While all forms of asbestos have been determined to be carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as well as other authoritative bodies, the relative carcinogenic potency of chrysotile continues to be argued, largely in the context of toxic tort litigation. Relatively few epidemiologic studies have investigated … [Read more...]
Does the Presence of Asbestos-Containing Materials in Buildings Post-construction and Before Demolition Have an Impact on the Exposure to Occupants in Non-occupational Settings?
Abstract This narrative review aims to determine if asbestos-containing materials in buildings pose a hazard to building occupants in non-occupational settings. This paper is limited to the post-construction and pre-demolition stages of a building. The researchers selected 19 studies from the 126 studies screened, concerning exposure to asbestos … [Read more...]
Asbestos Warnings Grow With Penn State Lawsuit, National Push
Peter Labosky Jr. had been retired for 12 years from his job as a professor of wood sciences at Penn State University when he was diagnosed in 2014 with mesothelioma. He died five months later. [This case is an example of a “new” or non-traditional asbestos litigation area.] Mr. Labosky’s family alleges in a lawsuit filed in 2016 that the … [Read more...]
Philly School District poised to pay $850K to teacher diagnosed with mesothelioma
Lea DiRusso, the career city teacher diagnosed last year with a deadly asbestos-linked cancer, is in line to be paid $850,000 by the Philadelphia School District. The school board on Thursday night will consider a resolution allowing the district “to execute, deliver, and perform a settlement agreement” with DiRusso and Amr Osman, her husband, … [Read more...]
Government experts urge new talc testing standards amid asbestos worries
An expert panel formed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has endorsed asbestos testing standards for cosmetics that reject long-held industry positions and reflect those of public health authorities and experts for thousands of plaintiffs who allege contaminated talc products caused their cancers. The most significant recommendation [ … [Read more...]
EPA sits back while North Carolinians are “forced to breath” asbestos for seven months
What a month. In September, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued two reports. On Monday, the EPA OIB issued the report revealing that“Asbestos in Schools Not a Top Priority for EPA.” The next day, the EPA OIG published the second report revealing that it took seven months for North Carolina officials … [Read more...]