A man diagnosed with mesothelioma fears he will not recover damages from a lawsuit his family filed due to a provision added to the Wisconsin state budget.

Caden Johnson, 67, learned of his mesothelioma diagnosis years after working in a boiler room of a hospital. Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Johnson’s lawsuit alleges he was exposed to asbestos particles while working at the hospital. The Johnson family is seeking damages from the companies who may have manufactured asbestos used in the boiler room.

Johnson’s wife, Debra, believes a new provision in the Wisconsin budget would limit the amount of lawsuits victims of asbestos exposure can file. She, and other supporters of asbestos lawsuits, claim the provision is worded in a way that allows companies that previously utilized asbestos, such as Crown Cork and Seal Co., to no longer be held liable to pay damages to victims of asbestos exposure.

Those who support the provision say it is written narrowly to aid Crown Cork and Seal Co. Crown has passed similar provisions in ten states which now defend the company from paying victims. Crown lobbyist Forbes McIntosh said no other company has used the provisions to defend itself against asbestos lawsuits.

The proposal would limit a plaintiff’s legal right to sue companies that merged with firms that made asbestos before 1972. The provision in the budget has not undergone public hearing, but lobbyists of the bill claim it will not affect asbestos lawsuits.

“I really do think this proposal balances justice for people who were wronged with common sense liability law,” said Rep. Kristen Dexter, D-Eau Claire. Dexter is concerned workers in her district could be affected by asbestos lawsuits against Crown.

In 1963 Crown merged with asbestos manufacturer Mundet Cork Co. and has since paid approximately $500 million to victims of asbestos.

The proposal included in the Wisconsin budget would protect companies by limiting their legal responsibility in asbestos cases. The company’s legal liability in asbestos cases would be limited to the present day value of the company that actually made the asbestos. In the case of Crown, this would be approximately $60 million. This means that in Wisconsin the company would no longer be liable for any asbestos-related damages.

Additional information about mesothelioma and asbestos may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.

Three Baton Rouge, Louisiana companies face fines of $112,000 proposed by federal safety regulators after they failed to protect workers from possible asbestos exposure during renovations.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stands to collect money from Louisiana Health Care Consultants, LLC, Dean Building Holdings and Bob Dean Enterprises, Inc. after the companies allegedly violated 13 health and safety regulations during renovations at the State National Life Building.

Asbestos regulations were put in place to protect workers and the public from the hazards associated with asbestos exposure. If toxic asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested into the body and become lodged in organs, the particles may cause inflammation and infection. Overtime, an asbestos-related illness, such as malignant mesothelioma, may develop. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that typically affects the lining of the lungs.

“These companies failed to follow OSHA’s standards for asbestos-related projects in the construction industry,” said Dean McDaniel, OSHA’s regional administrator based in Dallas, Texas. “Employers must be committed to keeping the workplace safe and healthful to prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities.”

The allegations against the three companies stated that they failed to alert workers of the removal of a ceiling containing asbestos and did not ensure employees’ use of protective gear. The companies also did not use engineering control to minimize exposure to asbestos.

According to McDaniel, the three companies have 15 days to respond to OSHA’s proposal.

Those exposed to asbestos may not present symptoms of an asbestos-related illness until decades after initial exposure occurred. In the case of mesothelioma, this can allow the cancer to progress to later stages of development when treatment can be difficult. Though a cure for mesothelioma does not exist, many patients elect to undergo treatment such as chemotherapy, radiation or surgery to combat the cancer.

Additional information about the dangers of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.

A new study presented by a senior Israeli health official has revealed that a town located in Northern Israel has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world.

Dr. Micha Bar-Hana, director of the Israeli Health Ministry’s Cancer Registry, elaborated on his findings at a conference held at the Rabin Medical Center. The town of Nahariya, centered in the northern part of Israel, had a mesothelioma rate of 5.72 people per 100,000 from 2002 to 2008. A total number of 19 patients were diagnosed with mesothelioma during that time.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Genoa, Italy is the city with the highest rate of asbestos-related diseases in the world, with a rate of 5.8 cases per 100,000 residents.

The city was once home to a prominent asbestos plant that was shut down in 1997 and Dr. Bar-Hana believes the number of mesothelioma cases will rise in the years to come due to the long latency period associated with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers.

Asbestos gained widespread use in the 20th century in many applications in a variety of industries.  Due to its fire and heat resistant qualities, it was frequently used in insulation and piping found in ships, planes, power plants and homes.

The inhalation of asbestos fibers can result in the development of serious illnesses, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and other asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma patients often express symptoms 20 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos occurred. The long latency period, coupled with the fact that symptoms typically resemble less-serious illnesses, can make mesothelioma diagnosis difficult.

Mesothelioma cases have slowly risen each year in Israel with more than 30 new cases reported annually, mostly among men who worked at job sites where asbestos was used.

According to Dr. Avi Weiner, a physician at the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, the largest city in northern Israel, people in close contact with those exposed to asbestos are also at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Weiner treated two women who became sick because their husbands carried asbestos particles into the home on their clothing.

Additional information about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.

An asbestos campaigner in Great Britain is preparing for a 1,200 mile bicycle journey in hopes of raising awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure.

Jason Addy, an activist with the organization Save Spodden Valley, hopes to raise money to be donated to  the search for a cure for asbestos-related cancers.  Addy will be joined by two friends and plans to cycle through parts of the country that have been greatly impacted by asbestos-related cancers such as mesothelioma.

The journey will begin in the town of Glasgow on June 20, 2009 and will  conclude in Southampton on July 4. Addy says he cannot wait for the lengthy trip to begin.

“It will be tough going as we will be cycling up to 100 miles a day, but it is for a very important cause and promises to be a breathtaking journey to raise awareness of the legacy caused by asbestos,” Addy said.

Asbestos is a toxic mineral and was widely  used throughout the 20th century in various products and industries.  Although it is a naturally occurring substance, exposure to asbestos can be extremely dangerous.  Inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers can result in the development of serious illnesses, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and other forms of lung cancer.

Since  mesothelioma symptoms are similar to less serious ailments, a mesothelioma diagnosis can be very difficult. In many cases, treatment is limited and prognosis is poor.

The high amount of mesothelioma cases in Great Britain has lead to many community projects created to promote awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Save Spodden Valley campaigners recently held a private meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown to discuss ways to educate the public and provide more funding for asbestos-related research.

Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases remain at the top of all occupational illnesses in the United Kingdom, yet little research funding is dedicated to battle these preventable cancers.

Additional information about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma and may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

According to health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fatalities from asbestos-related diseases are continuing to rise in the United States.

The organization reported more than 18,068 fatalities between 1999 and 2005 occurred as a result of malignant mesothelioma, an illness directly associated with asbestos exposure. During this time frame, the frequency of mesothelioma deaths annually rose from 2,482 to 2,704 – an average increase of 222 deaths per year.

Maine reported the highest number of mesothelioma fatalities with 173 deaths (27.5 deaths per million people). The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report also stated that the majority of mesothelioma fatalities involved white men.

Several initiatives have been put into action to regulate to the use of asbestos since the early 1980s. However, the latency period from exposure to the onset of disease can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years, causing patients to be diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses several decades after initial exposure occurred. This is why the CDC predicts the number of mesothelioma victims will peak in 2010.

Throughout the 20th century, asbestos was an ideal choice for industries that were manufacturing products for which versatility, heat resistance and durability were essential. A naturally occurring mineral, asbestos was used prominently as a form of insulation in pipes, gaskets, ceilings, drywall and flooring.

Although asbestos have been removed from many products, the substance is still utilized in various construction applications. It is estimated that many commercial products may still contain asbestos, including paper products, brake linings, floor tiles, cement pipes and sheets.

As long as the mineral is intact, it typically poses little to no harm. When asbestos becomes damaged and the fibers are released into the air, many health concerns may arise. The inhalation or ingestion of asbestos can cause the fibers to become lodged in the lining of the lungs or other body cavities, which can lead to the development of mesothelioma.

Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States alone, adding up to 3 percent of all cancer diagnoses. Since many mesothelioma symptoms are similar to less serious ailments, a mesothelioma diagnosis can be difficult.

The CDC suggests that future cases will arise from past exposure to asbestos and new ones will surface as a result of occupational exposure during the removal and demolition of buildings and structures where asbestos is present.

“Ensuring a future decrease in mesothelioma mortality requires meticulous control of exposures to asbestos and other materials that might cause mesothelioma,” the CDC report noted.

Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

With a growing amount of resources devoted to eco-sustainable technologies, many homeowners are removing asbestos and replacing the substance with environmentally friendly alternatives.

On February 17, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. This package has given homeowners tax incentives to implement the use of environmentally sustainable forms of insulation as replacements for asbestos.

Included in the act are extensions to the tax incentives placed for energy efficiency in 2005, as well as new credits for homeowners who remodel or build using eco-sustainable methods. Existing homes are eligible for a series of efficiency measures that pertain to a home’s insulation, windows and sealing.

The stimulus package is having a direct impact in reducing the presence of asbestos and other corrosive materials in the home. Homeowners are adapting to the new “green” standard by updating older homes, making residences safer and more environmentally friendly.

Some of the measures that are eligible for tax credits include adding insulation to walls and ceilings and sealing cracks and ducts to reduce heat loss. Storm doors paired with wind and heat resistant wood doors are also eligible.

Replacing asbestos with an alternative insulation material such as cotton fiber, lycnene foam or cellulose will provide energy efficiency and will reduce the risk of asbestos exposure.

While there is no longer a need for products used in construction to contain asbestos, more than 3,000 work and home-based materials still contain this toxin.

Asbestos was highly regarded throughout the 20th century as an ideal building and construction material. The mineral’s natural resistance to fire and heat and its extreme durability made it ideal for use in many industries. Asbestos typically appeared in ceiling insulation, piping, siding, roof shingles and flooring.

Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of a rare cancer known as mesothelioma. Since many mesothelioma symptoms are similar to less serious ailments, diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult.

Implementing green methods when constructing a building can have positive environmental, health and economic benefits including energy sustainability, increased property value, enhanced air quality, improved pulmonary health and the conservation of natural resources.

Additional information about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

A longstanding leader in the cement manufacturing industry announced it will pay for workers’ health insurance premiums for the month of April due to a potential asbestos exposure leak at a job site in Montana.

Ash Grove Cement Company sent 57 employees home with pay on March 16, 2009 after discovering tremolite asbestos in a section of the company’s quarry. A quarry is an open mine where building materials and minerals are extracted.

One of six naturally occurring asbestos mineral fibers, tremolite is commonly found throughout the western part of the United States. In its naturally occurring state, tremolite is a form of asbestos that when inhaled or ingested, can be extremely hazardous to human health.

Since discovering tremolite in February, the company has taken rock and dust samples from the areas. Company officials are waiting for lab tests to confirm whether the tremolite is hazardous.

“A geological engineer was doing some general surveillance in the quarry and found a specimen that was of interest, so they brought it down and we sent it off for identification,” said vice president of Ash Grove’s manufacturing for the western region, Mike Hrizuk.

A spokesperson for the company, Jacqueline Clark, stated that Ashe Grove is paying the employees’ portion of April’s health care insurance premiums for individuals and families covered under the company’s plan. It has not yet been determined how long employees would remain at home with pay if the mineral does turn out to be hazardous.

Asbestos use was widespread during the industrial revolution when it was utilized as insulation in North America. During the early part of the 20th century, asbestos was commonly used in pipes, gaskets, ceilings, drywall, and flooring. The mineral’s innate resistance to fire and highly durable qualities made it an ideal choice for manufacturers.

Exposure to asbestos occurs when fibers are inhaled or ingested into the body where they can become lodged in organs and body cavities. The fibers can cause irritation and inflammation. Overtime, this can lead to the development of an asbestos-related disease such as pleural mesothelioma, a severe form of asbestos lung cancer. Asbestos-related illnesses can take 20 to 50 years to develop in people who have been exposed to the substance’s dust particles.

Founded in 1892 in Ash Grove, Missouri, Ash Grove Cement Company is the largest American-owned producer of cement. The plant has been closed since January 31 for maintenance and is scheduled to reopen April 1.

According to Hrizuk, the plant could reopen in April if the sample turns out benign. Hrizuk would not elaborate on the plant’s future if the sample turns out hazardous.

Additional information about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure may be found through the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

A former electrician who suffers from asbestosis is calling on the British Government to create a research center dedicated to finding treatments for asbestos-related diseases.

Three years ago, John Bindley was diagnosed with asbestosis, an illness found in the lung that is caused only through long term asbestos exposure. After working as a contracted electrician for 17 years, he now spends most of his time advocating as part of the Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team. He is now calling on his government to create a center to develop treatments and a possible cure for these debilitating illnesses.

A mineral found naturally in the environment, asbestos was used throughout the majority of the 20th century as a form of insulation, piping and roofing. It’s fire-resistant and durable qualities made it one of the most sought after construction applications in the world.

The asbestos scandal has been one of the more formidable cover-ups executed by corporations and government officials. Asbestos manufacturers were aware of its toxic qualities, but buried any evidence that placed asbestos in a negative light. Workers and civilians all over the world have and continue to be erroneously exposed as a result.

Frequent exposure to damaged asbestos can lead to the development of asbestosis and pleural mesothelioma, two severe forms of asbestos lung cancer that are difficult to treat and diagnose. With a short survival window, mesothelioma prognosis is usually poor and studies show an average survival rate of less than one year.

In 2006, this disease took the lives of 2,056 people in Great Britain alone. According to the Health and Safety Executive, asbestos exposure is the greatest cause of work-related deaths in the United Kingdom and has prompted many community projects to be initiated to promote awareness and education.

An Action Mesothelioma Day is being planned in the United Kingdom to help raise awareness about the dangers involved with asbestos exposure. Mr. Bindley and others from the Asbestos Support Team are hopeful that it will allow visitors to lobby the government to listen to citizens and campaigners.

With mesothelioma being the most under researched of the top 20 cancers in the UK, researchers are pushing for adequate funds to develop further mesothelioma treatments.

“People don’t realize how dangerous it is. I don’t want to frighten anyone, but we do want the government to do something,” Bindley said.

The Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team has already set up a petition to lobby the government for a research center and many are hopeful for a definitive change in the government’s stance towards asbestos victims.

For more information on asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, please visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stated that out of the millions of veterans who have served the country, hundreds of thousands have been exposed to asbestos during their service. Regarded as one of many coverups jointly executed by corporations and government, it appears that the asbestos scandal still has not reached its climax.

Widely used by every military branch in the United States, over 300 products containing asbestos were used by the Navy and other military sectors from the 1930s through the 1970s. This has led to asbestos exposure among hundreds of thousands of military personnel.

Although not everyone who is exposed to asbestos will develop an asbestos-related illness, long-term exposure does increase the possibility. Asbestos exposure can cause severe ailments such as asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a highly aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are reported every year in the United States alone.

Due to an intense latency period associated with mesothelioma, many soldiers will not experience related symptoms until 20 to 50 years after exposure, when the disease has already progressed to its later stages. Many symptoms of mesothelioma are ones found with other less serious conditions, making early diagnosis a significant challenge for physicians.

Around the turn of the 20th century, asbestos business grew into a major corporate industry with large profits and thousands of employees. By 1922, the Navy issued a medical checklist that placed asbestos in a list of hazardous occupations and recommended the use of respirators.

The U.S. Navy was not ignorant of the dangers of asbestos and evidence shows the hazardous qualities of asbestos was swiftly covered up by asbestos manufacturers. Any asbestos concerns were silenced in the race to build the U.S. Navy fleet prior to World War II.

Working in shipyards during WWII became almost as dangerous as fighting in the war itself. As many as four million service men and women worked in shipyards repairing and building giant vessels. Thousands of tons of asbestos were used as piping and boiler insulation aboard navigation rooms, sleeping quarters and mess halls in ships.

The Navy issued a ban on asbestos-contaminated materials on new ships in 1973, but then violated its own ban for the next five years.

In 1983, the Navy Asbestos Control Program was created to help facilitate compliance with asbestos-related regulations set by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Despite these actions, many veterans continued to be exposed to high levels of asbestos even after the Navy began to replace contaminated ships.

The majority of veteran asbestos exposure continues to occur when veterans work on naval vessels where asbestos-contaminated products were heavily used. Many of these older ships are decommissioned and sent for overhaul to third world countries that have limited regulations or little knowledge of the dangers of asbestos.

This phase of exposure began in the 1990s when the U.S. Navy began to sell obsolete ships for scrap materials where workers have no prior knowledge of the dangers involved in handling asbestos. Usually these workers are not given any protective equipment to prevent potential exposure.

Since March 2003, United States combat troops have been stationed in Iraq where they face many dangers while performing military operations. Many are unaware of the potential threat of asbestos exposure. Documents from 2003 reveal that over $194,000 worth of asbestos was imported into Iraq. This presents a significant hazard for all soldiers stationed in the country because intense winds and desert sands can carry asbestos dust for long distances.

Veterans with asbestos-related disease unfortunately find themselves in a tough situation because they experience difficulty in obtaining assistance and benefits for their illness. Currently, mesothelioma is not readily recognized as a service-related medical ailment. However, veterans can apply for Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits for asbestos-related illness and must provide proof that their exposure occurred at the time of their military service.

Some naval vessels and public facilities may still contain asbestos-laden materials, such as clutches, brakes, gaskets or older construction materials. Thus, the potential remains for yet another generation of veterans and civilians to be exposed to asbestos on a global scale.

For more information on veteran asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, please visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

Shipyard workers and shipbuilders were routinely exposed to asbestos-containing materials from the beginning of World War II through the 1980s. At the time, asbestos was thought to be an ideal material to use because of its resistance to corrosion and ability to withstand high temperatures. However, the side effects of exposure are strongly being felt today as past workers are still developing asbestos-related diseases.

The ships that were built during World War II were heavily contaminated with asbestos-containing materials. Areas that typically included these hazardous materials were boiler rooms, sleeping quarters, pipes, and areas that required insulation.

Because of the close quarters and heavy use of ships during the war, materials that contained toxic asbestos fibers were constantly being damaged. Crew members would often bump into the walls and pipes that contained asbestos, which unfortunately led to the dispersion of asbestos fibers into the air. In addition, the overuse and age of a ship would often contribute to asbestos exposure because the natural deterioration of materials would also release asbestos fibers.

Throughout the twentieth century, shipyards across the nation employed hundreds of thousands of workers. Those that were heavily exposed to asbestos usually included those that worked as welders, painters and machinists on the ships.

Many of the workers and crew members did not have access to proper preventative gear to protect them from exposure. In fact, most were completely unaware that exposure to asbestos carried any risk at all. Today, asbestos is a hazardous material that is known to cause several forms of serious disease, including lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Many shipyard employees have either passed away or have been diagnosed with the disease and more are expected as the latency period associated with mesothelioma is 20 to 50 years.

Those that may have experienced asbestos exposure from the shipyard industry should receive regular examinations from their doctor. Diagnosing the disease during the early stages of development gives a person a much greater chance of having a positive effect from treatment.

For more information on asbestos exposure in shipyards, please visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.