February 17, 2022
Each year, Men’s Health Week is celebrated during the week leading up to, and including, Father’s Day — meaning it starts today, June 12, and continues until June 18. Given that the purpose of this week is to increase awareness of health issues and encourage the detection/treatment of diseases among men, it is the perfect [...]
February 17, 2022
Today we conclude our three-part series of posts about state laws and regulations that protect human and environmental health from asbestos. In Parts I and II, we discussed the interplay between federal and state laws and regulations that impact asbestos release and exposure. More about Federal Delegation to States In Part II, we talked about [...]
February 17, 2022
As we wrap up National Groundwater Awareness Week, we look at a potentially cancer-causing chemical that can seep into groundwater and water supplies from old leaking gasoline storage tanks — underground and surface level — or from pipeline breaches: methyl tertiary butyl ether, known as MTBE. This now-banned gasoline additive has been shown to cause [...]
February 15, 2022
Retired shipyard workers are some of those most at risk for developing mesothelioma, due to their past asbestos exposure while on the job. In fact, during the 1990s in America, shipbuilding and repair was the #2 industry specified on death certificates of adult asbestosis victims. How were shipyard workers exposed to asbestos? According to Military.com, [...]
February 7, 2022
In the not-too-distant past, asbestos seemed like a miraculous and harmless substance. It was relatively inexpensive and could be used in everything from tires to insulation. It is no surprise that asbestos found its way into schools, too. As the people who handled asbestos got older, it became clear how dangerous it could be to handle and be around asbestos. Now, asbestos has limited uses but remains in older buildings, including schools. Here’s what you should know about the asbestos that could be in your child’s school. There are Rules Removing asbestos can be an intense project, especially for large […]
January 25, 2022
For centuries, numerous industries have relied on the naturally heat-resistant and fire-resistant properties of asbestos. As the carcinogenic properties associated with ingestion or inhalation of the asbestos fibers became well-known, consumers and manufacturers alike moved to abandon use of the material. Many organizations chose to create dumping sites for asbestos disposal. Unfortunately, as dumping sites were merely plowed over with fresh soil, the possibility of exposure continued. Officials had hoped the positive-negative chemical interaction between the asbestos fibers and the surrounding soil would trap the materials, preventing any additional exposure. Unfortunately, dissolved organic matter (DOM) can potentially upset that balance […]
January 18, 2022
Asbestos exposure and the deadly lung cancer mesothelioma continue to be a world-wide danger. It seems like every few days, a news reports adds a new occupation to the exposure at-risk list. Due to recent events at a New Zealand Department of Corrections facility, a significant number of prison officers risked asbestos exposure and severe [...]
January 13, 2022
The battle to protect US citizens from asbestos has been lengthy, with 40,000 Americans losing their lives annually due to exposure. Numerous settlements have been reached but with little impact in providing the real protection necessary. Concurrently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been anything but comprehensive in its work to identify the actual dangers of all forms of asbestos. For years, they attempted to impose regulations governed by the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) with little success. Meanwhile, people died from exposure to seemingly harmless insulation, plaster, and floor tiles in homes, schools, and places of employment. Still, […]
December 20, 2021
The news startled you and everyone else where you worked. Evidence exists of asbestos exposure in the workplace. Inhaling its particles which may lead to serious health complications. Now that you suspect asbestos exposure, what do you do? Contact your doctor and explore legal options If you were recently exposed to asbestos, please understand that the signs of illness such as mesothelioma do not surface for decades. However, it would be a much different story if you have been regularly exposed to asbestos in the workplace for decades and only learned about it now. Here is what you need to do: Immediately […]
