Possible Asbestos Health Risk to US Capitol Workers

Workers in tunnels that connect the power plant to the House and Senate office buildings believe they are being exposed to cancer causing asbestos. They claim the tunnels are so dangerous that not even the Capitol Police go in to patrol them. The workers have stated that these hot tunnels have walls covered in thick asbestos dust. The newsletter, The Hill, claims to have a copy of a letter from ten employees that maintain the tunnels to law makers on capitol hill. "The one thing we can tell you is we have breathed in an awful lot because it is everywhere and you can see it and physically pick it up," the employees stated in the letter.

Full story here: http://www.ibnlive.com/article.php?id=7493§ion_id=17

France forced to order asbestos ship back home

France was forced to recall their former air craft carrier that was waiting in the Arabian Sea to be accepted by India. The asbestos-laden ship was already refused by Indian courts until they determined what health risk the asbestos would pose to dock workers. The boat was also ordered to stay out of Indian waters by the French high court pending legal action by environmentalists. This is the second failed attempt the French have made to dispose of the asbestos contaminated ship. Back in 2003 the French had to recall the ship after a Spanish company breached a contract to dismantle the vessel.

Full Story Here:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/
0,5744,18174305%255E2703,00.html

Senate blocks final vote on asbestos trust fund bill

The bill would establish a $140 billion trust fund for victims of asbestos related illnesses that can prove the health problems were due to asbestos exposure. Opponents of the bill blocked a final vote by getting only 59 (of a required 60) senators to vote to move the legislation to a final vote. Using a procedural move that will allow him to re-introduce the asbestos bill, senate majority leader Bill Frist change his vote at the last minute making the final count to 58 voting in favor of the legislation. Opponents of the asbestos bill fear that tax payers will end up footing the bill because the trust will be underfunded and unable to pay all the future claims. The United States Supreme Court has twice struck down general asbestos settlements and put the responsibility on Congress to resolve the issue.

Full Story Here: http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3510958

Some Republican Senators Want To Rewrite Asbestos Bill

Texas Republican John Cornyn proposed a complete overhaul to the proposed "Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act" which could be voted on in the next few weeks. That bill would end asbestos related lawsuits and create a $140 billion, industry financed fund from which all claims would be paid. Senator Cornyn, along with 14 other republican senators, instead proposes to instead only allow future lawsuits that can meet strict medical criteria. Many states have already passed similar laws that require those bringing asbestos litigation to prove they have some physical impairment that was primarily caused by exposure to asbestos. He is concerned this trust fund would end up running out of money leaving US tax payers to pick up the tab. "I believe the likelihood is that the trust fund will sooner rather than later, prove unsustainable," Cornyn said.

Full Story Here:
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&
storyID=2006-02-09T193120Z_01_N09394242_RTRUKOC_0_US-
CONGRESS-ASBESTOS.xml&archived=False

British workers unable to file lawsuits for asbestos exposure

A landmark case in Britain's Court of Appeal has left thousands of British workers that have been exposed to asbestos with no right to bring asbestos litigation against their employers. This ruling only applies to those afflicted with pleural plaques, which is a thickening of the lining of the lungs but not an actual cancer. Those suffering from mesothelioma cancer due to asbestos exposure at the workplace would still be able to file lawsuits against their employers. According to the court, it was "plainly desirable that claimants should not be permitted to pursue claims for trivial injuries" like pleural plaques, despite the fact that were clearly caused from asbestos exposure at the workplace. This case is believed to stop over 100,000 lawsuits from being brought to the courts. The verdict however is being appealed to The House of Lords.

Full Story:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3553659a6026,00.html

Federal court approves $11 million Oregon asbestos settlement

The $11 million settlement closes an asbestos lawsuit brought against developers of an Oregon subdivision by the homeowners who purchased residences there. The subdivision was built on a former Marine barracks and the soil was contaminated with asbestos when the barracks were demolished. Families will receive approximately 85% of the cost of leaving the subdivision located north of Klamath falls. The settlement money, which includes litigation costs, will be paid by the developer, MBK Partnership and its insurance companies.

Full Story Here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/
news/1137812130279900.xml&coll=7

US Senate to take up asbestos debate soon.

According to the Stanford Washington Research Group, a bill on establishing an asbestos liability fund could be coming to the floor of the US Senate as soon as Febuary 6th for debate. This bill would create a 140 billion dollar fund for compensating those injured due to asbestos exposure. It would by funded by asbestos litigation defendants and their insurance companies. Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has told Minority Leader Harry Reid that he has enough votes to bring the bill to the floor. Rampant asbestos related lawsuits, some by those that were not actually made ill by asbestos, but only exposed to it, has caused many companies in the United States to file for bankruptcy.

Full Story Here:
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&story
ID=2006-01-18T132611Z_01_N18311247_RTRUKOC_0_US-ASBESTOS.xml&
archived=False

Asbestos Found In New York State Office Building

Asbestos dust was found in and around boxes in the Records Center in Building 21 of the Harriman State Office Campus in Albany New York. Officials believe the asbestos dust came off of fire proofing on several of the building's interior columns. Although asbestos was found, an initial round of testing shows safe air quality in the building. All employees were temporarily moved to a nearby building while further more extensive testing is performed.

Full story here: http://www.wnyt.com/x6607.xml?ag=x995&sb=x183

Disabled British woman told to remove asbestos herself

Yes you heard me right, a disabled woman in England was provided a letter with detailed steps for asbestos removal. Georgina Bennett had just came home from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she was treated for a severe lung infection and digestive problems after asbestos was discovered in her council property kitchen. When she arrived, she found a letter with detailed instructions on how to remove the asbestos from her kitchen. Luckily for her she had the good sense to disregard the instructions and double check that the asbestos was going to be removed by professionals!

Full Story Here: http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/
tm_objectid=16564072&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=disabled-
woman-told-to-remove-asbestos-name_page.html

UK Man Dies From Asbestos Exposure As A Child

Britain's youngest victim of Asbestosis, Barry Welch, is believed to have contracted the disease from sitting on his stepfather's knee as a child. He would often play games with his stepfather Roger Bugby when he returned home from working as a scaffolder at Kings-north power station in Kent. His overalls were covered with asbestos from pipes at his work. According to his mother, "Barry would sit on his stepfather's knee when he came home from work listening to nursery rhymes and playing games." This is believed to be the first case of a child developing an asbestos related illness from a parent. Mr. Welch's family plans to file a lawsuit against Thysen Scaffolding, Mr Bugby's former employer.

Full Story Here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=
/news/2005/12/15/nasbes15.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/12/15/ixhome.html

Another University With An Asbestos Removal Problem

The University of Montana is the latest University to spend alot of money to remove asbestos from one of its buildings. The university will spend about $500,000 to remove asbestos from the Science complex and to install a new HVAC system. The fourth floor of the building will be evacuated during the removal of asbestos that coats the interior of the steel and concrete walls. The University has been monitoring air quality in the building for years testing for asbestos, but the tests have not shown any health risks. Asbestos tests will continue during the abatement process to ensure the floors of the building that remain open are safe.

Full story here: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/01/04/news/top/news01.txt

Is India Becoming an Asbestos Dump for France?

A decommissioned French aircraft carrier, the Clemanceau, that is contaminated with tons of asbestos is on its way to India. There it will be dismantled for scrap metal by the company that purchased it from the French government. According to their own estimates, despite the 115 tonnes of asbestos that was removed from the ship, there could be 105 tonnes remaining. According to the rules of the European Union, it is France's responsibility to keep the asbestos on its own lands. This has caused an uproar among European environmentalists. Although the company that purchased the ship claims to be able to dispose of the asbestos, environmentalists do not agree. The government of India says it will not accept the vessel if it contains more than 25 tonnes of asbestos.

Full Story Here: http://www.ndtv.com/topstories/showtopstory.asp?
category=National&slug=Row+over+Clemanceau's+toxic+waste&id=18488

Japanese Car Parts Contain Asbestos

Believe it or not, 1.64 million automobiles with asbestos containing parts were manufactured by Japanese car companies (except Honda) from 1996 to November 2005! Suzuki was the biggest offender, manufacturing 1.01 million cars with asbestos filled parts. Apparently there is no risk of the cancer causing material entering the air since the asbestos was sealed inside gaskets, packing and resin materials. None of the companies plan to recall the parts.

The government of Japan is working on a compensation package for victims of asbestos related illness such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. 100,000 yen would be paid to patients monthly, in addition to medical expenses and families of those that died from asbestos related diseases would receive 3 million yen. Companies that used asbestos will have to contribute into the fund that will be used to compensate victims. If the law is passed, the government will start paying out money within six months.

Full Story Here:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20051228a6.htm

New test for mesothelioma early detection

Found this interesting story about a new test for mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer. Usually mesothelioma is spotted once it is too late and those diagnosed live only 8 to 18 months after diagnosis. Without this test, only 5 percent of asbestos related mesothelioma is found early, and even finding it early only helps extend life after diagnosis to 34 months. The new test looks for a protein, osteopontin, that may help doctors identify patients at high risk for
mesothelioma. It remains to be seen if the test will become common practice until it is determined that finding the tumor early actually results in higher survival rates.

Check out the full story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9676044/

Its not just ship builders and industrial workers!

Employees of any kind are not safe from asbestos apparently. As part of a settlement of a lawsuit brought against West Virginia University by employees, they will now have to pay for up to 20 years of asbestos related medical testing for current and former employees. The tests include chest X-rays and lung function exams. This all came about from the asbestos in the ceiling of the University coliseum, which was closed during the 1999-2000 school year. The school was fined $10,500 for screwing up the asbestos clean up job.

Read the full story here:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/3542823.html