According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional administrator in Dallas, Texas, Richard Greene, is trying to institute a questionable method of asbestos removal in what he refers to as a “neglected urban areas.” This method of removal is known as the “wet method,” in which water is sprayed on the area where asbestos-contaminated materials are being removed.

Asbestos experts across the nation, including EPA scientists, have scrutinized the wet method and have attempted to warn the public that this method is not a proven way of eliminating, or substantially reducing, the risk of asbestos exposure. This is partially because the EPA has neglected to use conventional safeguards to test if the method is actually effective.

Numerous medical professionals and some government agencies have reported that even limited exposure to asbestos has been shown to produce disease later in life. For many decades it had been scientifically established that exposure to asbestos causes a range of terminal diseases, such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma cancer. The latter disease is almost always fatal and is typically diagnosed in later stages of development due to an extended latency period. For this reason, mesothelioma treatments tend to be ineffective in curing the disease.

With no solid evidence of the efficacy of the wet method, those concerned for the safety and welfare of the public are alarmed that this method is even being considered. Some ethicists have even commented that the testing of this unproven method in poverty-level, minority communities is an infringement of environmental justice policies. These urban areas are essentially serving as a testing ground for the controversial wet method of asbestos removal.

Despite numerous reasons to protect the public from an unproven asbestos removal method, Greene, along with others from the EPA, are pushing for this method to be institutionalized before the Bush Administration leaves office. The Bush Administration has a history of supporting the asbestos industry, and this industry-friendly asbestos removal technique would be much easier to approve under the current administration as opposed to a Democratic-run White House.

Unfortunately, this is not the only political attempt to undermine asbestos safety regulations in the United States. Under pressure from the Bush White House, and subsequently the White House Office of Management and Budget, the EPA proposed an alteration of asbestos regulations that would change the way the agency measures the cancer-causing risks of asbestos exposure.

A scientific panel met with public officials and the EPA on July 21 and 22 in Washington D.C. to discuss the potential regulation changes. The scientific panel, among others in attendance, openly criticized the proposed changes in regulations during the meetings and released an official opinion in early August.

“Not at this time,” read the statement from the Scientific Advisory Board’s asbestos panel, who apparently did not have a change of heart upon further analysis of the EPA’s proposal. Though the EPA does not need approval from the scientific panel to pass the regulation changes, the public denouncement of the proposal is certainly not advantageous for the asbestos industry.

An environmental newsletter on EPA’s website reported the panel’s decision is likely to stall further development of the proposed regulations. Legal counsel for the EPA stated it would be shocking if the agency pursued the issue any further in the near future.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos. Due to the long latency period associated with this disease, symptoms of mesothelioma often arise several decades after initial exposure to asbestos. As a result, patients with mesothelioma rarely live longer than two years after diagnosis.

Mesothelioma treatments have little effect on the disease when it is detected late, and most are palliative rather than curative. However, Heather Von St. James has done exactly that—two and a half years after surgery to remove mesothelioma tumors, she remains miraculously cancer-free.

Having been diagnosed with the deadly cancer just three months after the birth of her daughter Lily, Von St. James says that dying just wasn’t an option.

She was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma when doctors discovered a large lump in her left lung. Shortly after diagnosis, she underwent radical surgery which removed her entire left lung, the lining of her heart, half of her diaphragm, her sixth rib, and several lymph nodes.

Two and a half years later, the radical surgery has paid off: Von St. James remains free of the debilitating cancer and believes she’s been completely cured.

According to the National Cancer Institute, around 2,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in America every year. With an average latency period of two to five decades, most people who develop mesothelioma in the twenty-first century were actually exposed to asbestos between the 1960s and 1980s.

Another trend is found in an increasing number of people who are developing mesothelioma even though they never experienced occupational exposure to asbestos. Von St. James is likely one of those who experienced what is known as secondary asbestos exposure.

She remembers her father, who worked as a construction laborer for Ainsworth-Benning, coming home with his work clothing covered in white dust. Von St. James’s father worked with and around asbestos-containing construction products, but at the time they were unaware that asbestos exposure is harmful and should be avoided at all costs.

Von St. James has attempted to sue Ainsworth-Benning and other companies that manufacture asbestos-containing products, but she has thus far experienced no success, as the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled the construction company has too little connection to Minnesota to be sued in that state.

This October marks the two-year anniversary of the end of her mesothelioma treatment. After her radical surgery on February 2, 2006, she completed a twelve-week course of chemotherapy. She receives a CT scan every four months, and so far, the cancer has not returned. Von St. James plans to be the first mesothelioma patient to live a long, full life—she wants to live another fifty years.

With the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina passing, the cleanup project for the city of New Orleans is far from over. In fact, a new set of problems has arisen since the project began, the most concerning one being the threat of asbestos cancer.

The Government Accountability Office said earlier this week that the cleanup work is nowhere near over, with more than 6,000 homes still needing to be demolished. The GAO reported to congress that there are many environmental problems involved in the project.

In the report, John B. Stephenson, GAO director for natural resources and environment, wrote, “Nearly three years later, the New Orleans area still faces significant debris management issues and challenges.”

Among these challenges are issues involving illegal dumping of waste and the disposal of hazardous waste at landfills that are not equipped to handle such materials.

Regulators who inspected local landfills found items such as tires, medical waste, and creosote telephone poles that were dumped without the required authorization. Other landfill issues include the breaking of discharge limits, and failure to cover waste with soil every two weeks.

In addition, there have been problems relating to the mishandling of asbestos-containing waste. According to the GAO report, at least seven incidents of asbestos mishandling have been noted.

Storms that cause an enormous level of destruction to homes and buildings can increase the risk of asbestos exposure dramatically. Many asbestos-containing materials were used in the construction of older homes, and when these materials are damaged toxic asbestos fibers are likely to be released into the air.

If these fibers are inhaled or ingested into the body, they can attach to the mesothelial lining of the lungs, heart, and abdomen. And since the body in unable to expel these fibers, serious diseases such as mesothelioma can result.

Sam Coleman, an Environmental Protection Agency official overseeing the Katrina cleanup project, says every step has been taken to manage landfills effectively. He also believes none of the landfills being used to collect hurricane debris pose a safety risk.

The GAO has asked the EPA to review the way it responds to disasters and outline its plans to improve disaster responses. According Stephenson, the threat of future hurricanes makes this an urgent matter.

Residents of Georgetown, Ohio met last week to discuss plans for a proposed extension of the Brown County Landfill, located just south of the town. The expansion to the landfill may allow the site to begin accepting asbestos waste.

The meeting was held by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to give locals a chance to hear presentations from local agencies, and to allow residents to give some feedback on the proposal. Also in attendance were representatives from the Division of Solid and Infectious Waste Management and the Local Air Agency.

Currently, the Brown County Landfill is allowed to take in 2,500 tons of waste per day, and is allowed to build up to a height of 1,068 feet above sea level. However, according to Corporate Communication Coordinator Molly Yeager, if the landfill does not expand, it will be completely full within a year.

There are no plans for the county to build a new landfill in the area, and local agencies have decided that expanding the Brown County Landfill is the best option to take care of the area’s waste.

The Brown County Landfill is now applying for two permits to promote the expansion. One permit will allow it to expand in size, and another will increase its allowable emissions limit. If both permits are approved, the landfill will increase in size to more than 280 acres, and will be allowed to accept 3,000 tons of waste per day. In addition, the annual limits on allowable air emissions will be increased.

Nearby residents are concerned that the permit the landfill is applying for will allow it to accept regulated asbestos waste. Asbestos is a type of material that can easily release toxic asbestos fibers into the air and has the potential to cause serious diseases, such as mesothelioma cancer.

The prevailing winds that blow through the landfill typically blow over the large buffer zone. Because of this, parents and local authorities are concerned about the possible effects of regulated asbestos waste might have on the surrounding area.

Local parents say the landfill should not be allowed to accept regulated asbestos waste because there is a school located half a mile away. Landfill officials say, however, that if the landfill does begin accepting asbestos waste, it would be wetted and sealed immediately, and there would be no possibility of dust being released.

Persons of any age can develop malignant mesothelioma, but most newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients are typically older than 40. A person with a developing case of mesothelioma can live for decades without experiencing any symptoms or other signs of serious illness. By the time a person with mesothelioma begins to show symptoms of the disease, the cancer is usually in its latest stages of development, which makes mesothelioma treatment quite difficult. In most cases, treatment for the disease is more palliative than curative.

The office of Attorney General Martha Coakley has reached a settlement with Sears, Roebuck and Co. regarding alleged violations of the Massachusetts Clean Air Act and the Consumer Protection Act. The settlement was reached on August 19.

According to a press release, Sears improperly removed asbestos from a Pembroke home in October 2004. Under the terms of the settlement, Sears will pay a civil penalty of $55,000 to the family living in the home. In addition, the company has agreed to adopt practices and policies to ensure improper asbestos removal is not carried out again.

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner, Laurie Burt, said, “The improper removal and handling of asbestos is a serious matter which potentially exposes families and workers to serious diseases such as mesothelioma. Businesses that fail to follow the asbestos regulations will end up paying significant penalties, as well as higher costs for expanded cleanup and decontamination work.”

The original complaint was filed in 2004, after Blane and Rachel Provost contacted Sears for an estimate of the removal and replacement of their old boiler, which contained asbestos insulation.

A Sears representative originally told the Provosts that the company could complete the project affordably, and hired two subcontractors to carry out the work. The Provosts were also told the contractors would have the proper licenses and training to safely complete the project.

However, the subcontractors hired by the Sears representative were not trained, licensed, or qualified to handle asbestos removal. In addition, Sears and the subcontractors failed to notify the Department of Environmental Protection that asbestos handling and removal was involved.

Surely of greater concern to the Provosts is that the subcontractors did not use proper asbestos handling procedures. The old boiler was removed and left in the basement with its chamber exposed, and asbestos material was scattered on the basement floor. To make matters worse, subcontractors used their bare hands to scoop up the material and store it in black plastic trash bags. These procedures are dangerous practices that can easily result in the development of asbestos cancer.

Attorney General Martha Coakley said of the incident, “Homeowners and their families should not be faced with a health risk when they purchase common household appliances like a new boiler. Asbestos removal requirements were enacted to protect public health and safety. Businesses who are contracted to perform work inside residential homes must properly train and supervise their employees so that homeowners are given accurate information and not put at risk.”

Recently, a drug widely used to treat high levels of cholesterol has shown promise for patients going through mesothelioma treatment. So far, the drug has been successfully used to treat melanoma, and may be useful for treating a wide range of other cancers.

The drug under investigation is Lovastatin, which was introduced in 1980. Early studies on Lovastatin originally excited researchers because of the unexpected, yet potent side effect it had on killing cancer cells. However, it was soon noted that humans were not able to tolerate the high doses of the drug needed to produce the anti-cancer effect, and plans to use the drug in cancer trials were temporarily postponed.

Researchers are now reconsidering Lovastatin and its potential uses in cancer treatment. One Nashville, Tennessee clinician has already been using the drug to treat some of the most serious cancers, including pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that most commonly affects the lining of the lungs. Caused strictly by asbestos exposure, mesothelioma has a latency period of three to five decades, which usually results in a diagnosis when the disease is in its last stages of development.

Lovastatin has recently been able to arrest or entirely eradicate tumors in more than 80 percent of people who receive the treatment. The first cancer patient treated with Lovastatin in 2000 had stage four melanoma, and eight years after receiving treatment, remains healthy and disease-free.

NeoPlas Innovation Director of Research, Dr. Stephen Cantrell, says the key is using interferon combined with Lovastatin to reduce the toxicity of the cholesterol drug. The treatment protocol includes administration of a very precisely timed series of low-dose interferon and Lovastatin.

The results have been great, with melanoma patients experiencing eradication of tumors, long-term disease stability, or a substantial slowing of the progression of the disease. Less than 20 percent of people treated with the combination have failed to respond positively.

Another advantage of using Lovastatin is the absence of toxic side-effects usually associated with standard chemotherapy. The most prevalent side-effect with Lovastatin treatment is fatigue, unlike other chemotherapy drugs that can cause nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and immune system suppression.

Clinicians expect the Lovastatin-interferon combination will soon be used to treat pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, renal cancer, sarcoma, and mesothelioma, as well as other forms of asbestos cancer.

Unexpected project requirements at Middle Park High School in Granby, Colorado have delayed the completion of the school’s $9.8 million dollar construction plan. According to the school, new findings of asbestos contamination have been the biggest challenge thus far.

Thousands of schools in America were built using asbestos-containing construction materials, and due to the effects the substance can have on the body, asbestos is a serious health hazard. Evidence has proven that inhaling small asbestos fibers can lead to a variety of health issues, including a rare form of cancer called mesothelioma.

Many schools that contain asbestos end up spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on asbestos containment and removal. Such steps are the only way to ensure complete safety of the students and staff on campus.

During the early phases of the Middle Park High School project, the school’s contractor identified several locations where asbestos was expected to be present, but was surprised to find asbestos in unexpected locations as well.

Todd Dangerfield, project manager for abatement contractor Neenan Co., says large amounts of asbestos-containing vinyl floor tiles were discovered, and would need to be removed before construction began. Contractors performing the work have found the abatement process challenging and time-consuming. In addition, the newly discovered asbestos has increased the budget and extended the completion date of the entire project.

Nancy Karas, East Grand School District superintendent, says all the asbestos has been removed, and that construction didn’t begin until all the asbestos was cleared from the site. She also mentioned that all necessary precautions were taken to ensure the students were never at risk during the construction phase.

According to Todd Dangerfield, encapsulating the area where asbestos abatement was being performed was the main factor in postponing the desired completion date. Such a step requires absolute perfection to prevent airborne asbestos fibers from escaping the abatement area.

Some experts say the inhalation of even a few fibers is enough to result in the development of malignant mesothelioma, making it crucial that asbestos be kept isolated from the rest of the school buildings.

Construction is now proceeding with the completion of asbestos abatement. By the time school opens, district officials are sure that the risk of asbestos exposure will not be a concern.

The parents of students who attend Public School 256, located in the Rockaways, have learned the school’s condition is in worse shape than originally expected. Newly found problems have made the peeling paint, broken tiles, and crumbling plaster the least of their worries. Recently, a Department of Education (DOE) report has shown deteriorating asbestos-containing materials exist throughout the school’s entire campus.

Public school 256 is attended by children with autism or severe emotional disorders, and as one parent says, they have enough to worry about taking care of their children, without having to worry about the school they attend, too.

Albert Hiller, president of the parents’ association, says parents appreciate the care their children receive at the school, but many are shocked by the school’s dilapidated and hazardous condition.

Thousands of schools were built using asbestos-containing construction materials because of the strong and fire-resistant nature of asbestos fibers. Unfortunately, damaged asbestos-containing materials often release toxic fibers that can result in serious health hazards. If asbestos fibers are inhaled, diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma can develop.

Many schools that were built asbestos materials end up spending thousands of dollars on asbestos containment and removal in an effort to keep students and staff safe from asbestos cancers.

In 1986, the federal government, in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency, developed a set of guidelines to manage asbestos in schools. According to these regulations, all schools that contain asbestos must have a management plan in place that can be viewed by the staff and public at any time.

The guidelines require all schools to maintain an asbestos management document with information on the location of asbestos in the school, its condition, and any steps that are taken to contain or remove it.

Teachers at Public School 256 say the DOE toured the school in July, and took note of its dilapidated state. DOE officials will be meeting this week to discuss what to do about the school.

Randi Weingarten, president of the teachers’ union, has questioned why the DOE bought the building to begin with given its poor condition. In addition to asbestos, union officials are also concerned because the school may be contaminated with lead paint, which is known to cause learning difficulties.

The residents of a neighborhood in Toronto, Canada are still in shock after the explosion occurred at the Sunrise Propane facility. And though the immediate dangers of the explosion have passed, there are still problems abounding, with many homeowners facing extensive home repairs and the threat of mesothelioma.

One of the greatest concerns existing in the area is asbestos exposure. Around 12,000 people live in the nearby neighborhood, and many of them have been evacuated to prevent exposure to the toxic substance. In addition, several streets near the site have been shut down after cleanup crews found asbestos.

Asbestos, once prized for its strength and fireproofing capabilities, was used in a variety of construction materials during much of the twentieth century. The most extensive danger occurs in situations where asbestos fibers become airborne. If inhaled, the toxic substance can cause serious health conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases.

Although some residents live far from the site, many are still worried about asbestos fibers traveling through the air. It has been proven that asbestos fibers can remain in the air for several weeks. Those who live closest to the site are particularly concerned due to the destruction of their homes and the chances of additional asbestos-containing materials being disturbed.

A few residents have already been allowed to return home regardless of the asbestos-related hazards. However, most are remaining indoors to help ensure the prevention of asbestos exposure. In addition to those living near the contaminated area, emergency responders and cleanup crews should also take precautions to avoid exposure and the chances of contracting pleural mesothelioma.

New problems have recently arisen, as city officials discovered asbestos in a park several blocks away from the Sunrise Propane facility. Unfortunately, the park was not closed following the blast. Tempers have flared at recent town meetings and residents have demanded answers regarding the presence of undiscovered asbestos and the way in which emergency response has been handled.
 
Following a week after the blast took place, some residents have still not been allowed to return home. Sunrise Propane and the city of Toronto are taking all necessary precautions until asbestos exposure is no longer a concern. Cleanup crews funded by Sunrise Propane remain hard at work and continue to search for asbestos contamination throughout the neighborhoods. The city has responded by contributing 120 workers to help speed up the process and allow residents to return home sooner.

A meeting scheduled this week for the Montpelier school district in Vermont will finally provide members of the public the opportunity to learn about the district’s ongoing asbestos exposure problems.

Schools within the district have been battling asbestos issues for several weeks, and instead of opening on August 28 as planned, all schools will open several days later on September 2. Repeated asbestos-related issues at Main Street Middle School are at the root of the problems, and the delay of the new school year will allow the complete removal of the contamination.

The problems began around three weeks ago, when Main Street Middle School was closed by the state Department of Health (DOH) due to possible asbestos contamination. The closure was enforced on July 28 after a DOH safety inspector found workers at the school using improper practices to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles.

Employees of the contracting company were chipping asbestos tiles off the floor in preparation for laying new tiles. This method of removal is exactly what causes toxic asbestos fibers to be released into the air. If these fibers are inhaled, the risks of contracting mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases increase dramatically. In addition, the workers on site were not wearing face masks or using air-sampling pumps to monitor air quality.

To make matters worse, classroom doors were left open, and there were no barriers around the work area to prevent other workers from being exposed. The project was subsequently shut down, and all contractors, employees, and other workers using the building were asked to vacate.

Following this incident, two other district schools were temporarily closed because they were using the same contractor to have work completed. In addition to asking all workers to leave the premises, several tests were conducted to check for possible asbestos contamination at the schools.

According to Superintendent Steve Metcalf, test results carried out on the school’s air ducts will soon be available, and district officials are hoping these tests will show there has been no contamination of the ventilation ducts. The meeting will give officials the opportunity to instill confidence back into the parents and ensure the chance of contracting asbestos cancer is no longer a threat.

With cleanup projects already in progress at two of the three schools, district officials are confident that the problems will be taken care of in time for schools to open on the new date of September 2.