Mesothelioma News

Cherry Creek, New York employee Frank Watson claims he was fired after he reported asbestos violations in school demolition

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:31:34 +0000

Frank Watson, an employee of the village of Cherry Creek in Chautauqua County, New York, claims that he was fired because he defied the mayor on the demolition of an asbestos-containing local schoolhouse. The worker refused to sign a permit allowing the demolition and instead he reported to the New York Department of Labor that proper asbestos procedures weren’t being followed. Demolition of the school has been stopped, and the Department of Labor is investigating possible asbestos violations. Cherry Creek mayor Dean Mount admits that Watson’s report to the Department of Labor may have had “something to do with” Watson’s being fired, but he said there were other reasons. The mayor declined to comment on whether the demolition was handled properly, saying only that the town’s attorney is investigating.

For the full story, go to WGRZ.com.

Italian study finds that risk of pleural mesothelioma eventually may decline after exposure ends, but risk of peritoneal mesothelioma continues to rise

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:18:13 +0000

In the March issue of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, a new study of Italian asbestos cement workers has found that risk of some asbestos-related cancers decreases after the exposure ends, while the risk of other cancers continue to rise. The risk of lung cancer among workers exposed to asbestos began to fall twenty to forty years after the exposure ended. The risk of pleural mesothelioma, which attacks the membrane surrounding the lungs, was highest among those with the longest periods of exposure, but risk began to decline fifty years after the last exposure to asbestos. The risk of peritoneal mesothelioma, which involves the membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity, continued to rise over time. Over a 41-year period, researchers found 480 excess deaths among 3,434 asbestos cement workers. .

For more on this story, go to Reuters.

Brownfields projects fund asbestos removal, help revitalize urban areas

Wed, 07 May 2008 23:33:01 +0000

In Meriden, Connecticut, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recently spent $1.5 million to remove asbestos and debris from the former International Silver Co. factory to prepare the factory for demolition. Demolition of the factory could cost another $1.5 to $3 million. The factory is one of the city’s two Brownfields projects, which provide funding to reclaim polluted former industrial sites and allow for future development and revitalization of local economies.

For the full story, go to the Record-Journal.

Clean up of fire-damaged buildings in downtown Corinth, New York complicated by asbestos contamination

Wed, 07 May 2008 14:13:59 +0000

Since the fire that gutted three downtown buildings in Corinth, New York in February, piles of rubble remain behind a wood fence. Property owners are still looking for certified asbestos abatement contractors to clean up the contaminated rubble from the site. The clean up will be overseen by the New York Department of Labor and could be completed in as little as a month. But the necessity of using a landfill licensed to receive asbestos means the debris might have to be hauled as far away as Buffalo or Pennsylvania. No progress can be made on rebuilding until the asbestos clean up is completed. Village officials are trying to find grant funds to help the property owners pay for the asbestos removal.

For the full story, go to PostStar.com.

Cost of building affordable housing project in North Miami skyrockets with asbestos discovery

Tue, 06 May 2008 19:09:55 +0000

The preconstruction costs for Pioneer Gardens, an affordable housing project in North Miami, will be five times more than expected because of asbestos contamination. While clearing the land, contractors broke through underground pipes that contained asbestos and mixed the asbestos debris with soil from the site. The asbestos clean up will cost more than $900,000.

For the full story, go to the South Florida Business Journal.

St. Louis developer charged with asbestos violations while working at the Ford Building

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:06:33 +0000

Mambo Development in St. Louis, Missouri has been charged with violations of the federal Clean Air Act, as well as bank fraud and money laundering. The asbestos charges include both paperwork violations (failing to notify the EPA 10 days before asbestos removal was scheduled) and violations in work practice standards that caused the release of asbestos. The investigation was prompted when the St. Louis Air Pollution Control Division got an anonymous letter reporting that unqualified people were removing asbestos pipe insulation at the Ford Building. An inspection by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources found “asbestos debris swept into piles” and “approximately 60 black bags containing dry asbestos material.” The harshest penalties that the contractor faces are related to the charge of bank fraud, however.

For the full story, go to St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Source of funding for study of mesothelioma among Minnesota’s Iron Range miners remains up in the air

Tue, 06 May 2008 01:20:28 +0000

Although everyone supports a University of Minnesota study of mesothelioma among Iron Range mine workers, lawmakers do not yet agree on how that study should be funded. Some lawmakers from the Iron Range region propose funding the five-year study with almost $5 million from the state workers’ compensation fund. Gov. Tim Pawlenty and some others want a portion of the study funds to come from Iron Range Resources, the state agency that deals with issues facing northeastern Minnesota’s economy. The one point everyone still seems to agree on is that the study is necessary.

Vandalism in Detroit’s abandoned schools creating asbestos dangers

Mon, 05 May 2008 21:25:30 +0000

When some Detroit schools were abandoned last summer without being secured, many parents were immediately concerned about their children’s personal records, which were left behind in the schools. Police working for the school district have arrested approximately 120 thieves caught in the empty schools since last summer. Vandals and thieves have torn through the buildings, tearing walls and ceilings apart and stripping out materials like copper wire and aluminum frame windows. School buildings have also been flooded.

There is concern that, given the age of many of the school buildings and the destruction that has already been done, asbestos has likely been released inside the school buildings and may have escaped through broken windows. And if asbestos contamination is an issue, the personal records, computers, and other items that remain in the schools cannot be retrieved until the asbestos has been cleaned out.

For the full story, go to the Detroit Free Press.

Man pleads guilty to asbestos violations at Collier, Pennsylvania’s Woodville State Hospital

Mon, 05 May 2008 01:16:09 +0000

Charles Victoria of Parkville, Maryland, has pleaded guilty in federal court of violating the Clean Air Act during asbestos removal at the former Woodville State Hospital in Collier, Pennsylvania. Inspectors repeatedly found that asbestos was being improperly contained and disposed of under Mr. Victoria’s supervision. Asbestos that fell into a ravine remained where it fell for many months, resulting in asbestos contamination to a nearby creek. Mr. Victoria’s employer, Independent Enterprises and Industrial-Commercial Consulting International, pleaded guilty in 2006 to a similar charge. The company received three years’ probation and a $300,000 fine. Mr. Victoria could be sentenced to as much as five years in prison, receive a $250,000 fine, or both. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 25th.

For the full story, go to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Suit against Colorado Springs apartment owners alleges negligence connected to asbestos contamination

Sun, 04 May 2008 13:12:55 +0000

The individual who started the fire that killed two in the Castle West apartments in Colorado Springs, Colorado is facing murder charges. The fire left hundreds of people homeless. Asbestos was also released during the fire, which contaminated residents’ belongings. Because of the asbestos contamination, their personal belongings had to be disposed of. Some former residents have sued the apartment owners and managers, claiming that they were negligent in not securing the building and in failing to disclose the presence of asbestos.

For the full story, go to the Colorado Springs Independent.

Sanne Magnan close to confirmation as Minnesota Health Commission

Sun, 04 May 2008 01:11:24 +0000

Sanne Magnan, who Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed as health commissioner last year, appears likely to be confirmed in the state Senate. The Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee has already approved Magnan’s appointment. Magnan was appointed to replace Dianne Mandernach after she resigned over criticism of her decision to delay release of information about the mesothelioma deaths of several Iron Range mine workers.

For the full story, go to the Rosemont Town Pages.

Man in Bucks County, Pennsylvania has been charged with running an illegal dump that contains asbestos, waste oil and lead batteries

Sat, 03 May 2008 13:09:53 +0000

An elderly man in Upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania has been charged with operating an illegal garbage dump. In the dump, which he has operated for decades, authorities found asbestos debris and other hazardous substances. The man’s attorney hopes to arrange a reasonable penalty and cleanup schedule but avoid prison time for his 86-year-old client. Although the owner claims he didn’t know he was breaking the law, solid waste was buried and burned at the dump for years without the necessary permits. The fines could be as much as $1,000 per day.

For the full story, go to the Bucks County Courier Times.

Salem, Mass. power plant running again after explosion that covered main building with asbestos debris

Fri, 02 May 2008 20:05:47 +0000

Salem Harbor Station has gone back online five months after the explosion that killed three workers and sprayed asbestos-containing fly ash over the site. While the power plant was shut down, the employees assisted a team of over a hundred contractors in cleaning debris and asbestos-contaminated fly ash from the main plant building. The cleanup is still not completed and will continue over the next few weeks. The cause of the boiler explosion has still not been determined.

For the full story, go to the Eagle-Tribune.

W.R. Grace agrees to contribute up to $1.8 billion to a bankruptcy trust for current and future mesothelioma victims and other asbestos claimants

Fri, 02 May 2008 13:05:46 +0000

After seven years in bankruptcy proceedings, W.R. Grace & Co. has agreed to settle the asbestos claims against it by contributing up to $1.8 billion to a bankruptcy trust for the benefit of present and future asbestos claimants. Grace will make an initial payment of $250 million. Then, between 2019 and 2034, the company will pay an additional $1.55 billion, guaranteed by 50.1 percent of Grace common stock. If the bankruptcy judge approves the deal, all future asbestos claims against Grace would be resolved through the bankruptcy trust. Grace would have no ongoing liability to its asbestos victims.

In addition, the trust will have the opportunity to buy 10 million shares of Grace stock at $17 a share. With the addition of this equity, the total value of the settlement could be as much as $3 billion.

Grace and six of its former executives remain under criminal charges related to asbestos exposures from its former vermiculite mine near Libby, Montana, where at least 1,200 residents and former mine workers have been injured or killed by asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma. A conviction could mean a $280 million fine for Grace. Individual defendants face as much as 15 years in prison.

Just last month, Grace to pay $250 million to reimburse federal cleanup costs from Grace sites in Libby, Montana and elsewhere. It was the biggest ever reimbursement payment to the U.S. Superfund program.

For the full story, go to Bloomberg.

Bankruptcy judge rules that State of Montana can be sued by Libby asbestos victims

Thu, 01 May 2008 14:50:19 +0000

A bankruptcy judge rejected Montana’s request for an injunction to protect the state from lawsuits by people who claim they were harmed by asbestos released by W.R. Grace’s vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana. The judge said that lawsuits alleging that the State of Montana failed to police the mine or to warn residents and mineworkers of the danger do not present a direct threat to W.R. Grace’s bankruptcy proceedings and therefore an injunction against those lawsuits is not warranted. The bankruptcy proceedings do prevent any asbestos lawsuits against W.R. Grace. Grace has agreed to reimburse the government $250 million for the costs of the clean up, however, and Grace and some of its executives remain under criminal indictment for their actions in Libby. Over 1,200 Libby area residents or former mineworkers have already died or developed serious illnesses as a result of asbestos released from Grace’s vermiculite mine.

For the full story, go to Forbes.

Dr. Robert Gale Martin, respected ophthalmologist, dies of mesothelioma

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:00:33 +0000

Dr. Robert Gale Martin, founder of Carolina Eye Associates in Pinehurst, North Carolina, died last month of mesothelioma at the age of 65. Carolina Eye Associates opened in 1982, the first ophthalmic ambulatory surgery center east of the Mississippi. He was one of the first doctors to perform small-incision cataract surgery and lens replacement and one of the first, if not the very first, to perform corneal relaxing incisions, a precursor to Lasik. Before opening his practice, Dr. Martin was a member of the 5th Special Forces Group during the Vietnam War and remained an army surgeon until 1971. Dr. Martin lived 5 years from the time of his diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, and he continued operating and seeing patients for as long as he could.

For the full story, go to the Fayetteville Observer.

Asbestos contamination plagues old ships, too

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:45:27 +0000

The Olympia, which was Admiral George Dewey’s flagship in the Spanish-American War’s 1898 Battle of Manila Bay, has seen serious deterioration from its prolonged exposure to salty seawater since the ship retired in the early 1920s. Despite the ship’s role in the battle that marked the United States as a rising world power, the Olympia was nearly scrapped years ago because its steel hull was so compromised with rust. The Independence Seaport Museum is working to overhaul and save this historic ship. Right now, marine surveyor Charlie Deroko is using ultrasound technology as well as physical inspection to determine the extent of the damage and develop a plan for the upcoming overhaul.

Already 30 tons of rust mixed with asbestos has been dug out of the ship. For decades, asbestos was used heavily throughout ships and submarines because of the risk of fire. But the use of asbestos has created its own health risks, exposing generations of navy members and other sailors to the risk. And asbestos is a concern in making such historic ships safe for visitors as well.

For the full story, go to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Cuyahoga County, Ohio must spend up to $4 million on asbestos removal to attract a developer to downtown Cleveland’s Ameritrust property

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:42:57 +0000

Cuyahoga County commissioners have already spent $35 million on the Ameritrust property in downtown Cleveland, and now it looks like they will have to spend more tax money, as much as $4 million, on asbestos removal just to attract the attention of developers. The property at East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue includes the old Ameritrust Tower, a rotunda, three office buildings and two parking garages. The county is asking $35 million for the property and does not expect to recoup whatever is spent on the asbestos removal.

For the full story, go to the Plain Dealer.

Charleston, South Carolina contractor pleads guilty to ignoring orders to stop running asbestos-contaminated illegal dumps

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:22:29 +0000

Rodney D. Loftis, Sr. pleaded guilty to ignoring two cease-and-desist orders from the South Carolina Department of Environmental Protection directing him to close down and cap illegal dumps on his property. See related story. The charges against him—violations of the department’s solid waste orders and of the Solid Waste Management Act—are all misdemeanors. Sentencing is scheduled for June 2nd. The prosecutor said that the state recommends two years of probation and a $37,500 fine. Loftis is also required to cap the dumps, monitor them for any releases and allow DEP inspectors access to the property. State officials say that the asbestos products, which were found at both of the dumpsites, were intact and were not believed to present a risk of air or groundwater contamination in “the foreseeable future.” When Loftis demolished buildings for his clients, he apparently dumped the debris, including asbestos-containing debris, on his land, and he claims that he didn’t realize at the time that this was against the law. Loftis already paid a $25,000 fine in 2000 for violating asbestos regulations in his demolition business.

For the full story, go to the Charleston Gazette.

Tonawanda, New York fire station closed because of concerns about asbestos contamination

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:54:50 +0000

The fire station in Tonawanda, New York has been closed for almost two weeks after concerns that a do-it-yourself tiling project in the station’s basement lounge area could have released asbestos. The station is closed until air monitoring shows that it is safe, but the fire chief is hopeful that those tests can be completed and the station reopened very quickly. Some area residents are concerned that the station’s closure puts them at risk in case of a fire, but the fire chief says that there is no reason for concern because the fire department headquarters is so close that response time will still be very rapid.

For the full story, go to the Tonawanda News.

Texas highway will be closed down temporarily to remove asbestos paint from overpass

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:54:33 +0000

The Texas Department of Transportation is closing down US 75 intermittently, two lanes at a time, while a contractor works to remove asbestos-containing paint from the overpass at Plano’s Parker Road. Weather conditions will affect how quickly the work can be completed. Contractors will not be able to work if winds are over 25 miles an hour or rain is expected. Paint on roadways in generally removed by sandblasting, but to avoid asbestos exposure to the public, the contractor will use a chemical application to remove the paint. Also, the work will be performed between 8:00 p.m. and 4:30 a.m., when traffic is lightest. The air will be monitored in and around the work zone.

For the full story, go to Pegasus News.

EPA has finished clean up of former tire refurbishing plant in Buffalo, New York

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:49:48 +0000

After five months of removing tires and asbestos piping from the site of a former tire refurbishing plant on Buffalo’s Walden Avenue, the Environmental Protection Agency has announced that the clean up is done. Clean up costs reached a half million dollars. This summer, officials will come back to remove three underground storage tanks from the property.

For the full story, go to WIVB.Tecom.

Last minute tax concessions pave the way for asbestos clean up and development in O’Fallon, Missouri

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:04:51 +0000

A developer planning a $38.5 million housing and retail complex in O’Fallon, Missouri had a troubling surprise when workers grading the site last year uncovered an illegal dump filled with asbestos piping, industrial-sized barrels, used hypodermic needles, and other refuse. An environmental study of the site estimated that there are 34,000 tons of asbestos dumped at the south end of the site. The clean up is expected to cost about $2.2 million, and city officials have now approved creation of a community improvement district to reimburse the developer for the clean up. The proposed development on Interstate 70 between Highway K and Bryan Road, scheduled to be finished in 2012, would include 240 condominiums and about 15 retail stores. The developer emphasizes its practice of using “green” features in its construction, such as recycled materials and energy-efficient systems and appliances.

For the full story, go to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Santa Cruz, California SPCA building faces asbestos and mold problems after fire

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:10:15 +0000

The Santa Cruz SPCA, which took in 100 pets stranded by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, has to leave its fire-damaged building for at least two months while the building is repaired. A defective printer caused the fire, which resulted in thousands of dollars of damage to the building. The most complicated parts of the repairs are dealing with asbestos and mold concerns. Water from fighting the fire pooled under the building, setting up a prime spot for mold to develop. But crews cannot take care of the standing water until asbestos and lead are removed from the building. The Santa Cruz SPCA and its animals will move back in after the building is reported to be safe.

For the full story, go to Mercury News.

Three Massachusetts companies fined for violation of asbestos and hazardous waste management regulations

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:18:12 +0000

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection fined three businesses in Waltham for pollution of the Charles River, as well as possible soil and groundwater contamination. The companies were found to have violated environmental regulations governing handling of asbestos-containing materials as well as regulations governing solid waste management, air quality, hazardous waste management and storm water management. In total the three companies, which share a Calvary Street address, were fined $72,500 and ordered to control run-off from the property by June 30th. The violations were originally discovered in a January 2007 inspection after witnesses reported an oil sheen on the Charles River emanating from the property.

For the full story, go to the Boston Globe.

South Africa bans asbestos

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:50:19 +0000

South Africa officially joins the more than 40 countries worldwide that have banned asbestos. See related story. Environmental Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk announced a complete ban on the use, processing or manufacture of asbestos-containing products. The new law will not require that asbestos-containing products already in place be removed immediately, however. Over time as they become a risk for asbestos release or reach the end of their usable life, existing asbestos-containing products will be replaced with asbestos-free alternatives. The South African Labour Department’s Asbestos Regulations 2001 will control asbestos exposure to these already installed products. These regulations require that employers report the location of asbestos-containing materials, conduct regular risk assessments, and educate and protect their workers from asbestos exposure. All stock of asbestos-containing materials is to be disposed of within 120 days. Only when it is proven that no suitable alternative exists may an extension be granted to phase out use of the asbestos product.

For the full story, go to South Africa’s Herald.

Asbestos exposure and other hazards create extreme occupational risks for sanitation workers

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:20:48 +0000

The National Commission of Inquiry into the Worker Health and Safety Crisis in the Solid Waste Industry and the Teamsters Union have released a joint report entitled “In Harm’s Way,” that claims sanitation workers have 10 times the risk of workplace fatalities and face health and safety risks every day. Some of the dangers are immediate and catastrophic risks, like losing a limb in garbage truck machinery. But they also face exposure to everything from feces and rotting meat, medical waste and used hypodermic needles, and asbestos. Some of these toxic exposures pose an immediate risk of disease, and some of the toxins, like asbestos, will remain in the body for decades and much later may develop into devastating diseases like mesothelioma. The report also found that sanitation workers often did not have necessary safety equipment for dealing with hazardous substances.

For the full story, go to Occupational Hazards.

Towanda, Pennsylvania officials have hired contractor to demolish three fire-damaged downtown buildings, beginning with asbestos removal

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:04:45 +0000

In the coming weeks, Lycoming Supply will begin the process of demolishing three buildings in downtown Towanda, Pennsylvania that were destroyed by a fire in March 2006. The first step will be to remove asbestos and other hazardous materials from the site, a process that must be completed before the actual demolition many begin. But before that can start, paperwork must be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The entire project, including reseeding the land, is required to be complete within six months.

For the full story, go to the Daily & Sunday Review.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection gives $1 million to help with clean up of asbestos and other toxins at Northwest Triangle Project

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:21:12 +0000

The Northwest Triangle Project is a plan to transform and rebuild the area around the York baseball stadium. The project intends to put up new townhouses and office buildings, but before that can happen, decades of industrial waste, including asbestos, lead and other chemicals must be cleaned from the soil. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has contributed $1 million toward the environmental clean up. Cleaning the ground will take about a year, and if it is completed on time, construction will begin on the new townhouses in early 2009.

For the full story, go to WHPtv.com.

Houston Mayor Bill White says seniors should be permitted to reclaim their belongings despite asbestos contamination from apartment fire

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:32:33 +0000

The mayor of Houston has said that, if they will agree not to sue the Houston Housing Authority for any harm caused by asbestos contamination, the seniors evacuated from the Bellerive public housing apartments should be permitted to reclaim their personal belongings from their fire-damaged units. Residents of the 61 contaminated apartments had been told that they would have to pay about $3,400 each to have their belongings decontaminated before they would be able to retrieve them, but several tenants have testified before city council that they cannot afford this fee. See related story. The highest level of asbestos contamination was found in the two apartments directly below the unit where the fire started. The mayor said that the city attorney will work with attorneys for the housing authority to draft an appropriate waiver for residents to sign before retrieving their belongings.

For the full story, go to the Houston Chronicle.

Kerrville, Texas City Council approves code changes, claims not to conflict with state and federal asbestos regulations

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:59:28 +0000

Following a strong letter of warning from the Texas Department of State Health Services and the resignation of two city officials over the same issues (see related story), the Kerrville City Council has approved amendments to city codes that regulate the renovation or demolition of public, commercial and some residential buildings. The state health department specifically warned the city against passing proposed ordinances that would have attempted to remove the requirement for asbestos surveys in some renovations and demolitions, noting that violating the asbestos laws could result in penalties of up to $10,000 a day. Councilman Mack Hamilton and City Attorney Mike Hayes say that the offending provisions had been deleted and that the amendments would not cause a problem with state or federal officials. But Mayor Gene Smith dissented because, like the officials who resigned, he believed the amendments unacceptably weaken the building code.

For the full story, go to the Kerrville Daily Times.

Three people charged with theft and conspiracy for illegally moving asbestos-filled dumpsters

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:05:30 +0000

Three people in Keyport, New Jersey have been charged with theft and conspiracy to commit theft because dumpsters weren’t where they were supposed to be when the owners came for them. After piling trash from his property into the dumpster, Richard Jones discovered that the hauler wouldn’t pick them up because asbestos waste was mixed in. He called a friend to help him dispose of the hazardous material. Now, officials don’t know where the asbestos waste was dumped. But the dumpsters weren’t at Jones’ home when the disposal company came looking for them. The dumpsters were found and returned to the owners, but the disposal company’s name had been painted over. If they are convicted, the men could be sentenced to as much as three years in prison, in addition to fines.

For the full story, go to the Independent.

Asbestos removal underway in development of Johnston, Pennsylvania’s first “green” building

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:03:41 +0000

CJL Engineering, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is moving into the former Team Chevrolet showroom in the Hornerstown neighborhood. The renovated building will be the city’s first to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, identifying it as a “green” building. Asbestos removal is the first step in reclaiming the old industrial space, and the renovation is expected to be complete by November.

For the full story, go to the Tribune-Democrat.

Asbestos exposure can increase risk of contracting tuberculosis as well as malignant mesothelioma

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:32:03 +0000

It’s universally accepted that asbestos exposure increases the risk of malignant mesothelioma, but it can be a factor in the development of infectious disease as well because of its negative impact on the immune system. Tuberculosis—or TB—kills more people world-wide than any other infectious disease. While the victims of TB used to be primarily among the poor, those suffering from poor hygiene and nutrition, today’s leading risk factors are smoking, asbestos exposure and other factors that compromise the immune system. The World Health Organization estimates that about one third of the earth’s population has been exposed to TB, and any illness or toxic exposure that weakens the immune system can cause the disease to become reactive. India and China, countries where the level of asbestos exposure is high (see related story), account for 40 percent of the new cases of tuberculosis.

For the full story, go to LiveMint.com.

Officials in Benton County, Arkansas receive a warning, but won’t be fined for illegally demolishing asbestos-containing barn

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:17:56 +0000

Last summer, Benton County’s road department demolished a barn without involving the state asbestos program, hauled the debris to another location and burned it—all in violation of state environmental laws. Road department employees later cleaned up the burn site. State investigators warned the county that its actions violated state law. State officials also conducted an educational seminar for the county, ensuring that county employees knew what the environmental laws require. In its discretion, however, the state environmental agency has decided that it will not fine or otherwise take formal action against the county. In explaining the agency’s decision, officials point to the county’s cooperation and quick cleanup of the burn site, as well as the fact that, although an asbestos survey should have been done, it is unlikely that the barn debris contained asbestos. The county’s actions, although they violated the law, probably did not pose a long-term danger to the environment. In addition, Benton County appears to be a first offender of the state environmental laws, and first time offenses often receive warnings.

For the full story, go to the Morning News.

Aurora, Colorado’s Lowry Community Garden closed, will be relocated because of asbestos concerns

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:30:37 +0000

After 10 years in Aurora, Colorado’s Lowry Park, the Lowry Community Garden has been closed. Officials with Aurora Parks and Opens Spaces say the garden was closed because, after an asbestos-containing building was demolished right next to the garden, concerns grew that the garden might be contaminated by asbestos. Although the soil was not checked for asbestos, the city determined that the safer course was to relocate the garden. The non-profit Denver Urban Gardens is working with the city to find a new location.

For the full story, go to 9News.com.

Two Kerrville, Texas building officials resign because of building code changes, some that increase asbestos risk

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:52:16 +0000

Two top building officials in Kerrville, Texas have resigned out of concern that recent changes have weakened the building code. Chief building official, Brian Whitton, expressed particular concern about a change that would waive the requirement of a building permit for some alterations or renovations to commercial structures. If a building permit is not required, the requirement of an asbestos survey will not be triggered. Whitton says this change in the code violates state law and may prompt involvement from the Texas Department of Health.

For the full story, go to the Daily Times.

Students at Austin’s Brykerwoods Elementary may have been exposed to asbestos and lead after school renovations

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:49:23 +0000

Renovations over Spring break at Brykerwoods Elementary School in Austin, Texas may have exposed students to high levels of asbestos and lead. The renovations included sanding old paint—which probably contained lead—from the window frames and replacing glazing and caulking around the windows—which the principal says contained asbestos. When students returned from Spring break, dust still covered their desks. The Department of State Health Services has taken samples at the school, but the results are not yet available. A home lead test kit revealed lead in the dust. The Austin Independent School District says the school had air quality tests done before students returned from Spring break. The school district says a crew will be sent to clean the classrooms again.

For the full story, go to Fox 7 News Austin.

Former Springfield, Ohio fire chief pleads no contest in connection with burning of asbestos-containing barn

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:43:28 +0000

Brian T. Hughes, former fire chief of Springfield, Ohio, has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge arising from the controlled burn of an asbestos-containing barn in 2005. Hughes was ordered to pay a $100 fine and court costs. Hughes was accused of instructing the barn owner to make a fake 911 call to report a fire emergency at the barn although the barn were deliberately burned. For a controlled burn, a permit is required, but a permit could not have been obtained because there was asbestos in the barn.

For the full story, go to the Vindicator.