The Keil Opera House, located in St. Louis, Missouri, has been unused for the last 20 years, and is scheduled to undergo a $78 million renovation.

Deputy St. Louis mayor for development, Barbara Geisman, noted that last week’s bond sales are likely to seal the deal.

"The proposed renovation of the Kiel Opera House took a big step forward…Many agreements related to private debt and equity financing needed for the development have been substantively completed,” Geisman said.

Stacy Hastie, president and chief executive of Environmental Operations Inc., noted that asbestos and lead paint removal is set to begin within the next few days.

Asbestos abatement must occur prior to the renovation–for when asbestos is disturbed, airborne particles may be inhaled. Once inhaled, the asbestos poses a serious health risk to those exposed. Diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma have been known to arise from the exposure.

Mesothelioma doctors struggle to diagnose patients with the disease, who are left with little hope for improvement.

The Keil Opera House was once home to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and is expected to host concerts and touring Broadway productions. The Keil’s main theater seats 3,200 people and contains smaller theaters with ranging seat capacities.

It is unclear when the renovation will conclude.

The first five years the Kiel Opera House is open, however, there will be a limit as to the number of traveling theater productions who perform there.

When the ceiling of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church collapsed during its June 13 service, many parishioners were injured. Even more Hickory, North Carolina residents feared that possible exposure to asbestos, located in the damaged ceiling, would pose a future health risk.

After 12 parishioners were injured, the church was closed, and services were relocated elsewhere while testing occurred.

The tests conducted on the fallen ceiling material have shown that the ceiling does, indeed, contain asbestos. The interim chief of building services for Catawba County, Joel Herman, said the asbestos must be removed.

Before anyone may return to the upstairs portion of the church, the sanctuary’s ceiling must be removed. The basement is also off limits.

The asbestos must be removed in order to avoid public exposure to the toxic material. For when airborne asbestos fibers are inhaled, those exposed are put at risk for contacting several asbestos related diseases. Mesothelioma is the most rare and aggressive form to arise from asbestos exposure, and attacks many of the body’s internal linings.

Scientists have yet to find a mesothelioma cure. Leading oncologists in the field of mesothelioma treatment to conduct studies and clinical trials in an attempt to improve palliative care and find a cure for the disease.

The church is receiving estimates as to how much the asbestos abatement and ceiling replacement will cost.

Once the asbestos is removed and the ceiling is replaced, Herman will return to the church and evaluate the ceiling. Once approved, permits will be issued in order for worship to re-begin.

As of now, the church is sealed off and holding services elsewhere.

Residents of 36 town homes in a Ventura, California complex may have been exposed to asbestos particles.

Tenants were assured that work on the homes’ popcorn ceilings would not be hazardous to their health–for the ceiling, as the owner claimed, did not contain asbestos.

That sentiment, however, has been proved untrue. Following a resident’s complaint, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District tested some of the materials scraped from the ceiling, and discovered elevated levels of asbestos.

Due to this discovery, residents are now concerned for their health. For when airborne asbestos particles are inhaled, those exposed are put at risk for contracting several asbestos related diseases. Mesothelioma is the most aggressive form to arise, and affects nearly 3,000 Americans each year.

Mesothelioma doctors often fail to diagnose patients with the disease for several decades following their exposure, and because mesothelioma symptoms mimic those of other diseases, the diagnostic process is even more complicated.

Owner of Ventura Village Green apartments, Tony Biedul, and contractor, Bill Bigler, have been issued multiple notices of violation, which may carry fines as high as $10,000.

Biedul claims he was unaware there was asbestos in the building, and told Bigler to go ahead with the work, which included repairing water-damaged walls and ceilings.

“What I should have done is have the asbestos abatement guy take care of it first, but I didn’t know asbestos was involved,” said Biedul.

Biedul has now hired a contractor to complete the asbestos abatement and fix the problems in the 36 town homes. While the abatement occurs, residents were given enough money to stay at the Motel 6 on Johnson Road.

Asbestos has been found in the former office of Louisville, Kentucky’s Metro Councilman, George Unseld.

Following Unseld’s sudden death, on June 11, the toxic material was discovered in his office. In order to address the blood and asbestos, the office has been closed since Unseld collapsed. The asbestos was discovered while cleaning the room following Unseld’s death.

"Basically, it’s in the mastic which is the glue under the carpet,” said city spokeswoman Lindsay English.

Asbestos is a potentially hazardous material, for when individuals are exposed to asbestos particles, whether directly or indirectly, they are put at risk for contracting malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer which attacks the mesothelium.

Treatment often arrives too late for those diagnosed with the disease, and, unfortunately, a mesothelioma cure is yet to be found. Mesothelioma doctors recommend aggressive palliative treatments like chemo or radiation.

The asbestos located in Unseld’s former office, however, poses less of a health risk than if it were found in the ceiling, or drywall.

"Since it’s in the glue and it won’t be what’s termed ‘friable,’ which means it can crumble and be powdery and then get particles into the air, then that’s kind of an easier process to remove," said English.

The asbestos removal will be conducted by Metro Public Works, who have noted that a clearing of the third floor will be unnecessary.

As of now, only members and staff are allowed in the hallway near Unseld’s former office.

Students at three schools in Mackay, Australia have been exposed to asbestos due to contractor negligence.

The incidents occurred at Mackay North State High, Mirani State High and Moranbah East State High. The incidents have prompted the State Government to announce plans to ban negligent contractors.

The audit, conducted by Queensland State Schools Asbestos Management, found that an asbestos contractor failed to inform Mackay North State High School’s staff that its workers were on school grounds.

The audit also found that Qbuild failed to notify Moranbah East State High School’s principle that a contractor used an insufficient, standard vacuum to remove asbestos material-possibly allowing asbestos particles to become airborne.

Lastly, the report noted that, at Mirani State High School, the ceiling collapsed due to a “minor structure failure” and students were required to shower in their uniforms due to the asbestos which rained down upon them.

In all of these incidents, students were put at risk for contracting asbestos related diseases–such as malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare disease which affects the linings of many of the body’s internal cavities.

Many mesothelioma doctors have trouble treating the disease, as it is particularly aggressive.

The contractors will be dealt with severely, and the government will ban negligent contractors, such as those who performed work on the three schools.

The audit also contained 13 recommendations to strengthen policies and procedures at the schools, including training for school staff and greater requirements for contractors.

A free program for women with cancer called Look Good…Feel Better will be held today, June 24^th, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital from 5:30 until 7:30 PM. The event will be held in the Kessler Health Education Library and is hosted by Angela Hall-Jones of the American Cancer Society and Julie Durmis, DFCI Health and Patient Educator.

Brigham and Women’s hospital is one of the country’s foremost cancer treatment centers, and many patients with mesothelioma receive their treatment there. Dr. David Sugarbaker, one of the leading physicians in the field of thoracic oncology, is the Chief of Thoracic Surgery here.

Today’s event offers free facials, manicures, and makeup application for female cancer patients, and aims to boost patient self-esteem and morale. Trained cosmetologists will be present. Events like this are held frequently at Brigham and Women’s in an effort to provide patients with opportunities to enjoy themselves in the midst of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation.

While women very rarely develop mesothelioma cancer, more and more cases have been documented in the last decade due to second-hand asbestos exposure. Women who washed work clothes belonging to a family member that contained asbestos particles may have inhaled these fibers, subsequently developing a malignancy later on in life. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma cancer, which has no known cure and is considered to be one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. Approximately 3,000 Americans are diagnosed annually, and thousands more worldwide.

To register for the event at Brigham and Women’s, please call 617-632-3226 or email Nicole Baglione of DFCI at nicole_baglione@dfci.harvard.edu.

After being diagnosed with mesothelioma, Joni L. Johnson, a Lexington, Kentucky resident, has named 144 defendants in her asbestos-related case.

Johnson was diagnosed with the disease on February 23rd, and filed a complaint in Kanawha Circuit Court on May 17th.

Asbestos is a fire retardant material which exists in many older buildings. The material can be found in flooring, drywall, roofing and a slew of other construction materials. When disturbed, the toxic particles are released in the air–creating a dangerous environment for workers, especially those who failed to receive a warning concerning their work.

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer which most commonly affects the pleura–the membrane which protects the body’s lung cavity. Symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain lie dormant for several decades, making mesothelioma difficult to diagnose.

Mesothelioma doctors constantly search for improved screening methods in order to earlier detect the disease in patients.

Johnson claims her father was employed by the defendants, as a pipefitter, from 1948 until 1976.

According to the suit, the defendants are being sued for negligence, intentional tort, conspiracy, strict liability and contaminated buildings.

Johnson claims she is a nonsmoker, and that her mesothelioma wasn’t a result of smoking. The asbestos related case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

A long disputed asbestos legal malpractice trial will begin on Monday. Madison County, Illinois resident, Judy Buckles, is suing Goldenberg Heller, Antognoli and Rowland of Edwardsville for failure to secure large enough settlements in her husband’s mesothelioma claims.

Mesothelioma is an asbestos related cancer which attacks the mesothelium. The disease most commonly affects the chest cavity–causing chest pain and shortness of breath. Symptoms, however, typically lie dormant for several decades.

Treatment, therefore, tends to arrive too late for those diagnosed with the disease. And without a mesothelioma cure, patients are left with little hope. Mesothelioma treatment efforts are, unfortunately, simply palliative.

Buckles originally filed her suit in 2001, and re-filed it five years later. Buckles has also accused the firm of allowing some of her husband’s claims to lapse.

Both parties have argued over the role attorney John Simmons played in the claims. The Goldenberg defendants have even argued that it was the attorney’s fault the claims had lasped.

At one point, several attorneys overlapped in representing Buckles.

Madison County Circuit Judge, Barbara Crowder, sat down with both sides to hammer out the details of the suit. Crowder warned the parties that she may not oversee the trial. However, the judge reassured Buckles that someone will take up the suit for her.

The trial was scheduled to begin this morning.

In a case brought before the Fifth District Appellate Court, justices ruled in favor of Cynthia Simpkins–of who brought the case regarding her mother’s death, due to secondhand asbestos exposure, against CSX.

The ruling now holds that any employer who allows its workers to return home with asbestos-ridden clothing is responsible for any disease that worker, or his/her immediate family members, contract.

The case was brought before the Fifth District Appellate Court after Madison County, Illinois’s Circuit Court Judge, Daniel J. Stack, dismissed three counts of the woman’s asbestos complaint.

Annette Simpkins was exposed to asbestos fibers while washing her husband’s clothes from the years 1958, until 1964. Once mesothelioma doctors diagnosed Annette with the disease, she filed a complaint.

Mesothelioma treatment, however, failed to prolong Annette’s life expectancy, as she passed away in April 2007. At that time, her daughter, Cynthia Simpkins, took over as plaintiff in the case.

Mesothelioma is one of the most rare and aggressive forms of cancer to arise from asbestos exposure. The disease typically affects the lung, heart and abdominal cavities.

The Appellate court ruled that CSX had a duty of care to protect Annette Simpkins, and had failed to do so.

Justice Melissa A. Chapman wrote: "To find that an employer whose workers are exposed to asbestos owes no duty to protect others from exposure — assuming the exposure is both foreseeable and preventable without undue burden — merely because the others do not have any particular special relationship with the employer (such as employee or business invitee) would defy logic and lead to grossly unfair results.”

Newton, Massachusetts will finish their $197.5 million Newton North High School construction project slightly under budget–despite the cost increase to demolish the old building.

Although there had been, originally, a $4 million allowance for the demolition of the 1970s-era building, an additional $3.6 million is required to remove all hazardous materials.

Tests showed the 37-year-old structure was ridden with asbestos, lead, mercury and PCBs. All hazardous materials must be removed under regulated procedures, before demolition may occur.

When asbestos particles are made airborne, individuals exposed to the hazardous material, for an extended period of time, are placed at risk for contracting mesothelioma. The disease attacks the linings of many of the body’s internal cavities.

The rare cancer, which affects 2,000-3,000 Americans each year, is difficult to diagnose. Doctors have, unfortunately, yet to find a mesothelioma cure. Mesothelioma doctors often struggle to treat this type of cancer, as it is particularly aggressive.

City officials accepted the winning bid for the demolition project from Costello Dismantling. The district had upped the demolition allowance to $10 million; however, they will pay $2.5 million less than their increased allowance for the job.

Dan Costello, president of Costello Dismantling, is prepared for additional contamination: ‘‘but we’re well prepared. We’re scheduled to be working on the site until March, so we should have plenty of time, and we have extensive experience and have worked with the abatement company who will be removing the material from the site in the past.’’

Demolition is scheduled to begin July 1, after all hazardous materials have been removed from the building, and is set to conclude by March 2011.