Des Moines, Iowa - May 11, 2009
Des Moines residents and workers who have spent time in the Equitable Building face are now concerned that they may be at risk for developing asbestos-related health problems such as mesothelioma.
Workers may have been exposed to asbestos for several years while the building was under renovation. The building's owner, Bob Knapp, has been fined $500,000 for failing to identify and properly remove asbestos.
When asbestos dust and fibers become airborne, which can happen during renovations, the tiny particles can become permanently lodged in the soft tissues of the lungs. Asbestos can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
Offices in the building have been tested, and results revealed that asbestos fibers were present in the office.
This is not the first time Mr. Knapp has been cited for asbestos-related mishaps. By law, building owners and all others who discover asbestos and wish to conduct subsequent abatement must inform their local and state environmental protection authorities before proceeding. A permit is required for asbestos removal, and follow-up air quality monitoring is also typically required.
Asbestos is commonly found in older buildings, where it is a component in building materials ranging from siding to insulation to fireproofing. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, and it was once prized for use in certain building materials because it has a natural resistance to chemicals and flame.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Washington State Honors Fallen Workers, Asbestos Deaths
Olympia, Washington - May 10, 2009
Last year 81 workers died as a result of job-related injuries or illnesses in Washington State.
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries held a memorial ceremony last week to honor those workers who perished due to workplace injury or illness. The governor spoke, and friends and families of the dearly departed rang a memorial bell to honor those who lost their lives in the last year.
In Washington and throughout the nation, about 2,500 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer, and can kill victims within months of diagnosis. Mesothelioma is attributed almost exclusively to asbestos exposure.
Workers at shipyards, mines, schools, and other locations around the United States risk asbestos exposure on a daily basis if their workplace contains the deadly substance. Due to a long latency period, it can be up to several decades after the initial exposure until mesothelioma is diagnosed.
There were 13 cases of death by asbestos-related disease on the list of 81 people who perished. All were people who died long after their initial contact with the deadly material.
In a world where people are going crazy about finding masks to ward off the swine flu, it is chilling to note that the number of asbestos-related deaths may not peak until 2010. Perhaps more people should wear the masks when doing home renovations, a growing risk for asbestos exposure.
Other professions that were featured on the list include fisherman, loggers, police officers, a mechanic, and a computer technician who fell to his death from a skylight.
Last year 81 workers died as a result of job-related injuries or illnesses in Washington State.
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries held a memorial ceremony last week to honor those workers who perished due to workplace injury or illness. The governor spoke, and friends and families of the dearly departed rang a memorial bell to honor those who lost their lives in the last year.
In Washington and throughout the nation, about 2,500 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer, and can kill victims within months of diagnosis. Mesothelioma is attributed almost exclusively to asbestos exposure.
Workers at shipyards, mines, schools, and other locations around the United States risk asbestos exposure on a daily basis if their workplace contains the deadly substance. Due to a long latency period, it can be up to several decades after the initial exposure until mesothelioma is diagnosed.
There were 13 cases of death by asbestos-related disease on the list of 81 people who perished. All were people who died long after their initial contact with the deadly material.
In a world where people are going crazy about finding masks to ward off the swine flu, it is chilling to note that the number of asbestos-related deaths may not peak until 2010. Perhaps more people should wear the masks when doing home renovations, a growing risk for asbestos exposure.
Other professions that were featured on the list include fisherman, loggers, police officers, a mechanic, and a computer technician who fell to his death from a skylight.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Asbestos Issues a Big Distraction at Georgia High School
Columbus, Georgia - May 9, 2009
Ongoing asbestos issues at Carver High School in Columbus, GA are raising public ire. There is asbestos in the ceiling, mold on the walls and water stains on the carpet.
The oldest buildings on the campus date from 1954.
Administrators, teachers and students say that the time has come to put an end to the near-constant stream of repairs, and build an entirely new school.
However, demolition and building a new school would cost an estimated $45 million. For school districts with already-tight budgets, asbestos abatement is often a cost that just cannot be covered without additional aid, often from state grants or federal funding.
One hallway is known to have asbestos in the ceiling, which prompted workers to drill into the walls to run conduits for electrical lines and Internet. If asbestos was disturbed, the asbestos dust could be inhaled by students and teachers, which could lead to mesothelioma later in life.
A public forum was recently held to discuss the issues plaguing the school. Members of the community feel that the school's issues have been neglected for too long.
Walter Gould said he was concerned about the asbestos and mold issues in the school, and is disappointed in the way that school district has let the school fall into such disrepair.
"Carver High didn't just come up with these problems yesterday," he said at the forum held at Baker Middle School on Monday.
Superintendent Susan Andrews responded: "You're right, it did not get in that shape overnight. It's been added onto and added onto. Some of it is the age of different pieces," Andrews said. "Some of it is deferred maintenance."
Ongoing asbestos issues at Carver High School in Columbus, GA are raising public ire. There is asbestos in the ceiling, mold on the walls and water stains on the carpet.
The oldest buildings on the campus date from 1954.
Administrators, teachers and students say that the time has come to put an end to the near-constant stream of repairs, and build an entirely new school.
However, demolition and building a new school would cost an estimated $45 million. For school districts with already-tight budgets, asbestos abatement is often a cost that just cannot be covered without additional aid, often from state grants or federal funding.
One hallway is known to have asbestos in the ceiling, which prompted workers to drill into the walls to run conduits for electrical lines and Internet. If asbestos was disturbed, the asbestos dust could be inhaled by students and teachers, which could lead to mesothelioma later in life.
A public forum was recently held to discuss the issues plaguing the school. Members of the community feel that the school's issues have been neglected for too long.
Walter Gould said he was concerned about the asbestos and mold issues in the school, and is disappointed in the way that school district has let the school fall into such disrepair.
"Carver High didn't just come up with these problems yesterday," he said at the forum held at Baker Middle School on Monday.
Superintendent Susan Andrews responded: "You're right, it did not get in that shape overnight. It's been added onto and added onto. Some of it is the age of different pieces," Andrews said. "Some of it is deferred maintenance."
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Asbestos Issues Kept Massachusetts School Closed Last Week
Taunton, Massachusetts - May 6, 2009
After building inspectors found a potential asbestos issue in the school, administrators decided to be cautious and sent the students home.
Mayor Charles Crowley said the preliminary tests and inspections indicate that there is likely no threat to the health of students and teachers, but he wants to wait for final written confirmation before allowing the school to reopen.
City building inspectors were conducting a review of the school on Wednesday when they found that some asbestos insulation on a pipe in a basement crawl space was starting to peel.
After the discovery, the Mayor decided to close the school and conduct asbestos air quality tests.
"This is purely precautionary," Crowley said. "We want to make sure we have it in writing."
Depending on the final test results on the asbestos, students could return to the Maxham School as early as May 4th.
Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of mesothelioma later in life. Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is incredibly aggressive. Most sufferers perish from the disease within 2 years of being diagnosed, and many only live a matter of months.
Mayor Charles Crowley said the city is "erring on the side of caution."
"Every old building has asbestos in it," he said. "If it's in good condition, it's not a problem."
The potential asbestos issue at Maxham is the latest event in a series on ongoing concerns related to school buildings. Earlier this year, a comprehensive inspection was required for all city-owned buildings. Many buildings had not been properly inspected in decades.
After building inspectors found a potential asbestos issue in the school, administrators decided to be cautious and sent the students home.
Mayor Charles Crowley said the preliminary tests and inspections indicate that there is likely no threat to the health of students and teachers, but he wants to wait for final written confirmation before allowing the school to reopen.
City building inspectors were conducting a review of the school on Wednesday when they found that some asbestos insulation on a pipe in a basement crawl space was starting to peel.
After the discovery, the Mayor decided to close the school and conduct asbestos air quality tests.
"This is purely precautionary," Crowley said. "We want to make sure we have it in writing."
Depending on the final test results on the asbestos, students could return to the Maxham School as early as May 4th.
Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of mesothelioma later in life. Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is incredibly aggressive. Most sufferers perish from the disease within 2 years of being diagnosed, and many only live a matter of months.
Mayor Charles Crowley said the city is "erring on the side of caution."
"Every old building has asbestos in it," he said. "If it's in good condition, it's not a problem."
The potential asbestos issue at Maxham is the latest event in a series on ongoing concerns related to school buildings. Earlier this year, a comprehensive inspection was required for all city-owned buildings. Many buildings had not been properly inspected in decades.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Concert to raise funds for asbestos removal in Illinois
Peru, Illinois - May 5, 2009
A North Central Illinois school is taking a unique approach in order to raise funds to replace the floor of its asbestos-laden gymnasium.
Students at Holy Family School in Peru, Illinois will get their gym renovations thanks to a country music concert.
Proceeds from the show (which will feature performances by country bands Little Big Town and Zac Brown Band) at the Cedar Point Sportsman Club will go toward renovations on Holy Family School's gym. The show will be called "Concerts for a Cause".
The current floor has not aged gracefully, and it sheds paint and wax. The deteriorating gym floor poses a health risk for several reasons, but school officials and parents are most concerned about potential asbestos exposure.
"We had contacted several companies about the gym floor," said Principal Jasiek. "It was becoming increasingly dangerous."
Ripping up the old floor would expose asbestos tile. Asbestos is usually considered safe if it is sealed away and not disturbed. Airborne asbestos can lead to mesothelioma. Rather than undergo costly asbestos abatement, the school has decided to lay the new floor on top of the old one.
As long as all safety precautions are followed during the installation of the new floor, the likelihood that anyone in the building will be exposure to harmful asbestos fibers is small.
"Concerts for a Cause," organized by a committee and Lou's LaGrotto restaurant in Peru, has funded school projects in the past. The concert series chooses worthy recipients by reading through letters asking for aid sent by local schools.
The committee and Merry Noonan, co-owner of Lou's and concert organizer, visited the school twice Tuesday. That clinched the decision, Noonan said.
"They wouldn't be able to have basketball games and tournaments," Noonan said. "If we can help, we will help you."
A North Central Illinois school is taking a unique approach in order to raise funds to replace the floor of its asbestos-laden gymnasium.
Students at Holy Family School in Peru, Illinois will get their gym renovations thanks to a country music concert.
Proceeds from the show (which will feature performances by country bands Little Big Town and Zac Brown Band) at the Cedar Point Sportsman Club will go toward renovations on Holy Family School's gym. The show will be called "Concerts for a Cause".
The current floor has not aged gracefully, and it sheds paint and wax. The deteriorating gym floor poses a health risk for several reasons, but school officials and parents are most concerned about potential asbestos exposure.
"We had contacted several companies about the gym floor," said Principal Jasiek. "It was becoming increasingly dangerous."
Ripping up the old floor would expose asbestos tile. Asbestos is usually considered safe if it is sealed away and not disturbed. Airborne asbestos can lead to mesothelioma. Rather than undergo costly asbestos abatement, the school has decided to lay the new floor on top of the old one.
As long as all safety precautions are followed during the installation of the new floor, the likelihood that anyone in the building will be exposure to harmful asbestos fibers is small.
"Concerts for a Cause," organized by a committee and Lou's LaGrotto restaurant in Peru, has funded school projects in the past. The concert series chooses worthy recipients by reading through letters asking for aid sent by local schools.
The committee and Merry Noonan, co-owner of Lou's and concert organizer, visited the school twice Tuesday. That clinched the decision, Noonan said.
"They wouldn't be able to have basketball games and tournaments," Noonan said. "If we can help, we will help you."
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
$5.1 million allotted to fix WA pipes, laden with asbestos
In Startup, Washington, officials are pleased to have a fresh source of funding to tackle the town's asbestos issues.
Startup water commissioner Karen Eaton was becoming increasingly fearful of the health impact the deteriorating water pipes under the town could have.
The aging pipes are 50 years old, and in poor shape. Eaton described them to one journalist as crumbling, near collapse, and a threat to public health.
Miles of asbestos-cement pipes that deliver water to the tiny town are deteriorating "like wet cardboard," according to Ms. Eaton.
So news that the town will be receiving over $5 million to update the water pipes came as great news to Eaton and other town officials.
The Startup Water District will receive $5.1 million from the Department of Health's Office of Drinking Water, which the town will use to update every water main in the system.
"We were thrilled," said Eaton, one of three water commissioners. "We've been working on this for months."
The water commissioners first realized the pipes were rotten after a series of waterline breaks. The tiny town was forced to pay out thousands to repair a series of breaks in the mains.
The fire department became reluctant to conduct training exercises, in fear of doing further damage to the water system.
But what was even more concerning was the knowledge that asbestos in the pipes could build up to dangerous levels, putting the town at risk.
Asbestos exposure is linked to medical conditions such as lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. Few studies related to asbestos exposure via drinking water are available, and the most common method of exposure is inhalation of airborne asbestos dust.
The entire project is expected to take about 2 years to complete.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Minnesotans Honor Workers Memorial Day
People nationwide, especially members of labor unions, recognized Workers Memorial Day this past week.
The event was marked all across America by various services and memorials. Many workers unions took special care to honor their fallen members.
The annual event remembers workers who died in the previous year from workplace accidents or workplace illnesses. Most important of all, it is a yearly reminder of the importance for campaigning for increased workplace safety and fair workman's compensation programs.
Mike Hawthorne, business manager of the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council, reported that the rate of workplace injuries and illnesses in Minnesota has dropped, from a rate of 6.8 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2000 to 4.6 cases per 100 workers in 2007 a drop of 32 percent, according to Minnesota OSHA.
At this year's ceremony, Mr. Hawthorne only had to read the names of three workers: Thomas Raymond Johnson, Sr., a member of Pipefitters Local 455, who died of mesothelioma at age 64; Clarence Roger Olson, a member of Pipefitters Local 455, who died of lung cancer at age 61; and Roberto Pearson, a member of Boilermakers Local 647, who died in an accidental fall at age 25.
Workers Memorial Day in recent year has become a major rallying point for mesothelioma awareness advocates. Professions that may face an elevated risk of developing mesothelioma after workplace-related exposure to asbestos include mechanics, teachers, shipyard workers, and pipe fitters.
Nationwide, 5,657 fatal workplace injuries took place 2007, according to the national AFL-CIO.
Because mesothelioma has a long latency period, it can be several decades before a worker develops an illness after exposure to asbestos.
Former School Building Requires Asbestos Removal
Waverly, Pennsylvania - May 2, 2009
The village of Waverly is still working to secure a closing date for the purchase of the old school building, which is expected to cost approximately $290,000.
Village officials have chosen the firm Hunt Engineers to conduct the asbestos testing at the former school building. It has been reported that it will cost the village $3,909 to pay for Hunt to conduct the tests.
This project is part of a maximum $2.9 million project passed by voters through a December referendum. The former Ithaca Street School will undergo any needed asbestos abatement and renovations in order to transform the building from a school house into a new village hall.
Trustee Jerry Sinsabaugh explained that the engineering firm will primarily be looking at the building's floor tiles and pipe joints. These areas of the building were previously identified as possible asbestos sources during an engineering report that was conducted by Hunt Engineers.
Asbestos abatement is important during renovation in order to protect workers and average citizens from being exposed to the deadly substance. Asbestos, when inhaled, can lead to medical conditions including pleural mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive form of cancer.
Asbestos was once a common component in building materials, including pipe insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, textured paints, popcorn ceilings, and even siding. Despite the institution of strict asbestos regulations in the early eighties, asbestos materials are still found in over 35 million homes, commercial buildings and schools nationwide.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Scientists Declare All Forms of Asbestos Toxic
Through the development of the Chrysotile Asbestos Fact Sheet (CAFS), the Environmental Information Agency (EIA) and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization have concluded that chrysotile asbestos is a carcinogenic substance.
In addition, the EIA and ADAO stated there is enough evidence to support that all forms of asbestos can be responsible for causing asbestos-related lung cancers, laryngeal cancer and ovarian cancer. Chrysotile, among other forms of asbestos, is listed as one of the few mesothelioma causes.
According to their Web site, the EIA is a multidisciplinary association that collects, generates and disseminates information concerning environmental health hazards to occupants of buildings, industrial sites and other facilities.
The ADAO is an organization founded by asbestos victims and their families. Established in 2004, the ADAO “seeks to give asbestos victims a united voice to help ensure that their rights are fairly represented and protected, while raising public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure.”
Structured by asbestos medical experts and scientists with more than 300 collective years of experience, the CAFS provides clear information concerning the hazards of chrysotile. Scientists hope to present the CAFS to the United States Congress in support of the continued effort to ban asbestos.
Brent Kynoch, the Managing Director of the EIA, said “The Environmental Information Agency is proud to collaborate with the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization to produce the Chrysotile Asbestos Fact Sheet in an effort to clarify the misinformation released on the very real dangers of asbestos exposure.”
Linda Reinstein, Executive Director of ADAO, said, “Asbestos exposure is the world’s leading cause of cancer in the workplace and the United States Congress must act now and ban asbestos. Prevention is our only cure for asbestos-caused diseases.”
According to a 2004 study published by the Environmental Working Group, approximately 10,000 Americans pass away each year from asbestos exposure. In addition, the study estimated that one million U.S. workers are exposed to asbestos each year.
Additional information about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.
Canadian Politician Labeled as a "Liar" Due to Statements on Asbestos Exports
OTTAWA - Canada has long been criticized by numerous world leaders because of the nation's shameful, large-scale production and exportation of asbestos-a well known cancer-causing substance. In a statement issued in early April, Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff said he unequivocally favored a ban on Canada's export of extremely toxic asbestos to developing countries that are known to have a lax attitude about protecting the health of its citizens.
"I'm probably walking right off the cliff into some unexpected public policy bog of which I'm unaware, " Ignatieff stated, "but if asbestos is bad for parliamentarians in the parliament of Canada, it just has to be bad for everyone else. Our export of this dangerous product overseas has got to stop."
All well and good, and Ignatieff had been widely praised by numerous environmentalist groups for his comments, but, during a discussion with reporters last week, the liberal politician seemed to backtrack on his calling for a nationwide ban on the exportation of asbestos by saying, "We have 60 years of experience with this product. What I said in answer to a question is that we have an obligation to international agreements to the countries that we export to, to make them aware of the risks. That's all I said."
Others would disagree. Kathleen Ruff, who is a senior advisor on the subject of international human rights for the Ottawa-based think-tank Rideau Institute, has a different interpretation of Ignatieff's latest statements on the subject of asbestos. "I knew he would be under pressure to retract what he said, but that's an out-and-out lie," said Ruff. It should be noted that the Rideau Institute and the Canadian Cancer Society have both advocated tirelessly on behalf of a complete ban on Canada's export of asbestos.
Asbestos was once an extremely popular material that had been embraced by countless industries worldwide. The material can be mined in abundance from below ground deposits or extracted from exposed rock formations that can be located in nations around the globe. Asbestos is relatively inexpensive, nearly fireproof, has a high tensile strength, resists damage from harsh chemical corrosives, and has superior insulating qualities. For all these reasons and more, asbestos found its way into a wide variety of products from building materials to hair curlers to home appliances to talcum powder.
In the early 1970s, health researchers confirmed the fact that asbestos posed a dire threat to the health of those individuals who inhaled microscopic, airborne asbestos fibers. These oftentimes needle-like fibers become permanently lodged in soft lung tissues where they can, up to 50 years later, cause serious respiratory disease such as asbestosis and the far more dreaded cancer killer known as malignant pleural mesothelioma. Because asbestos poses such a significant threat to human health, Canada's continued export of the toxic substance is deemed by many to be "inexcusable."
Canadian occupational health agency studies have concluded that exposures to asbestos accounted for approximately 60 percent of all work related deaths in the country in 2005. In spite of these dramatic numbers, Canada remains one of the world's largest producers of asbestos, all of it coming from a single asbestos mine in Quebec. Approximately 90 percent of the asbestos that comes from the Quebec mine is exported to developing nations where it's typically used in a variety of cement-based products.
To further defend Ignatieff's retraction of his earlier endorsement of a ban on asbestos exports, a spokesman for the politician said, "We've long known about the risks of asbestos, and we have a duty to warn countries that we export to about these risks and work to end any practices that put health at risk, at home or abroad." Ignatieff's critics dismissed the spokesperson's comments and vow to continue to fight Canada's asbestos export policies.
Mesothelioma deaths still increasing according to CDC
The Centers for Disease Control reports that deaths from mesothelioma are rising in the United States.
This week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report covered mesothelioma fatalities over the past several years.
The CDC counted 18000 mesothelioma deaths in the US over the seven-year period from 1999 to 2005, with 2704 deaths in 2005. The number of malignant mesothelioma fatalities is rising year to year in rough proportion to the population: the annual death rate has been steady at about 14 per million.
The agency expects the number of mesothelioma deaths to peak next year, and to begin to decline, as the improvements in safety and reduction in asbestos use instituted decades ago payoff. The latency period of mesothelioma can be decades long, so even though asbestos is used less widely today, people continue to get mesothelioma due to their exposure in the past.
The writers of the report admit a limitation in their analysis is the lack of asbestos exposure history on death certificates and a general dearth of information on work history.
Consistent with their public health mission, the CDC states "maintenance, renovation, or demolition activities that might disturb asbestos should be performed with precautions." The Mesothelioma Web has been relaying this advice for years.
Previous analysis by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found high rates of mesothelioma among people who worked in ship building, chemicals, refining, and construction.
The full text of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report is on-line at:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5815a3.htm?s_cid=mm5815a3_x
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
