السبت، 30 يونيو 2018
الجمعة، 29 يونيو 2018
الخميس، 28 يونيو 2018
A Hands-Off EPA Amidst Higher Asbestos-Death Estimates
We have blogged extensively about the bipartisan Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, often referred to as the Lautenberg Act, that established a new legislative framework for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA to evaluate and regulate the most dangerous toxic chemicals in our midst.
As we recently discussed, while asbestos was chosen to be included in the list of the first 10 chemicals EPA will evaluate, EPA Secretary Pruitt has greatly emasculated the law's potential to comprehensively study the dangers of asbestos. Pruitt has announced that EPA will not consider dangers posed by previous placement of asbestos in buildings and other spaces, including landfills.
The pro-industry secretary will only consider risks that could arise under proposed new asbestos uses, but as is widely known, asbestos is present in many products already used in building construction, in equipment and more. The release of invisible asbestos into the air in demolition, repair, renovation and other commercial and private activities poses deadly threat to workers and others who may breathe it in.
Union of Concerned Scientists
On June 22, Derrick Z. Jackson, a fellow at the Union of Concerned Scientists, published a blog on the UCS website in which he expressed his opinion that Pruitt's narrow view of EPA's responsibility to regulate asbestos "essentially guts the Lautenberg Act."
According to Jackson, EPA documents establish the agency's attempt to "scale back safety evaluations for the top 10 chemicals" on the Lautenberg list. He also shared other disturbing information:
- Seven out of 10 school districts responding had asbestos present in their buildings, according to a 2015 U.S. Senate report.
- Pruitt's policy callously denies the disproportionate harm to children and lower-income people from asbestos in schools, run-down apartments and proximity to toxic-waste disposal sites.
- Companies and manufacturers of products containing asbestos "engaged in decades of cover-ups," keeping information about asbestos risks from employees and workers at other companies using these products.
- A new study estimates that about 255,000 asbestos-related deaths occur annually worldwide, more than double the previous World Health Organization assessment.
- The Asbestos Disease Society of Australia says a new "third wave" of asbestos injury is approaching that threatens everyone (not just people exposed through work) through exposure from "demolition, cable installation, home remodeling, car repairs" and crumbling schools.
from California Mesothelioma Law Blog https://ift.tt/2tLc0KB
الأربعاء، 27 يونيو 2018
الثلاثاء، 26 يونيو 2018
Virginia Beach Firefighters Exposed to Asbestos during Training
The Virginia Beach Professional Firefighters Union is concerned that some firefighters were exposed to asbestos during a training. On April 15th, trainees burnt a house as a part of the training were asbestos was later found. The house dates back to the 1930s and was offered to be burned as a training exercise by its owner who knew one of the fire officials involved.
The Virginia Beach Fire Chief, David Hutcheson stated the station failed to receive paperwork from the homeowner stating that the home contained asbestos before the exercise took place. A small amount of asbestos was found near the fireplace after the training exercise was completed. Besides the lack of proper paperwork, Chief Hutcheson states that there was confusion by an officer about new rules in rural areas for this type of training.
The firefighters union has reported the incident to the FBI, EPA, and state departments of environmental quality, labor, and industry, as well occupational safety and health. The president of the origination and a retired Virginia Beach firefighter, Bill Bailey, stated that the incident "appears to be a clear violation of federal and state environmental laws and cannot be tolerated or ignored." Even though the training has now been reported to the appropriate authorities, Bailey is concerned that the trust of the public and the firefighters has been damaged and "can only be regained by a complete, transparent, and thorough investigation along with appropriate consequences."
Virginia Beach officials don't seem too alarmed since only a small amount was found weeks after the house was burned. They do admit that mistakes were made and they will take steps to prevent this happening again.
Even though only a small amount was found, we know that any amount of asbestos exposure is unsafe. Firefighters and neighborhood residents may have been put at risk from the carelessness of the fire department and city officials.
from California Mesothelioma Law Blog https://ift.tt/2yJXsAL
الاثنين، 25 يونيو 2018
الأحد، 24 يونيو 2018
السبت، 23 يونيو 2018
الجمعة، 22 يونيو 2018
الخميس، 21 يونيو 2018
EPA Proposes Limitation of Asbestos Use
Asbestos was used for decades in textile products, automotive parts, home and commercial buildings, naval ships, and more. If asbestos is disturbed, the fibers become airborne resulting in inhalation or ingestion. There is no "safe" level of exposure to asbestos; even minimal levels can cause the following asbestos-related diseases including, mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a new rule for public comment that would allow the agency to prevent the new use of asbestos. EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt stated that this rule would provide the American people with the transparency and opportunity to comment on how the EPA evaluates asbestos and other substances undergoing risk evaluation, select studies, and use the best available science to ensure that the products on the marketplace are safe. Even though seeking the public's outlook on the use of harmful materials can be helpful, it does not automatically create a resolution for America's asbestos problem.
Although the efforts by the EPA are a step forward in ridding the common usage of asbestos in the U.S., many asbestos-containing products are still being manufactured. Products that are still legal to manufacture, import, process, and distribute commercially in the U.S. include: cement sheeting, pipeline wrap, roofing felt, roof coating, vinyl floor tile, automatic transmission components, disk brake pads, and drum brake lining to name a few. Perhaps the new limits will lead to an overall ban of asbestos in the near future.
from California Mesothelioma Law Blog https://ift.tt/2yrhSye
الأربعاء، 20 يونيو 2018
الثلاثاء، 19 يونيو 2018
Priutt Removes Teeth from EPA Asbestos-Danger Evaluation
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Scott Pruitt said recently that when it evaluates asbestos for its danger to people and the environment, the agency will not assess potential harm from previous placement of the mineral in buildings and structures or in outdoor spaces. Rather, it will only look at potential risk from newly proposed uses.
Pruitt is talking about the agency's duties under 2016 amendments to the federal Toxic Substances Control Act or TSCA, also called the Lautenberg Amendments, to conduct on-going, rolling evaluations of the most dangerous chemicals for the risk of harm they create. After evaluation, the EPA is supposed to determine whether the chemical should be restricted in use or even banned.
EPA placed asbestos on the list of the first 10 chemicals to be reviewed.
Concerns Realized
We have covered the evolution of this law extensively in our blogs, expressing our serious concern that the Trump administration will not live up to the law's serious, thorough evaluation requirements. It is now clear that the administration is not going to take its responsibilities seriously. Ignoring the danger of asbestos already contained in building materials all around us will not allow adequate assessment of asbestos danger.
Consider the risks to firefighters, remodelers, construction workers, ship repairers, demolition workers and others when structures that may contain asbestos like roofs, tiles, adhesives, insulation, linoleum and more are broken or crushed during their job tasks, releasing invisible, deadly asbestos minerals into the air where they can be breathed in. Decades later, the exposure could cause horrible cancers and other diseases.
Removing evaluation of the danger of this immense risk emasculates the Lautenberg review requirements. Officials within Trump's EPA have had close connections with the chemical-industry lobby. Newsweek quotes Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., D-NJ, who worked hard to get the law passed, as saying that "Pruitt will bend over backwards to help industry, but won't lift a finger to protect public health."
According to The New York Times, the agency's approach will also exclude evaluation of danger from unsafe chemical disposal or placement of asbestos in dumps and landfills.
The Times also reports that a coalition of environmental and labor organizations have a lawsuit pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco that asks whether the EPA's exercise of discretion by narrowing the chemical uses evaluated complies with the law.
from California Mesothelioma Law Blog https://ift.tt/2JXIhVD
الاثنين، 18 يونيو 2018
الأحد، 17 يونيو 2018
السبت، 16 يونيو 2018
الجمعة، 15 يونيو 2018
الخميس، 14 يونيو 2018
World Blood Donor Day - June 14
Every June 14th, we celebrate the generous people who donate blood around the world with World Blood Donor Day. The event serves to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gift of blood and to raise awareness of the needs for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety, and availability of the blood and blood products.
Blood transfusions save millions of lives each year. They can be beneficial to patients suffering from deadly illnesses live longer and with better quality life and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. Below shows a few ways that blood donated through Blood Centers of the Pacific is being used today through partnership with local hospitals.
A blood service that gives patients access to safe blood and blood products is key to an effective health system. An adequate supply can only be ensured through regular donations by voluntary, unpaid blood donors. However, in many countries, blood services face the challenge of making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety.
Many of us at Brayton Purcell LLP are proud to be donors through Blood Centers of the Pacific. On July 20th we will be hosting a drive at our Novato location. Click here to sign up to donate and save a life.
from California Mesothelioma Law Blog https://ift.tt/2ycBl5z
الأربعاء، 13 يونيو 2018
الثلاثاء، 12 يونيو 2018
New Study Compares Types of Asbestos Exposure
A new study examines the development of malignant mesothelioma and different types of exposure. It cautions that environmental exposure is as deadly as occupational exposure to the development of malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Groups in the Study
Eight groups of patients in the study were known to be exposed to erionite asbestos through environmental causes. Erionite is can be found in the rocks that are used to build many homes in Turkey, where the study was conducted, and puts many residents and construction workers at risk of developing asbestos-related illness.
The other 13 groups were exposed to asbestos through their work only.
Results of the Study
Researchers found that how those diagnosed with mesothelioma in the study played a role in the development of the disease.
In the groups exposed through environmental factors, mesothelioma was found in a higher percentage of women. Alternatively, those exposed through occupational hazards, a higher percentage were men.
Among the environmentally exposed, the rate of the disease increased as time increased, but incidence appeared to decrease as exposure increased. Those occupationally exposed, the opposite seems true. The rate of malignant mesothelioma went up as exposure increased. This means that environmental exposure has its own risk of malignant mesothelioma different than those exposed occupationally.
Exposure in the US
Often in the United States, environmental exposure can include living near mines where asbestos was naturally occurring or harvested, living in close quarters with someone who may have brought it home on their clothing, hiking where asbestos is naturally occurring, or living in a home with disintegrating asbestos-containing materials.
Occupational exposure is often seen in construction workers, auto mechanics, miners, factory and refinery workers, boilermakers, pipefitters, veterans, and shipyard workers.
from California Mesothelioma Law Blog https://ift.tt/2HJ04y2
الاثنين، 11 يونيو 2018
الأحد، 10 يونيو 2018
السبت، 9 يونيو 2018
الجمعة، 8 يونيو 2018
الخميس، 7 يونيو 2018
European Government Bans Claire's Asbestos-Contaminated Products
After asbestos being found in Claire's products on multiple occasions, the European government is now ordering Claire's to stop selling Asbestos-contaminated makeup products. The Netherlands have confirmed the U.S. PIRG's test results that confirm the inclusion of asbestos in Claire's products. This prompted the Dutch Health and Safety Authority to order Claire's to remove all products that tested positive for asbestos.
After findings were confirmed, the British government ordered the contaminated products to be taken off the shelves as well. Warnings were issued to the entire European Union about the products.
Claire's offered a refund to customers in Europe that bought the asbestos-containing items. However, as of May 3, 2018, Claire's in the U.S. continues to deny allegations, warn U.S. customers, or offer any refunds. Products that were found to contain asbestos and are still on the shelves include "Claire's Compact Powder" and "Claire's Shadow and Highlight Finishing Kit."
The FDA is finally performing an investigation into the discovery of asbestos in these products. However, they have been dragging their feet to make any decisions or publish any of their findings of the investigation. Alternatively, European agencies have already protected their citizens by confirming the danger and performing a solution.
from California Mesothelioma Law Blog https://ift.tt/2Lxjh89
الأربعاء، 6 يونيو 2018
الثلاثاء، 5 يونيو 2018
Swiss-Funded Cancer Research Helps Understanding of Mesothelioma
At our law firm, we represent people with mesothelioma, a fatal cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It can take decades for the disease to develop following exposure to asbestos.
Today we share information about important mesothelioma medical research coming out of Switzerland that sheds light on the biological processes that occur during the development of mesothelioma.
Nature of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare, but devastating cancer that causes malignant tumors to develop in the thin lining that surrounds internal organs. Called the mesothelium, the membrane surrounding the lungs most commonly develops cancer. Mesothelioma can also develop in the mesothelium encircling the abdomen or testes.
By the time mesothelioma is discovered, it is often quite advanced and the remaining survival time short. At this late stage, it is also difficult to effectively treat. For these reasons, cancer researchers hope to understand the biology of mesothelioma better to help diagnose it earlier and treat it more successfully.
Nature of Asbestos Fibers
According to an article from the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation or SBC about the new research, which involves mice, it is not the chemical nature of asbestos that causes cancer, it is its shape. When microscopic long, sharp fibers are inhaled, they pass through the lungs to the mesothelium, where they become lodged.
Stuck in the lining, the pointy fibers damage and inflame the surrounding tissue, triggering the body's immune system to try to heal the injury and grow new tissue. The new Swiss National Science Foundation-funded research has shown that when the body's immune system is focused on trying to repair the damage to the mesothelium, its ability to protect the body in other ways is diminished because of DNA mutations. Cancer cells that would otherwise be "quickly eliminated in a healthy patient, then begin to reproduce" into a tumor.
The article cites Zurich researcher Dr. Emanuela Felley-Bosco as saying that deeper understanding of this change in the DNA could help identify the "genetic signature" of asbestos-caused cancers and improve early diagnoses as well as treatment methodologies.
from California Mesothelioma Law Blog https://ift.tt/2Hnmi8w