Asbestos, once hailed as a miracle mineral for its fire-resistant properties, has left a legacy of devastation in its wake. Linked to serious health risks like mesothelioma, asbestos has long been a concern for public health officials and environmentalists alike. In response to mounting evidence of its dangers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a decisive step forward by implementing a ban on asbestos, marking a significant victory in the battle for safer living and working environments. The EPA’s asbestos ban represents the culmination of decades of research, advocacy ..read more

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has reached a tentative settlement to resolve probes in the U.S. The probes were to determine whether J&J knowingly misled consumers about the safety of their talc products. The deal includes 42 states and Washington, D.C. J&J has tentatively agreed to pay about $700 million to settle the claims. For years, Johnson & Johnson has faced investigations and lawsuits regarding the safety of its talc-based products, particularly focused on the asbestos in their products causing mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Despite J&Js twice dismissed fraudulent ba ..read more

Occidental Chemical Corporation, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corp., commonly known as OxyChem, has been urged to stop importing asbestos and accelerate its transition to non-asbestos technology. Since asbestos is a known carcinogen, New York government officials have suggested they find alternatives to making their products that do not involve the use of imported asbestos. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), identified OxyChem as one of the few remaining companies in the chlor-alkali industry that still uses raw asbestos. Competitors like Westlake Corp. and Olin Corp ..read more

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is still working towards a ban on asbestos. In early June, letters were sent to the United States Senate,  House of Representatives, Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works (EPW), and the House Committee on Energy & Commerce (E&C) urging representatives to sponsor the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act. The ADAO states that “ARBAN would require the industries importing and using asbestos to transition to non-asbestos technology.” Many Americans believe asbestos has already been banned, but it currently rem ..read more

When purchasing a house, it is important to be aware of any potential health hazards that may be present. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in many building materials until 1980 and is still used today in a few brand new building material products. Asbestos can cause mesothelioma, so it is essential to have an asbestos survey done on a house before purchasing. An asbestos survey is a comprehensive inspection of the property that looks for any potential asbestos-containing materials. It is performed by a qualified and experienced surveyor who is trained to recogni ..read more

Mesothelioma Awareness Day takes place annually on September 26. It was established in 2004 by Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation community members, and has been the driving force behind the movement to bring more attention and funding to this cancer. What is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma, sometimes referred to as “meso” or mesothelioma cancer, is a form of cancer only caused by asbestos, that affects the smooth lining that surrounds and protects the lungs, heart,  abdomen, and testicles. The layer of tissue surrounding these organs is made up of mesothelial cells, hence the name mesot ..read more

In the past, we have discussed the dangers of exposed workers bringing home tainted clothing or failing to scrub toxic materials from their skin after leaving the job. Asbestos fibers can be transferred from the primary individual to friends or family members through hugs or other incidental contacts. This type of exposure is generally referred to as secondary asbestos exposure. Unfortunately, this exposure puts children directly in the crosshairs of numerous deadly diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Many studies have shown a direct link from secondary or household exposure to incr ..read more

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s (ADAO) act to ban asbestos has moved one step closer to becoming reality. Earlier this month, a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to move the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN) forward to the full committee. CEO and Co-Founder, Linda Reinstein, stated that “the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019 will take long-overdue action to stop hundreds of tons of raw asbestos imports and asbestos-containing products from entering the U.S.” As well as stopping imports of the harmful material to the U.S., the ban will dim ..read more

Most of us will never forget the events that took place on September 11, 2001. Every Patriot Day, we remember those who lost their lives that day. For those living through the events of 9/11, the trauma is still not over. Asbestos-related illness has a latency period of ten or more years. Since it has been 18 years since the attacks, is it not surprising that we are witnessing an increase in mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses among first responders and New York residents present during the time of the attacks. Rescue Worker – Nick Ursta Nick Ursta and his wife Margaret were on t ..read more

By Asbestos Network | Oct 21, 2021 | Asbestos Exposure Previously, families in California could not collect human suffering damages on behalf of their decedent family member who passed away before the end of their trial. However, a new law will remove this restriction starting January 1, 2022. States that Prohibit Pain and Suffering for Family Members Currently, California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, and Florida are the only states that prohibit family members of plaintiffs from collecting pain and suffering damages once the plaintiff passes away. Recently, the Governor of California, Gavin N ..read more