Connecticut residents honored for public health asbestos initiative

The US Environmental Protection Agency has honored three Hamden, Connecticut residents for their efforts in a Department of Public Health Asbestos initiative that helps protect children from asbestos exposure. Ron Skomro is the supervisor of the state Department of Public Health’s Asbestos Program. Along with Brian Tool and Kristen Day, also of the state Department of Public health, Skomro succeeded in changing the way art clay is labeled and sold after discovering that some clays labeled as non-toxic were contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos exposure is linked to the development of serious diseases such as asbestosis, and lethal cancers such as mesothelioma, as well as lung cancer. Ron Skomro, Brian Tool, and Kristen Day started their efforts after discovering that elevated levels of asbestos had been found in clay used in a school art room. Talc is added to clay to lower the temperature at which it needs to be heated during the manufacturing process. Some forms of talc are naturally contaminated with small amounts of asbestos, and with asbestos finding its way into school art room clay, students were being exposed to asbestos on a regular basis. Asbestos is a danger only when it’s airborne and can be inhaled: with asbestos embedded in very small amounts in the clay, exposure wasn’t likely, but with even a tiny possibility present, the state Department of Public Health had to act to protect local children. After some initial investigation, Ron Skomro, Brian Tool, and Kristen Day found that clay made using asbestos-contaminated talc was being sold to many schools and institutions in Connecticut. As a result, the state DPH told schools they would have to inventory their clay stocks and begin working with clay suppliers to eliminate the sale of the asbestos-contaminated clay. One major supplier of the clay agreed voluntarily to cease shipping talc-containing clay, and also volunteered to exchange clay they had previously sold so that schools could obtain fresh supplies of non-toxic clay without losing money. The DPH also asked that the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission review the issue. As a result, the Art and Creative Materials Institute, which works with the CPSC, told its members that they could no longer label clay as “non-toxic” if it contained talc. For their efforts in stopping the sale of the asbestos-contaminated clay, Ron Skomro, Brian Tool, and Kristen Day were awarded a 2008 Environmental Merit Award by the Environmental Protection Agency at a ceremony in Boston, Massachusetts. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

W.r. grace bankruptcy judge says ok to $250m libby settlement

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Judith K. Fitzgerald this week approved an agreement which will finally see W.R. Grace & Company pay up for the costs of cleaning up the asbestos-contaminated town of Libby, Montana. The agreement states that W.R. Grace & Company will reimburse the federal government $250 million for money it has already spent investigating and cleaning up in the town. According to an order signed during a recent bankruptcy hearing the company has thirty days in which to pay the money. W.R. Grace & Company agreed to pay the $250 million in March, to settle a bankruptcy claim brought by the government for the cost of past, present, and future clean up of contaminated homes, businesses, and schools in Libby. The wide-spread asbestos contamination in Libby has long been known as the cause of the deaths of hundreds of people. More than two thousand residents and workers have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma in the past decades. The source of the contamination is a vermiculite mine which was once owned and operated by W.R. Grace & Company between 1963 and 1990. The mine is contaminated with asbestos, leading to exposure and disease not only for mine workers, but for residents of Libby as well. Millions of tons of the contaminated vermiculite were shipped to hundreds of processing plants across America. The asbestos-containing vermiculite was used in household insulation (under the brand name Zonolite), fireproofing materials, gardening materials, and many other products. The $250 million settlement for the cost of cleaning up Libby is the largest ever reimbursement settlement for the government’s Superfund Program, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Even so, Justice Department attorney James D. Freeman claims the government made a “substantial compromise” in accepting the settlement W.R. Grace & Company offered. However, prompt payment of the money will allow the government to continue cleaning up the town without any delays due to budget constraints. A recent estimate from an EPA official indicated that to date $168 million has been spent cleaning up Libby, and an estimated $175 million will be needed to complete the work over the next three to five years. That means a shortfall of almost $100 million, which the government will likely cover. The government filed suit to retrieve the costs of cleanup in 2001, shortly after W.R. Grace & Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The EPA won a judgment for $54 million in 2003, but that money was never paid. The $250 million settlement includes the original $54 million. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Asbestos found in illinois firehouse

Homewood, Illinois â€" Asbestos was discovered at the Homewood Fire Station at 17950 Dixie Highway in Homewood, Illinois, and testing is now underway to determine how much airborne asbestos is present in the building. Village manager Mark Franz says that a small amount of asbestos may have been disturbed during some renovation work which was carried out on a water-damaged wall on the north side of the fire station. The work was carried out two weeks ago by a Homewood-based business, Rickoff Remodeling. “It was just a small amount [of asbestos] discovered,” said Franz. “Unless a major problem is discovered through testing, we don’t anticipate closing down any other part of the building. But if there is more asbestos found than expected we’ll do whatever cleaning is necessary to make the building safe.” When the asbestos was discovered, it was immediately removed by environmental consulting and contract service RCM. Following the removal air samples and other tests were carried out by RCM to determine how high asbestos levels are and whether exposure risks are present in the building. According to Mark Franz, early asbestos tests indicate that one room on the north side of the fire station building may be above the threshold for permissible levels of asbestos. Since the discovery and removal of asbestos the fire station has been inspected by the Illinois Department of Public Health, and officials have requested that a large part of the building be cordoned off until the results of the asbestos tests are in. In addition, says Mark Franz, “the [health department] recommended a more aggressive test be done and we’re taking their advice.” Franz says the preliminary test results will be in some time this week. Asbestos was so commonly used in construction up until the 1980s that the discovery of asbestos inside the Homewood fire station is not a big surprise. In fact, some recent reports indicate that asbestos may be a common fixture inside fire stations built before this time. In Newton, Massachusetts, for example, the town’s fire stations will all be renovated over the next ten years, partly for the purpose of removing asbestos from the buildings. Recent renovation work in Newton’s Fire Station 3 exposed several firefighters to asbestos, and asbestos was also discovered at the town’s Fire Station 2. In the case of the Homewood, Illinois station, the asbestos was discovered without any apparent exposure risks occurring, and if only low levels of airborne asbestos are found the station may be quickly found safe for normal occupation. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

World safety and health summit scheduled

The eighteenth World Congress on Safety and Health at Work is scheduled for June 29 to July 02, 2008, and will be attended by four thousand industry leaders, policy-makers, and experts from more than one hundred different countries. The congress will be health in Seoul, in the Republic of Korea. The World Congress on Safety and Health at Work is jointly organized by the International Labor Organization and the International Social Security Association. The congress meets every three years, and is the largest international event of its kind. The purpose of the meetings is to discuss health and safety in the workplace, and international efforts for improvement, with this year’s theme being “Safety and health at work: A societal responsibility.” This year, the congress will also unveil the results of some pioneering research which was carried out on the relationship between occupational safety and health and environmentally-sustainable economic growth and development. In addition, the Congress will include a Safety and Health Summit which will be attended by fifty decision-makers from countries all over the world. Government ministers, CEOs of multi-national companies, senior safety, health, and social security experts, and employer and worker representatives will be among those attending. Dr. Sameera Al-Tuwaijri, Director, ILO International Program on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment said of the conference, “As the global toll of illness, injury and death from occupational accidents and disease continues to remain at unacceptable levels, this Congress will underline what needs to be done to ensure that a healthy working environment can be achieved. Not only is safety at work desirable, it must be recognized as a fundamental human right in the world of work.” The ILO estimates that more than two million people die every year as a result of work-related accident, injury, or disease. The estimated cost to the global economy is up to 4% of global GDP. This year, the congress will provide recently revised estimates of the incidence rate and global impact of work-related accident, injury, and death, in addition to examining ways to improve work-place safety. Participants will focus on several key issues, including the elimination of asbestos-related risk in the workplace, the possible risks of nanotechnology, improvement of workplace environments, HIV/AIDS in the workplace, and many others. In addition to meetings and discussions the congress hosts an International Film and Multimedia Festival which includes short films about occupational safety. An International Safety and Health Exhibition will showcase products and technology for improving workplace safety. Participants will also visit companies such as Samsung Electronics, SK Incheon Oil Refining Company, and KIA Motors to look at safety and health management in these companies. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

U.k. mesothelioma ruling may deny compensation to thousands

A controversial ruling by the United Kingdom’s House of Lords may end up denying thousands of people compensation for asbestos-related diseases if it is not overturned. Since the ruling was made last year, the U.K. government has been discussing options to handle the situation, and has plans to publish a consultation paper on the issue later this month. The House of Lords ruling concerns people suffering from an asbestos-related condition called pleural plaques. The plaques develop in response to asbestos exposure, and are sometimes a precursor to mesothelioma; however the pleural plaques are themselves a benign condition. In its controversial decision the House of Lords ruled that people who suffered from pleural plaques caused by asbestos exposure no longer had the right to claim compensation. People with the condition had been able to claim compensation for twenty years prior to the new ruling. U.K. Minister of Justice Bridget Prentice this week said that the consultation will begin by the middle of June, and will cover the ruling, its legal background, medical evidence relevant to the case, and the possible advantages and disadvantages of suggestions to alleviate issues caused by the House of Lords ruling made last year. One proposal is simply that the decision be reversed. However, there are some issues relating to fairness to people claiming for other reasons, due to the details of the House of Lords ruling. Simply overturning the decision would mean people who had received a contaminated blood transfusion and had a higher risk of developing AIDS or hepatitis would be unable to sue. Another option under discussion is setting up a trust fund from which people with pleural plaques or another serious asbestos-related disease could claim compensation. The announcement of the proposal discussions comes on the hells of the launch of a test-case which could prove to be equally important for British asbestos compensation laws. The case involved employers’ liability insurance, and will decide whether such insurance takes effect from when a worker is exposed to asbestos or from when the worker develops an asbestos-related disease. The test case involves Charles O’Farrell, who died in 2003 after being exposed to asbestos while working for steel company Humphreys & Glasgow Limited. The company’s insurer is refusing to pay compensation for O’Farrell’s death, because the company has ceased trading and is in liquidation. This is an important test case because if the courts find in favor of the insurance company it might leave thousands of people unable to claim compensation, if they develop an asbestos-related disease at a time when the company responsible for their asbestos exposure is no longer in existence. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

California man convicted of clean air act violation

Tracy, California â€" A California man has been convicted by a federal jury of violating the Federal Clean Air Act by illegally demolishing a building that contained large amounts of asbestos. The man is Wassim Mohammad Azizi, 37, who resides in Tracy. The conviction relates to a vacant two storey wooden building Azizi owns in Hayward at 27794 Mission Blvd. Investigation of the case was triggered by the Environmental Protection Agency. After hearing that illegal asbestos handling had been carried out on the Hayward site, an inspection revealed a number of Clean Air Act violations. During the five day trial, the jury heard that Azizi had neglected to notify both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District that demolition of the Hayward building in 2002 and 2003 would result in a potential asbestos hazard. Azizi renovates and sells commercial properties. During the course of his work he hired an unlicensed worker to demolish the Mission Blvd. building. At that time Azizi was aware that the building contained hazardous materials, said prosecutors. Azizi was convicted of three felony charges for Clean Air Act violations. The Tracy resident was convicted of illegally demolishing a building that contained asbestos, of neglecting to remove the hazardous material prior to definition, thus failing to comply with the Clean Air Act, and of violating work safety practices. In addition, the jury found that Azizi failed to use proper asbestos handling and removal techniques to keep the building safe for employees and the public. Most state laws require that a building that contains asbestos cannot be demolished until the asbestos is removed. In addition, the laws require that the asbestos be removed according to special techniques such as wet-removal, which reduce the possibility of creating and dispersing large amounts of airborne asbestos fibers. Failure to comply with these laws constitutes violation of the federal Clean Air Act and also puts public health and safety at risk. In a prepared statement, EPA Special Agent Nick Torres said, “The defendant not only risked exposing the public and any workers at the site to asbestos, a known carcinogen, but also tried to cover up his crime by lying to the local enforcement agency.” Azizi was convicted of three felony counts of Clean Air Act violation. He faces a maximum federal prison sentence of fifteen years, and may also face fines of up to $750,000 plus restitution. Azizi will be sentenced on August 27 by U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)

Scientists create computer model to show how nanoparticles harm cells

Nanoparticles are being massed produced for an enormous variety of applications and products, from performance-enhancing units for solar cells, to frames for tennis racquet’s and bicycles, to transparent sunscreen which turns opaque in the presence of ultraviolet light. However, mounting evidence suggests that nanoparticles of many different shapes and sizes are toxic, to the extent that some types are being dubbed “the new asbestos.” Scientists have been warning that nanoparticles might be dangerous for the last five years, or longer, saying that the tiny particles have a strong affinity for animal DNA. Some types of nanoparticles can attach to animal DNA in a way that prevents immune responses to the particles, and also prevents cells from self-repairing. Cellular self-repair is an important mechanism which helps prevent cancer. Experimental evidence confirms that long, thin, carbon-based nanotubes can cause lesions to develop in mice, giving rise to fears that nanotubes can cause mesothelioma. Other experiments show that a type of nanoparticle called a “buckyball” can clog the gills of fish and damage their brains, and that some nanoparticles, when present in groundwater, can stunt plant root growth. While mounting evidence indicates that nanoparticles may pose a threat to human, plant, and animal health, scientists have not, until now, understood why. A group of research scientists now claim that they have created a computer model which mimics how a type of nanoparticle called the “buckyball” invades cells and causes damage. Buckyballs are nanoparticles which are officially named Buckminsterfullerenes, a name given to them due to their likeness to a geodesic dome invented by American architect and inventor R. Buckminster Fuller. The leader of the research group, Professor Peter Tieleman, says, “Buckyballs are extremely insoluble, in any solvent, so they tend to stick together into clumps of a few hundred, which is too large to move through a cell membrane without damaging it.” Tieleman performed the work with Luca Monticelli, a post-doctoral fellow. Both work at the University of Calgary. The size of the buckyballs led scientists to conclude that they damage brain cells in fish by ripping holes in cell walls and literally forcing their way through. Due to the immense difficulty of working with the tiny buckyballs, the Calgary researchers created a computer program simulation that mimicked the way in which buckyballs move through cell walls. To create a simulation that was accurate and detailed required an incredible 1,000 processors on the West Grid, Canada’s fastest grid-supercomputer, working over several months. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)