Detroit, Michigan – The weekend of March 29-30 saw the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization host its fourth annual Asbestos Awareness Day Conference. On Sunday, many victims of asbestos-related diseases, and their families, gathered Marriott in downtown Detroit’s Renaissance Center to attend an ADAO-sponsored remembrance brunch.

The candlelight brunch was sponsored by ADAO and the Karmanos Cancer Institute, a medical research organization located in Detroit.

Some of those who attended did so in honor of loved ones who had already died from an asbestos-related disease. One of those was Latanyta Manuel, whose husband Andrew died from mesothelioma at just 42 years of age. The father of three died within two years of being diagnosed with the cancer.

Other attendees have been diagnosed with deadly asbestos-related diseases. Attendee Paul Zigielbaum, who has peritoneal mesothelioma, says he believes his exposure to asbestos occurred second-hand, and also that contact with everyday products might have contributed.

Paul’s wife Michelle says “Asbestos is still being imported. It’s still being put in products.” That particularly frightening fact was uncovered by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization in 2007, and the information was released to the public in November.

The ADAO press release claimed that “Planet Toys ‘CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit’, DAP ‘33’ window glazing, DAP “Crack Shot” spackling paste, Gardner Leak Stopper roof patch, and Scotch High Performance Duct Tape” were all found to contain asbestos in independent laboratory tests.

About the results of the ADAO tests, Sean Fitzgerald, President Geologist and Senior Microscopist of the Scientific Analytical Institute, Inc. said in the organization’s press release “The initial question asked in this study was: ‘Do products currently for sale and available to the public in America contain asbestos?’ That question can now assuredly be answered, ‘Yes.’ In light of the substantial findings of this limited product survey, I believe that a more comprehensive program of product testing for asbestos in common household products is of utmost import.”

Many of those who attended the ADAO-sponsored brunch on Sunday March 30 are well aware of the results of the ADAO asbestos tests, and many blame pro-asbestos lobbyists for America’s ongoing resistance to banning the cancer-causing mineral completely.

Dwayne Manuel, the 26-year-old son of Andrew Manuel, said “It’s disturbing to see how companies and politicians try to cover it up. This is a preventable disease.” Latanyta Manuel expressed her desire to spread awareness of asbestos-related diseases, according to her late husband’s wishes, simply saying “People need to know.”

This entry was posted on Friday, April 11th, 2008 at 2:22 pm and is filed under Michigan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.