New Cancer Drug Shows Early Promise

More than 80 percent of malignant melanoma patients in a recent study experienced a dramatic reduction in tumor size thanks to a new experimental drug treatment. While drug trials for the treatment are still in the early stages, industry experts such as Matthew Meyerson of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston report the findings as “a major breakthrough in cancer treatment.”

The findings of the study, published in a recent edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, are the result of targeted drug development. In previous genome analysis, it was found that production of a protein called BRAF is overactive in approximately 50 to 60 percent of patients diagnosed with malignant melanomas. This insight led to the production of drugs that inhibit the molecular pathways associated with BRAF production.

Two pharmaceutical companies n Roche and Plexxikon n collaborated to develop the specific drug used to hinder BRAF pathways. For the study, 32 melanoma patients were given the drug, with 81 percent showing a partial or complete response. In a few cases, tumors actually disappeared altogether for a short time.

The drug shows significant promise for a cancer that is notoriously difficult to treat. If caught early, surgery may prove an effective treatment. However, cases in which the cancer grows beyond the skin come with a poor diagnosis (many patients do not survive more than 12 months once metastasis occurs). Presently, only 10 to 20 percent of patients respond well to FDA approved drug treatments.

Thanks to the innovation of targeted genome sequencing, the number of participants in clinical trials can be greatly reduced. Given the promising effects of the phase II trial, the drug is ready to enter phase III trials to further test its efficacy. Of primary concern for future trials, is the analysis of a cancer’s ability to become resistant to the new drug. Current tests indicate that resistance can occur anywhere from three months to two years from the beginning of treatment.

To counter this resistance, researchers may try a combination of drugs that target additional protein mutations beyond the BRAF protein.

If found effective, the potential of BRAF inhibitor drugs may extend beyond malignant melanoma cancer. The mutation is also present in seven to eight percent of all other cancers.

Resource:
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/26117/?a=f
http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/090710/page2

This entry was posted on Friday, November 12th, 2010 at 12:05 pm and is filed under Medical news, cancer treatment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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Articles Mesothelioma

articles mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which develops from the protective lining of the internal organs of the body and is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. It is also believed that coming into close contact with a person's clothing that has been exposed to asbestos can also cause mesothelioma.

The disease is not very common and has a very limited chance of recovery because most symptoms are observed only after 20-50 years of exposure to asbestos and at this time the disease is generally beyond recovery. Research is being conducted on the early detection of mesothelioma to allow doctors to detect signs of this disease at an early stage and thus prevent it from developing to higher levels.

Mostly the lungs or the heart are known targets for this disease and general symptoms like difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, chest wall pain, cough and blood in cough are signs of the development of mesothelioma that affects pleura. Symptoms like abdominal, development of a mass in abdomen and weight loss are signs of mesothelioma that affects the abdominal cavity. Diagnosis of the disease includes the use of x-ray, CAT scan and MRI for the detection of pleural thickening and other abnormalities.

Lung function test may also be performed if deemed suitable to confirm the disease. The treatment of the disease is not particularly very successful due to the non-availability of methods and techniques which can ensure early detection of the disease. However, current methods of treatment include combination of conventional therapies of radiation treatment and chemotherapy.

In some cases, surgery might also be used to aid the radiation therapy and other treatments. However, surgery in itself has proved to be of little use in later stages of the disease. Even though the disease is rare, there are several victims of the disease and only a few of them have lived for some time with the disease.

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Tags: articles,, asbestos, cancer, lung, mesothelioma

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010 at 9:44 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyers

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Pennsylvania Mesothelioma lawyers assist sufferers of Mesothelioma cancer in the Keystone State. They have helped many families that have been victimized by mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos related cancers. They have witnessed the terrible toll of these illnesses firsthand.

Asbestos is a harmful substance which was used in many products in the pass. When small asbestos particles are introduced into the human body through inhaling or ingesting, they trigger deadly diseases like mesothelioma cancer. Of the illnesses caused by asbestos exposure, mesothelioma cancer is the most deadly. It manifests itself in the thin membrane that lines the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Mesothelioma usually develops 20 to 40 years after the victim has been exposed to asbestos.

Many Pennsylvania Mesothelioma lawyers are dedicated to helping their clients get compensation and medical treatment they deserve. Those who have or know someone that has mesothelioma cancer should know that they can assist you. Over many years, Pennsylvania Mesothelioma lawyers have represented countless citizens all over the state including all the major cities and small towns.

Law firms in Pennsylvania have the resources and experience needed to help individuals and families face the largest corporation in this difficult area of law. These law firms have help people get billions of dollars in settlement and compensation. Many families that have dealt with mesothelioma have been helped.

Pennsylvania citizens should understand that this state has laws which set it apart from other states that could affect someone ability to make a claim. An example of this is Pennsylvania’s statute of limitation legislation which puts a limit of the time frame that mesothelioma cancer sufferer and their family members can file a suit.

Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers are prepared to assist victims comprehend the issues related to filing a mesothelioma lawsuit and steer the victims through the maze like court system.

These law firms pursue mesothelioma and asbestos lawsuit cases in the state of Pennsylvania. Those who have been or have dear ones that have been exposed to asbestos and have symptoms of mesothelioma or lung cancer should contact a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer. Many offer free, no obligation consultation. Many also handle cases on a contingency basis. So if you are in need call them today!

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Nearly Half of Deaths in Turkish Town Caused by Mesothelioma

In most of the world, mesothelioma is an extremely rare type of lung cancer that accounts for less than one of every 100,000 deaths. However, in the Turkish region of Cappadocia, instances of death related to malignant mesothelioma hover at an astonishing rate of 48 percent.

Mesothelioma has been linked to the inhalation of asbestos fibers – a naturally occurring mineral that is used in a variety of heat-resistant products. A similarly fibrous material – erionite – is abundant in the Cappadocia region and has been used for decades as a resource for building homes and roadways.

Unfortunately, the frequent use of erionite in the Cappadocia region has exposed most of the residents to hazardous levels of this toxic material. The towns most dramatically affected by the fiber include Tuzkoy, Sarihidir and Karain.

While erionite is found in a number of regions globally (for example, Nevada), “the cancerous material is generally found far deep underground,” according to Izzetin Baris (a retired professor with a long history of mesothelioma research). “In Turkey, however, it is very close to the surface.”

Look at the numbers, and it becomes evident that, “The number of cases of mesothelioma in Tuzkoy has been about 600 to 800 times higher than world standards,” says Murat Tuncer of the Turkish Health Ministry department.

Due to these alarming numbers, government authorities have initiated a relocation plan to move all 2,350 remaining residents of Tuzkoy to a nearby location. As with the 250 families that have already been relocated, the costs associated with the move will be subsidized by the state. The new housing facility is located approximately one mile away from the current city’s location.

While this relocation is believed to move Tuzkoy villagers properly out of harm’s way, officials are still unsure about plans to demolish the current city. Present plans suggest the entire village will be demolished, buried in a thick layer of uncontaminated earth and then re-planted. However, other ideas include paving over the city with asphalt or doing nothing and simply prohibiting entry into the area.

Sadly, the knowledge of environmental hazards in Tuzkoy has been known for quite some time. In fact, relocation efforts first began back in 1999. However, little progress has been made thanks to various government difficulties and financial constraints.

Currently, government authorities hope the relocation will be completed by 2012. Even when such relocation occurs, however, a decline of cancer rates may not be noted for decades – mesothelioma often does not manifest until 20 to 50 years following initial exposure.

Source: ABCNews

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 17th, 2010 at 3:17 pm and is filed under Asbestos hazards, living with mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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Asbestos Cleaning drive at Ohio school

Asbestos cleanup could cost Toledo Public Schools billions in dollars. It all started when workers from Wolfe Roofing Inc. were repairing the roof of the Old West End Academy at Collingwood Boulevard and Central Avenue. Asbestos was disturbed and fell from the ceiling causing immediate evacuation until the asbestos can be cleaned up. The building is around 81 years old and will go through a thorough clean-up process to remove the asbestos materials before school begins in late August.

According to reports, the Board of Education, voted unanimously, 4-0 to hire an asbestos removal company to remove asbestos from the building. Board member Larry Sykes wants Wolf’s Roofing to pay for the asbestos cleanup.

Asbestos removal is said to be one of the biggest environmental cleanup project in United States. It has cost the US approximately 50 billion over the past two centuries and continues to be an ongoing cleanup project. The cost to remove asbestos is expensive due to the dangers and substantial precautions that is required to make sure that asbestos fibers does not become airborne. If asbestos is improperly removed or disturbed, the airborne asbestos fibers once inhaled can lodge in the lungs causing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.

Asbestos was primarily used in insulation, fireproofing, tiles etc in older buildings. Reports show that over 34 million buildings may still have asbestos materials in them. However, due to the increased dangers of asbestos exposure, the use of asbestos has been banned in many countries.

Mesothelioma symptoms are hard to detect due to the similarity of other illnesses, however some of the symptoms to look for are:

Shortness of breathConstant dry coughFatigueFeverUnusual weight lossPain in the chest area

Depending on the stage of the disease, each mesothelioma sufferer may have a different treatment plan that fits the type of mesothelioma cancer, the stage of the disease and also the patient’s overall condition. The most common treatment for mesothelioma are surgery, chemical therapy, radiation treatment, drugs, or a mixture of all of these listed. Research for a cure is ongoing, but as of now there is no cure for mesothelioma. New drugs and therapies are being introduced and have shown improvement.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should seek the advice of an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who helps victims receive financial compensation to pay for the immense medical costs associated with mesothelioma therapies, drugs and treatments and also for the pain and suffering caused by this deadly disease.

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Bed Railing Kills Man in Nursing Home

It is not unusual for someone in a nursing home to die. In fact, many of them are expected to die. However, Harry Griph Sr. a 75-year-old retired phone company worker was killed in his nursing home when he got his neck got trapped between the railing on his bed and his mattress. Griph was in an assisted living facility as a hospice patient and on Christmas morning he was found dead. Reason, suffocation by his bed railing.

Griph’s children sued the nursing home, the hospice provider, the maker of the bed and the vendor that supplied the bed for their father’s tragic and preventable death. All have been settled except the case against the assisted living facility. The lawsuit alleging negligence against the facility continues.

The nursing home used the beds despite the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned about the danger the bed rails posed back in 1995. The nursing home claims that the bed with rails are used because the rails decrease the fall risk by 10 to 15 percent, but when someone does fall it increases the risk of injuries by 20 percent.

The FDA has counted more than 480 deaths and 138 injuries with the entrapment cases in these beds and on top of that another 185 close calls, however there may be many other cases that have gone unreported.

There should be no such thing as a preventable death. If you know of a loved one who has been injured or died from bed rail entrapment in a nursing home or assisted living facility please contact LegalView today. Call 1-866-9LAW-NOW (1-866-952-9669) for a wrongful death lawyer that can advise you on your legal options and help you pursue justice.

Tags: Medical Malpractice, Negligence

This entry was posted on Friday, November 5th, 2010 at 11:18 am and is filed under Medical Malpractice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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New study to investigate long term effects of asbestos on firefighters

While bodily harm, injury and even death due to extreme heat, lack of breathable oxygen, falling debris and collapsing buildings are all risks which firefighters are well aware of, it turns out that there may be less obvious and equally dangerous risks associated with their heroic work.

Firefighters face countless toxins due to the smoky, superheated conditions in which they work. It’s already been discovered that many firefighters are subjected to airborne asbestos, formaldehyde, and more on the job, but research regarding the long term affects of such poisons has never been conducted.

A new study which the NIOSH, or National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, is embarking on hopes to change all of that. Working with the United States Fire Administration, the ambitious new undertaking will collect data from nearly 18,000 current and retired firefighters to learn more about their long term health conditions.

One of the facets of the new research will aim to better understand the risks to firefighters posed by airborne asbestos fibers.

It’s long been established that asbestos fibers cause an array of devastating illnesses and conditions. Respiratory complications, asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma are a few of the dangerous and even terminal illnesses caused by the dangerous mineral.

Unfortunately, asbestos saw plenty of use as fire retardant insulation throughout the twentieth century, meaning that its presence is a fairly commonplace occurrence for most firefighters. The tiny asbestos fibers cannot be burned up, so instead become whisked away in the incredible heat of the fire, lacing the already dangerous smoke and broiling hot air with an unseen, and often unmitigated, danger.

Mesothelioma, one of the most dangerous diseases caused by accidental inhalation of asbestos fibers, can take decades to develop after contamination occurs. The disease develops as the tissues around the lungs and other organs begin to scar as a reaction to the presence of microscopic asbestos fibers. This scarring, in time, could develop into malignant tumors that spread to the body’s vital organs causing swelling, pain, and eventually death. The presence of asbestos fibers in burning buildings could mean that firefighters face serious, daunting risks to their health far beyond the dangers of putting out fires, dangers that could haunt them beyond their retirement.

The NIOSH working together with the USFA hope to learn more about the unseen dangers of firefighting to help protect local heroes after their day’s work is done.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 21st, 2010 at 5:41 PM and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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Mesothelioma Testing May Predict Cancer Development and Improve Prevention Efforts

Mesothelioma Law Blog: Mesothelioma Testing May Predict Cancer Development and Improve Prevention EffortsMesothelioma Law Blog« Mesothelioma Treatment Improved with the Addition of Tomudex to Cisplatin Therapy |Main| Asbestos group wants research not review »

Mesothelioma Testing May Predict Cancer Development and Improve Prevention Efforts

Researchers at UCLA and various treatment centers around the country are teaming up with surgical oncologist Dr. Robert Cameron and the Pacific, Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (PHLBI) to create tests (including a breath test) that predict individuals at risk of developing mesothelioma cancer.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with the cancer each year. Similar to other asbestos-related diseases, mesothelioma has a long latency period. In most cases, patients with mesothelioma will not experience symptoms until 20 to 50 years have passed since their initial exposure to asbestos.

Unfortunately, the rare cancer does not respond well to current mesothelioma treatment methods and researchers across the globe have conducted numerous studies to better understand the cancer and develop more effective testing methods and treatments.

The researchers have already reported some success with breath tests in lung cancer patients. The researchers now plan to extend the breath test to persons exposed to asbestos who are at risk for developing mesothelioma. With the successful identification of asbestos-exposed persons at risk of mesothelioma, the team of researchers can then begin testing the efficacy of a COX-2 inhibitor (such as the medication Celebrex) that may prevent mesothelioma from developing.

Dr. Robert Cameron is a world renowned mesothelioma surgeon and serves as the scientific advisor of PHLBI, in addition to his roles as the director of the mesothelioma program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the chief of thoracic surgery at the West Los Angeles Veterans’ Administration Medical Center.

PHLBI’s medical research is also under the direction of Dr. Cameron, who innovated the lung-sparing pleurectomy/decortication (PD) surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma and has performed the procedure on more than 300 patients. Research programs at PHLBI currently focus on immunotherapy, screening, early detection and prevention of mesothelioma.

Source

October 21, 2010 in Mesotheliom Research | Permalink

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November 2010SunMonTueWedThuFriSat 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930    Recent PostsN.Y.'s high court tosses asbestos suitMesothelioma Cases Rising in the United KingdomDisagreement over the use of surgery to treat mesothelioma patientsAsbestos group wants research not reviewMesothelioma Testing May Predict Cancer Development and Improve Prevention EffortsMesothelioma Treatment Improved with the Addition of Tomudex to Cisplatin TherapyFemale Mesothelioma Patients Live Longer After Surgery Test May Detect MesotheliomaStudy suggests radical surgeries produce better resultsFire at Remington Arms Plant in Connecticut May Reveal Asbestos CategoriesAnti Cancer TreatmentAsbestosAsbestos BillsAsbestos CasesAsbestos CleanupAsbestos CompensationAsbestos DangersAsbestos DeathsAsbestos in the WorkplaceAsbestos SettlementsAsbestos WisconsinColorado MesotheliomaConnecticut AsbestosCrocidolite AsbestosDetecting MesotheliomaErie County AsbestosFight Against CancerFiji AsbestosGeneral Mesothelioma NewsGeorgie AsbestosIllinois AsbestosLegal QuestionsLegal RightsLondon AsbestosMaryland AsbestosMasschusetts AsbestosMesotheliom ResearchMesothelioma AnswersMesothelioma CancerMesothelioma CasesMesothelioma CompensationMesothelioma LawMesothelioma law verdictsMesothelioma LawyerMesothelioma LawyersMesothelioma Legal NewsMesothelioma SettlementsMesothelioma StoriesMesothelioma Treatment OptionsMinnesota Minnesota MesotheliomaMissouri AsbestosNew Jersey MesotheliomaNew York AsbestosOhio ResearchPitsburgh MesotheliomaPreventing MesotheliomaSouth Carolina MesotheliomaTelomerase Gene SequenceTennessee MesotheliomaTexas Mesothelioma AttorneysUK AsbestosUncategorizedUnderstanding MesotheliomaVermont AsbestosVermont Asbestos LawVirginia AsbestosMesothelioma News From Topix.netBlog Created ByLawyers CourtOther Legal BlogsDUI SarasotaKent Washington Personal InjuryRenton Personal InjuryLynnwood Personal InjuryBellevue Personal InjuryEverett Personal Injury LawyerCriminal Tax BlogSecurities Law NewsSacramento DUI LawTax Litigation BlogSearch Engine BlogsExecutive SEO MarketingSearch Engine WatchSearch Engine LowdownGoogle BlogYahoo Search BlogSEARCH MARKETING NEWSSubscribe to this blog's feedAdd me to your TypePad People listOther Legal SitesChicago Medical MalpracticeClearwater DUI AttorneyKirkland Personal Injury LawyerChicago Personal InjuryPolk County Drunk Driving LawyersOrlando DUI Law FirmWashington Auto Accident AttorneysRenton Family LawyersFort Wayne Slip & FallDUI ExpungementDeer Park LawyerChicago LawyersSecurities Arbitration AttorneysMinnesota LawyersPalm Springs DUIChicago AttorneysIllinois Tax AttorneyChicago Securities LawSeattle Car Accident LawyerChicago Illinois AttorneyNew York Construction LawyerChicago Shareholder DisputesCalifornia DUI LawyersIllinois Antitrust LawyersWashington Accident AttorneySeattle Personal InjuryChicago Eminent DomainChicago Corporate LawyersPortland Real Estate LawIowa Injury LawyersChicago Business LawLegal DirectoryChicago Securities LawyerChicago Wills AttorneyChicago Probate LawyersChicago LawyersLegal News FeedsLaw Firm ConsultantChicago Tax LawyersAttorney SEOOther SitesChicago Gutter CleaningHospitality TrainingCredit InsuranceSun ProtectionChicago Career CoachWest Palm Beach BankJackson Hole ContractorsBoston LimousinesSun HatsChicago Web DesignArchivesNovember 2010October 2010September 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010May 2010April 2010March 2010February 2010More...

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Medicare Advantage Fee For Service About to Expire

A recent — and mostly inaccurate — news story sent some seniors into a panic. Last month Harvard Pilgrim Health Care announced it would drop Medicare Advantage at the end of this year. Immediately, many “pundits” blamed the new health care reform law, and newspaper headlines screamed that Medicare Advantage was being killed by “Obamacare.”

Medicare Advantage plans are administered by private insurance companies, but Medicare pays the private insurer a set amount per person covered. The new health care reform law is cutting this subsidy. And now it seemed the private companies were starting to drop Medicare Advantage!

But the fact is that Harvard Pilgrim’s decision had nothing to do with the new health care reform law. Instead, the company had a problem with another piece of legislation, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), which passed in 2008 over President Bush’s veto.

MIPPA provides that after the end of 2010, Medicare will no longer subsidize private fee for service (PFFS) plans, but only HMO plans. Harvard Pilgrim CEO Eric Schultz told Maggie Mahar of the Century Foundation that the MIPPA would have forced the company to radically restructure its First Seniority Freedom Plan to become an HMO, and company executives decided it would be better for their bottom line to just drop the plan altogether.

When MIPPA was passed in 20o8, almost 2 million Americans were in Medicare Advantage fee-for-service plans. So why is it ending? The problem with these plans was that they do not control cost as well as HMOs. The MIPPA is expected to save taxpayers several billion dollars over the next few years.

But it’s no wonder many seniors are nervous about what might happen to their Medicare policies. It’s a sad fact that as we age, nearly all of us will suffer increasing problems with our health. Some ailments — heart disease, arthritis — are common, and some are rare, such as mesothelioma cancer, which is rarely diagnosed before the patient is 50. Private insurance companies don’t want seniors as customers — unless taxpayers are supplying the profits.

In recent years Congress has passed many bills that will impact Medicare in complex ways, but between sloppy journalism and politicians trying to demagogue issues to scare people into voting for them, most of us aren’t getting the facts. Right now, anyone who is still covered by a Medicare Advantage free-for-service policy needs to find out what will happen to that policy.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 11th, 2010 at 8:50 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Repeated Asbestos Violations & Citations by Washington Apartment Owner

Stanley Xu, owner and CEO of a Washington based real estate firm, Longwell Company, has been cited and fined for violating asbestos regulations by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.  The latest violation involves the removal of asbestos containing ceiling material from an apartment complex in Renton and Kent, Washington, near Seattle.  The company owns multiple apartment complexes throughout King County and surrounding areas, and has been cited for asbestos violations in the past.

Despite this, Xu claims that he was unaware that he was required to have inspections performed and asbestos tests on the ceiling materials completed prior to any demolition and removal.  This seems hard to believe since Xu was cited for failure to inspect and test at other property locations within the last year and a half.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen that causes mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.  It is common knowledge now that buildings constructed before the 1980’s are highly likely to contain asbestos materials (ACMs).  This is especially true of “popcorn” ceiling, which is what was being removed from the Avante Apartments in Kent and from the Arbors at Sunset apartments in Renton.

Xu is accused of improper removal and disposal of ceiling materials that contained dangerous levels of asbestos.  Violations include:

Lack of prior inspection and testing for ACMsImproper removal and disposal of ACMsFailure to hire an accredited asbestos abatement company to remove ACMsFailure to provide training and protective gear to employees removing ACMs

Xu is appealing the citation, and has refused comment on the former violations.  Xu is not unfamiliar with being cited for environmental regulation violations as they date as far back as 2006, when he failed to notify tenants of the presence and hazards of lead based paint in one of his other apartment complexes in Des Moines and Renton.

Xu faces fines of over $165,000 and is one of many companies that are being charged with failing to follow federal and state asbestos safety regulations. Perhaps such actions will encourage other contractors in the Seattle area to become knowledgeable and to follow all procedures that will prevent any unwanted exposure to asbestos and keep workers and the public safe.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 at 8:39 pm and is filed under Asbestos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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Relief effort in Haiti undergoes asbestos scare

Military personnel in the 82nd Airborne Division were unnerved recently by the development of sore throats and coughs following their exposure to various work-sites throughout the Haiti relief effort. Many feared that the coughs could be signs of asbestos contamination like that experienced in the relief efforts following the 9/11 attacks.

The affects of urban disasters are often a lot more complicated and far reaching than is immediately discernible. In the years after the 9/11 attacks hundreds of people made claims against New York City after developing cancers like mesothelioma from inhaling toxic dust in and around ground zero. The city failed to warn workers and others of the asbestos contained in the rubble, putting thousands of people in harm’s way when simple preventative measures could have made a life-saving difference. The claims regarding New York City’s negligence aren’t only valid, they’re swaying the sympathy of those involved in deciding the case. In fact, just recently a judge involved in the litigation against the city reportedly rejected a settlement offer of nearly $600 million, claiming that the figure was too low for the pain and suffering caused.

The United States Army was fast to act on the suspicions and anxieties of their soldiers working in Haiti. They quickly organized a laboratory analysis of the air, soil and water of various work sites around the relief effort.

While there was some concern that raw materials like tiles, cement, piping, siding and more could contain dangerous amounts of asbestos, results showed otherwise. As it turns out, airborne asbestos fibers pose virtually no threat in the areas of the Haiti relief effort that were tested.

“We collected air samples from 31 locations to see if our guys were potentially breathing anything bad,” the public health officer in charge of the testing operation said, “…everything we have been able to analyze so far has not presented a risk that is expected to be long-term, short-term or one we can’t mitigate.”

The results from the tests, while reassuring, aren’t incredibly surprising. Developing nations like Haiti don’t use asbestos products as fervently as Western nations once did. Much of that could be due to the Ally’s asbestos surplus that rose out of World War II as a result of wartime industry. Asbestos that was originally mined for use in the construction of tanks and battleships later found commercial outlets as the war industry dried up.

“In the U.S. we use a lot of fiberglass and asbestos for insulation,” the public health officer commented, “it appears that Haiti does not use asbestos as liberally as we do in the U.S.”

Regardless of why there’s so little asbestos contamination in Haiti, its absence is certainly good news for everyone involved in relief efforts there.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 at 12:24 PM and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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