Stevens: </strong></p> <p>"IMRT can deliver the doses by dividing both the target volumes and each radiation beam into much smaller regions, and then optimizing the doses. The most sensitive regions are the remaining lung and the liver. The heart and spinal cord doses are relatively easy to keep within tolerance. The advantage to IMRT is that the target volumes can be completely irradiated so that there are no "cold" spots with regions at high risk for recurrence."</p> <p><strong>Staff:<br> </strong></p> <p>"According to your protocol, 60 Gy is administered for gross disease with the intent of permanent local control; 45-50 Gy is used for areas suspect for microscopic disease. Since microscopic seems to present the biggest problem in mesothelioma, why is the dosage less than for gross disease?"</p> <p><strong>Dr. Stevens: </strong></p> <p>"Radiation treatment results in side effects. Higher doses result in more intense symptoms like nausea/vomiting, skin irritation, sore throat, etc., so we chose to treat with lower doses for our initial group of patients. There is data to suggest that doses greater than 40 Gy are sufficient to improve pain in patients treated palliatively with gross disease. We thought that doses above 40 Gy would be a good starting point for microscopic disease. 45 Gy is also a dose that would be used post-operatively for lung cancer, so it should be in the right ballpark. In fact, we aren't sure of the correct dose, that is why we designed the study as we did. The study begins at 45 Gy. If that is tolerable, the dose will be increased to 50 Gy. Patients will then be followed for side effects and local control/survival. It is too soon to know how well our treatment will work, but we have thus far had no local failures. We are cautiously optimistic."</p> <p><strong>Staff:<br> </strong></p> <p>"If, upon follow-up, there is a recurrence of disease either within or outside of the irradiated field, can the area be irradiated again? If there is remaining gross disease, does it make sense to use chemotherapy to try to shrink the remaining tumor before IMRT?"</p> <p><strong>Dr. Stevens: </strong> </p> <p>"Because we irradiate large volumes to moderate doses, there is little room to deliver more dose if the tumor recurs. We need to get it right the first time. Local tumor recurrence has been the most common reason for death of patients with mesothelioma. This is why we chose to improve local control (by combining two local therapies like surgery and radiation) as a first step. We hope that this will actually cure some patients. Additional systemic therapy will probably also be necessary, although this is not yet clear. Recent positive results with Alimta are the first suggestion that chemotherapy has ANY effect on mesothelioma. Our next trial will likely use chemo/biotherapy prior to surgery/IMRT.</p> <p><strong>Staff:<br> </strong> </p> <p>"In planning for IMRT, what information do you receive from the thoracic surgeon that helps you to formulate a treatment plan? What are the responsibilities of the radiation oncologist, radiation physicist, dosimetrist, and radiation therapist?"</p> <p><strong>Dr. Stevens: </strong></p> <p>"Involvement of the surgeon at the radiation treatment planning workstation is really critical to our approach. There is no substitute for the surgeon's knowledge of EXACTLY where the tumor was. The target volumes are initially generated by the radiation oncologist based on surgical clips, operative note, and pathology report. Direct review by the operating surgeon has changed the target volume in EVERY case. This type of quality control sets our program apart. The radiation physicist also needs to be present when the volumes are reviewed. This is because we sometimes need to accept lower-than-ideal doses to small regions of the target volume. Having the physicist present ensures that there is no compromise on the most important regions, as defined by the surgeon and radiation oncologist. The radiation oncologist must decide which radiation dose distribution best treats the target volumes which minimizing the doses to adjacent normal structures. The radiation oncologist must also manage the treatment-related side effects during and after IMRT, and to verify that the patient is positioned properly for treatment. The radiation therapist actually delivers the daily radiation treatment, much as a radiology technologist takes CAT scans for the radiologist to read."</p> <p><strong>Staff:<br> </strong></p> <p>"How long does each individual treatment last, and how long is the full course of treatment? What side effects are usually associated with the procedure, and how can they be controlled?"</p> <p><strong>Dr. Stevens: </strong></p> <p>"Each treatment takes about 45 minutes. The patient is first positioned in a grid of laser lights with the arms above the head (so that they are out of the radiation beams). Then the treatment is begun. We use 7-8 gantry positions, with 2-3 table positions. This means that 14-24 fields are treated per day. These take some time to deliver. 25 daily treatments are delivered.</p> <p>"The most common side effects are nausea/vomiting and tiredness. In the vast majority of cases, the nausea/vomiting is completely controlled, but in about 10% of cases patients require hospitalization by the 4th week or so because of dehydration. There is not much to be done about the tiredness, but we encourage our patients to walk (or if possible, exercise) as much as possible because exercise reduces radiation-induced fatigue. The side effects essentially resolve within a few weeks of the end of treatment."</p> <p><strong>Staff:<br> </strong></p> <p>"What success have you seen with the EPP/IMRT protocol? What do you see in the future for mesothelioma treatment?"</p> <p><strong>Dr. Stevens: </strong></p> <p>"Since we have seen some distant metastases, it is likely that future trials will include systemic treatment either with chemotherapy or biologic therapy. As I mentioned before, the Alimta data is very encouraging and hopefully will be the first of many drugs discovered with efficacy against mesothelioma. We don't yet know how to best to integrate these agents into our treatment approach. Our next trial is under development, and will likely include chemo/biologic therapy followed by surgery and then IMRT."</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2006/11/29/imrt_therapy_following_pleural_pneumecto~1380439/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2006-10-25:/2006/10/25/work_halted_temporarily_at_new_wtc_dig_s~1261539/mesoblog2006-10-25T20:41:39+02:002006-10-25T20:48:10+02:00 <p><strong>Lower Manhattan-</strong> Air quality concerns at the manhole where remains were found last week briefly halted the search for more remains at the World Trade Center site. Investigators sifting through the rubble feared that their work may have been stirring up contaminants such as asbestos and pulverized glass that had been in the air for months following the attacks.</p> <p>As previously noted in this blog, the toxic air around the trade center was full of mercury, pulverized concrete, and asbestos from fire proofing on the lower floors of both towers. The air has since cleared but the government continues to play the blame game as to who will compensate and cover rescuers, employees, and residents of lower Manhattan.</p> <p>Tests conducted by the EPA Tuesday cleared the site where another 36 remains have been found. The remains recovered ranged in size from 1 to 6 inches and bring the total number of remains recovered to over 150.</p> <p>Mayor Michael Bloomberg also admitted that the initial recovery efforts may have been “rushed” while speaking at a press conference.</p> <p>“Were we under time pressure? Absolutely,” said Bloomberg who replaced Mayor Rudy Guiliani. “I don't know any family member that didn't want to find out whatever they could about the loved one that they lost, and we did it as fast as we could, consistent with safety and completeness.” </p> <p>His statement was in response to John McArdle, the retired police lieutenant who oversaw the recovery of remains after the terror attacks, says he wanted to take more time at the site but was over-ruled. </p> <p>Work will resume Wednesday.</p> <p>-William Gallahue<br> If you or a friend were in lower Manhattan at the time of the attacks, check here for<a href="http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/symptoms.htm"> Mesothelioma Symptoms</a>. Mesothelioma is a deadly health condition related to asbestos exposure.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2006/10/25/work_halted_temporarily_at_new_wtc_dig_s~1261539/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2006-10-05:/2006/10/05/thousands_demonstrate_in_paris_for_asbes~1192128/mesoblog2006-10-05T22:18:50+02:002006-10-05T22:18:50+02:00 <p><strong>Paris</strong>-Thousands of marchers filled Paris streets demanding a criminal investigation into companies that knowingly exposed their employees to asbestos. </p> <p>Organized by Andeva (Association Nationale de Défense des Victimes de l'Amiante or The National Association Defending Asbestos Victims) they demanded more government investigations into companies that knowingly exposed their workers to asbestos and should be held liable for their deaths. </p> <p>The demonstrations followed successful prosecution of Alstom Power Boilers who were ordered to pay 75,000 euros for exposing workers to asbestos and causing at least ten deaths to date. The trial was closely followed by many asbestos victims groups both in France and around the world. </p> <p>Asbestos was completely banned in 1997 from the country but with long latency periods, deaths continue to occur at a rate of nearly 3,000 every year. Andeva estimates that within 20 years the number of deaths could pass 100,000.</p> <p>Andeva believes that criminal prosecution is the only way to expose and educate the public about asbestos. See the article I wrote about U.S. corporations and asbestos at the bottom of the page.</p> <p>Corporate Abuse<br> <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?A-History-of-Corporate-Abuse:-Mesothelioma&id=269451">http://ezinearticles.com/?A-History-of-Corporate-Abuse:-Mesothelioma&id=269451</a></p> <p>For further information on the activities of Andeva see <a href="http://andeva.free.fr.">http://andeva.free.fr.</a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2006/10/05/thousands_demonstrate_in_paris_for_asbes~1192128/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2006-09-12:/2006/09/13/how_the_us_senate_wants_9_11_responders_~1120958/mesoblog2006-09-13T00:18:44+02:002006-09-13T00:18:44+02:00 <img src="http://mesotheliomainfo.bloggoing.com/files/2006/09/us_capitol_senateside.jpg" alt="The United States Capitol" width="200" height="193"><br> The United States Capitol is becoming a battleground over proposed measures to limit asbestos related litigation.Photo used under GNU license. <strong>Washington-</strong> One by one, from veterans and their families to health organizationsm to doctors have come out against congressional plans to limit asbestos litigation.Yet members of the US Senate are defying their calls and continuing to push for corporate sponsored legislation against victims of asbestos exposure.The "Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005" came to existence shortly after March of 2004 after Pres. Bush. proposed limits on asbestos related "junk" lawsuits at a speech in Detroit. <p>Originally introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch, the Act would establish a $140 billion trust fund to supplant litigation as a means to compensate victims of asbestos and limit liability. On April 26, 2005, Dr. Philip Landrigan, Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Chairman of the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine at Mount SInai School of Medicine, testified before the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary against this proposed legislation.</p> <p>He testified that many of the bill's provisions are unsupported by medicine and would unfairly exclude a large number of people who have become ill or died from asbestos: "The approach to the diagnosis of disease caused by asbestos that is set forth in this bill is not consistent with the diagnostic criteria established by the American Thoracic Society. If the bill is to deliver on its promise of fairness, these criteria will need to be revised." Also opposing the bill are the American Public Health Association and the Asbestos Workers Union.</p> <p>The bill was initially defeated last year but has stuck around the Senate Judiciary Committee which last week approved new amendments to the bill including support for those exposed during 9/11 and hurricane Katrina. <strong>However the bill includes an exposure length minimum of 5 years which effectively eliminates both groups.</strong> </p> <p>For more information on asbestos exposure please visit <a href="http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org"> Mesothelioma and Asbestos</a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2006/09/13/how_the_us_senate_wants_9_11_responders_~1120958/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2006-09-07:/2006/09/07/another_tragedy_strikes_9_11_rescuers~1106310/mesoblog2006-09-07T21:15:36+02:002007-02-16T21:01:25+01:00 <img src="http://mesotheliomainfo.bloggoing.com/files/2006/09/911responders.jpg" border="0" alt="9/11 Responders were shrouded in a toxic dust that included mercury, lead, and asbestos" width="109" height="125"><br> Firefighters race to get one of their own out of harms way on September 11th. <p>Photo used under GNU license.</p> <strong>NEW YORK-</strong> It was a day we will never forget. You and I still know where we were when we heard the news. Whether you were in New York or Tokyo or Texas, the news of hijacked planes striking the World Trade Centers and the shock of their collapse is something that will stay with you forever.</p> <p> I was in a class and over the PA system it was announced that we would have a moment of silence for the victims of the terrorist attacks that had just occurred. At the time everyone was going crazy and calling friends and relatives (many of whom worked in and around the area) to check on them. By the time I made it to a computer WTC2 had just collapsed and my heart sank. </p> <p>In the aftermath of the collapse, many of the heroes of that day were shrouded in a toxic dust that has left up to 70% of rescuers and cleanup workers with chronic health problems for the rest of their lives. <p>A study released this week by the Mount Sinai Medical Center conclusively links recovery work at the World Trade Center ruins and long-term respiratory problems according to the studies authors.</p> <p>"There should no longer be any doubt about the health effects of the World Trade Center. Our patients are sick," said Dr. Robin Herbert, co-director of the group that has monitored the health of nearly 16,000 ground zero workers.</p> <p>Herbert said the majority of patients in the study first came to ground zero between Sept. 11 and Sept. 13, 2001, which exposed them to asbestos, pulverized concrete, mercury, plastics, and toxins that will leave them chronically sick.</p> <p>"Our patients were very, very highly exposed, and are likely to suffer health consequences as a result of that for the rest of their lives," she said.</p> <p>The study will appear Thursday in the journal, Environmental Health Perspectives. It focused on what has come to be called "World Trade Center cough" in 9,442 ground zero workers examined between July 2002 and April 2004.</p> <p>Mayor Michael Bloomberg reacted negatively to the study's claims, saying, "I don't believe that you can say specifically link a particular problem came from this particular event."</p> <p>Those studied include construction workers, police and firefighters and other volunteers who worked at the site, in the city morgue or at a landfill where more than 1 million tons (910,000 metric tons) of trade center debris were carted.</p> <p>The study said that almost 70 percent of trade center responders had new or worsened respiratory problems during or after the attacks. Sixty-one percent of responders who had no health symptoms before the attacks developed problems while working at ground zero. One third of those tested had abnormal lung function, which Herbert said is a rate twice as high as the nonsmoking population.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2006/09/07/another_tragedy_strikes_9_11_rescuers~1106310/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2006-09-05:/2006/09/05/indian_government_vows_to_save_diseased_~1100633/mesoblog2006-09-05T23:14:29+02:002006-09-05T23:17:31+02:00 <p><img src="http://mesotheliomainfo.bloggoing.com/files/2006/09/day3LFUNERALMARCH.jpg" alt="Workers at Alang Shipyard hold a funeral for a deceased coworker. Courtesy of Greenpeace.org"></p> <p>New Dehli- An official committee has acknowledged that asbestos is taking its toll on the ship-breakers in Alang, Gujarat, the first time the Indian government has ever acknowledged the problems of the often controversial ship breaking yard. </p> <p>The committee found that nearly one in every six workers that handles asbestos is beginning to show the early development of asbestosis, an irreversible lung disease.</p> <p>Set up by the Supreme Court last February in the midst of dealing with Le Clemenceau, an asbestos laden French aircraft carrier set to be demolished, the 12-member Committee submitted a 200-page report last week.</p> <p>The report concluded that ship breaking should be performed in a safe and environmentally sound manner. They also included provisions for worker safety, highlighting alarming statistics on asbestos exposure, the first time the Indian government has acknowledged any link.</p> <p>The Delhi-based National Institute of Occupational Health was asked to study the health status of ship-breaking workers in Alang. They performed X-Rays on workers who handled asbestos which led them to an alarming conclusion. </p> <p>“The X-ray examination showed linear shadow on 15 of 94 workers occupationally exposed to asbestos,” said the report. “These were consistent with asbestosis but could be caused by other lung conditions. All of these were cases of easly asbestosis and not associated with pulmonary function abnormalities’’. </p> <p>Normally, it takes more than 10 years for full-blown asbestosis to develop but its onset is hastened with higher levels of exposure. </p> <p>Most of the workers at the yard had worked for less than 10 years thus indicating higher levels of exposure than previously imagined.</p> <p>Data on fatal accidents during the last 10 years show an average annual incidence of fatal accidents in ship breaking to be 2 per 1000 workers while the figure for the mining industry (widely considered to be the most unsafe) is 0.34 per 1000. </p> <p>Alang is a 10-km ship-breaking yard in Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat. It is one of the largest in the world and last year disassembled 100 ships while providing employment to 5,000 workers. Conditions in their camps are a breeding ground for disease with no running water and no restroom facilities.</p> <p><a href="http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org"> Asbestos and Mesothelioma information </a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2006/09/05/indian_government_vows_to_save_diseased_~1100633/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2006-08-29:/2006/08/29/dutch_government_caught_in_turkish_bind~1081131/mesoblog2006-08-29T23:20:27+02:002006-08-29T23:20:27+02:00 <p>August 29, 2006 Netherlands – </p> <p>Dutch Environmental Secretary Pieter van Geel was unsuccessful in persuading Turkey to accept an asbestos laden ship for demolition.</p> <p>The Otapan had been lying in Amersterdam until it left in late July to be demolished in Aliaga, Turkey. When it arrived, authorities denied permission to dock and the ensuing controversy has both sides on the defensive.</p> <p>Part of the problem lies in the fact that according to Turkish sources, the amount of asbestos on the ship was underreported by nearly 53 tons. The original documentation approved by Dutch authorities gave the amount as being around 1000kg.</p> <p>In talks earlier this week van Geel was trying to get the ship clearance as it has been off the Turkish coast awaiting a decision. The Turkish government however rejected his offer and chose not to accept the ship.</p> <p>Now the Dutch government will have to search for new solutions as it comes under heavy fire from groups like Greenpeace who claim the government deliberately mislead Turkish authorities by approving the original documentation.</p> <p>This is the second time in a matter of months that a ship full of asbestos caused international problems. </p> <p>Earlier this year, the French ship Clemenceau was to be demolished in India before massive protests and government pressure forced Prime Minister Jacques Chirac to recall the ship back to port.</p> <p>Conditions Associated with Asbestos like mesothelioma along with the dangers of dismantling ships kills hundreds of workers every year.</p> <p>Learn More about Asbestos<br> <a href="http://www.mesothelioma-aid.org">MesoAid</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2006/08/29/dutch_government_caught_in_turkish_bind~1081131/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2006-08-24:/2006/08/24/150_ex_ferodo_workers_ask_for_compensati~1066935/mesoblog2006-08-24T22:33:48+02:002006-08-24T22:33:48+02:00 <p>North Wales- 150 former workers of British brake manufacturer, Ferodo, have taken a step towards receiving compensation for asbestos exposure.</p> <p>They can receive compensation between £50 to 100,000 if they can prove their illness was linked to working at the former brake company.</p> <p>At a meeting Saturday in Caernarfon, workers and their families gathered to discuss possible litigation options.</p> <p>Beginning in 1962 asbestos was used in the production of brake and clutch linings by a workforce of nearly a 1,000 at a Ferodo plant near Caernarfon.</p> <p>In the late 1980s, dozens of Ferodo workers were diagnosed as suffering from the lung disease asbestosis. They were awarded "provisional" compensation allowing further claims if their condition was to deteriorate.</p> <p>Ferodo is currently owned by Michigan, US based Federal-Mogul. The automotive conglomerate is currently in bankruptcy re-organization partially tied to asbestos litigation from its buyout of Ferodo in 1997.</p> <p>Asbestos related claims in the UK alone are around £337m.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2006/08/24/150_ex_ferodo_workers_ask_for_compensati~1066935/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2006-08-18:/2006/08/18/english_cancer_patients_denied_medicine~1050921/mesoblog2006-08-18T23:24:14+02:002006-08-18T23:24:14+02:00 <p>A significant number of mesothelioma patients in Ulster will be unable to extend their lifespan after officials ruled the drug Alimta was not cost effective.</p> <p>Alimta manufactured by Lily Pharmaceuticals, has been proven to extend the life of a mesothelioma sufferer by up to four months.</p> <p>The drug has been available since last July last following government approval.<br> However patients will not be able to access it as the medical authority in England and Wales, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), ruled that the drug was not cost effective.</p> <p>Mesothelioma is caused by a buildup of asbestos fibers in the lungs which leads to death within 2 years of diagnosis. It is an infection of the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or chest wall caused when cells that try to digest the particles are mutated and grow uncontrollably.<br> Former mayoress of Derry City Council, Mary Carlin, whose husband Tony died from mesothelioma three years ago at the age of 56, today described NICE’s decision as a “disgrace”.</p> <p>“Are people going to die sooner to save money?”, she said.</p> <p>In January last year, Dr Ken O’Byrne, consultant oncologist at St James’s Hospital and chairman of the British Thoracic Oncology Group, warned in Dublin that mesothelioma was increasing rapidly in Ireland and had yet to peak.</p> <p>An estimated 80-100 victims die from asbestos-related illnesses in Ulster every year.</p> <p>Thanks to Nigel Gould. <a href="http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=702931">Original Source</a></p> <p>For more information on mesothelioma please visit <a href="http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org">Mesothelioma Information </a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2006/08/18/english_cancer_patients_denied_medicine~1050921/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2006-08-17:/2006/08/17/james_hardie_industries_facing_financial~1048073/mesoblog2006-08-17T22:12:33+02:002006-08-17T22:13:24+02:00 <p>James Hardie Industries, a Dutch based industrial materials manufacturer is facing difficult financial prospects as a slowing US housing market and $1 billion asbestos liability are wreaking havoc on their finances.</p> <p>The asbestos payments eliminated first-quarter profits, which fell by 36 percent. </p> <p>"Due to the size of the asbestos provision recorded on the balance sheet in $A, fluctuations in the exchange rate will cause unpredictable volatility in the company's reported results for the foreseeable future," said Chief executive Louis Gries.</p> <p>The company has been accused of not handling their liabilities to asbestos victims properly. A number of factors including: restructuring, relocation to the Netherlands (from Autralia), and reorganization of business relationships between related companies, were alleged to minimize compensation opportunities to employees who had become sick after working at its asbestos mines and manufacturing plants.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2006/08/17/james_hardie_industries_facing_financial~1048073/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2006-08-15:/2006/08/15/a_sad_legacy_of_abuse~1042429/mesoblog2006-08-15T21:21:38+02:002006-08-15T21:21:38+02:00 <p>“My answer to the problem is: if you have enjoyed a good life while working with asbestos products why not die from it. There’s got to be some cause.”</p> <p>This quote came from a purchasing director for Johns Manville corporation in 1966. Years later the company would face bankruptcy from being overwhelmed by nearly 16,500 asbestos lawsuits in what would become an important moment in the history of asbestos litigation.</p> <p>For years large corporations like Johns Manville operated their asbestos manufacturing operations with internal knowledge of health problems and tried their best to control any information that hinted to the safety risks of asbestos.</p> <p>It is a sad corporate legacy and one that continues to haunt the numerous dying and diagnosed men and women who seek compensation for their exposure. Some estimates put the number of exposed patients to nearly 27.5 million between 1940 and 1979. </p> <p>It wasn't until the mid-1970s that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration began to regulate asbestos exposure. By then however it was all too late. New cases of asbestos related health problems will continue to be diagnosed every year at a rate of nearly 3,000 cases for mesothelioma alone. The reason is that asbestos related illnesses have long latency periods of up to 40 years before exposure can lead to cancerous formations. </p> <p>According to Adam Raphael, "the best estimate of what lies ahead is a study published by the Yale School of Organization and Management in 1992. It predicts that there will be 200,000 asbestos-related deaths over the next quarter of a century at a cost to asbestos manufacturers and their insurers of $50 billion.”</p> <p>With such liability it is easy to see why since 1985, nearly 16 major asbestos manufacturing firms have gone out of business. When they go out, it makes it nearly impossible for families to collect compensation.</p> <p>Furthermore other companies still in business like Johns Manville have set up inadequately funded pools for compensation. Just last year W.R. Grace sent a notice to residents of Libby, Montana (the site of a once booming asbestos mine where 1 in 8 residents is infected with a lung disorder of some type) telling them that they were no longer sick and should seek other forms of medical assistance.</p> <p>It’s a sad corporate legacy where millions of average Americans worked long hours to provide a better life for their families only to get nothing in return from the employers who benefited.</p> <p>If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer please visit <a href="http://www.mesothelioma-aid.org/coping.htm"> How to Cope </a> for coping strategies and answers. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2006/08/15/a_sad_legacy_of_abuse~1042429/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk,2006-08-11:/2006/08/11/toxic_ship_set_to_be_dismantled~1032447/mesoblog2006-08-11T19:51:01+02:002006-08-11T19:51:01+02:00 <p>Indian officials gave permission for an asbestos contaminated vessel to be scrapped in the port of Alang.</p> <p>The Blue Lady, a 46,000 ton cruise ship is set to be dismantled. It is estimated to be carrying more than 1900 metric tons of asbestos and other toxins.</p> <p>Earlier this year, the French government decided not to send one of its obsolete aircraft carriers, Clemenceau, to be scrapped following a lengthy campaign by Greenpeace.</p> <p>For more information on asbestos exposure please visit <a href="http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org">http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org</a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mesotheliomanews.blog.co.uk/2006/08/11/toxic_ship_set_to_be_dismantled~1032447/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>