Thanks to a resolution passed by the US Senate, the first week of April 2011 has been designated as National Asbestos Awareness Week. Senate Resolution 63 is intended to raise awareness about the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases among the population of people who have been exposed to the fiber, and […]
Author: Mike Riley
New York City Increases Oversight of Asbestos Inspectors
In response to a safety inspector’s admission to falsifying hundreds of reports regarding the presence of asbestos in New York City buildings, the Department of Environmental Protection has recently undertaken measures to improve the scrutiny of local inspectors who assess asbestos in the city’s buildings. Read more in the New […]
Garlock Files Bankruptcy
For decades, Garlock manufactured a range of asbestos containing products, including gaskets and compression packing. Over the years, many people have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers and diseases as a result of exposure to Garlock asbestos gaskets. Garlock has therefore been named in lawsuits by a […]
Bondex Files Bankruptcy
Bondex International manufactured a range of asbestos containing products for many years. The products included joint compounds and various other home improvement products. As years have passed, many people have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers and diseases as a result of exposure to Bondex asbestos products. […]
Health Experts Predict Asbestos Disease Epidemic in India
According to a recent article in The Lancet, India will likely be facing an epidemic of asbestos-related diseases in future years. While most developed countries have banned the use of asbestos in the construction industry, India’s usage of asbestos has actually increased dramatically in the last decade. The leading health […]
The Latency Period of Asbestos Diseases
One of the confounding characteristics of asbestos disease is the latency period. A latency period of a disease is the time between the exposure to the disease-causing substance and the actual manifestation of the disease. In asbestos-related diseases, the latency period is exceptionally long, typically measured in decades. The typical […]
New Surgeon General Statement on Asbestos Risks
The Surgeon General, Steven Galson, has issued a statement for National Asbestos Awareness Week, urging citizens to be aware of the health risks from asbestos and to protect themselves from asbestos exposure. While certain asbestos product manufacturers, mining companies and distributors have tried to argue that there are safe levels […]
The Synergistic Effect of Asbestos Exposure and Cigarette Smoking
Research has proven that exposure to asbestos is a cause of lung cancer in humans. Cigarette smoking is another known cause of lung cancer. However, the combination of asbestos exposure and smoking is far more likely to cause lung cancer than either factor by itself. This is known as the […]
Owens Corning Bankruptcy Trust Reduces Payment Percentage
In 1953, Owens Corning began distributing asbestos-containing insulation (under the Kaylo brand name). This later resulted in numerous lawsuits filed by individuals who developed asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos from Owens Corning insulation. In October 2000, Owens Corning filed for […]
Asbestos Testing for Homeowners
Homeowners often ask us about testing for asbestos-containing products in their homes. This is a legitimate concern, because even relatively low amounts of exposure to asbestos can increase one’s risk of developing diseases such as mesothelioma. Visit the Info Barrel article suggesting tips for homeowners concerned about asbestos in the […]