The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first-in-human clinical trial of a new technology, which will be a joint effort between Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City.  The trial will study the effectiveness of Cornell Dots, nanoparticles that light up cancer cells in PET-optical imaging.

Already considered a breakthrough in cancer diagnostics technology, Cornell Dots may help identify aggressive cancers sooner.  Mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the lungs, heart, chest and abdomen caused by prolonged asbestos exposure, is a particularly difficult cancer to detect.  This silent killer takes decades to develop and does not become symptomatic until it reaches later stages.  Malignant mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed and, even when diagnosed properly, it is rarely detected early enough to preserve the patient’s life.  The development improved diagnostic tools absolutely is absolutely essential to winning the battle against mesothelioma disease.

Cornell Dots are the first nanoparticles to meet the criteria necessary to receive FDA approval for a study. The dots have, therefore, proven themselves “tumor selective, nontoxic, and exhibit favorable targeting and clearance profiles.”

The silica nanoparticles are coated in polyethylene glycol (PEG) so the body does not target them as an invading or harmful agent. They are then allowed to stick to tumor cells through organic molecules that attach to the PEG shell.  Infrared light caused the dots to light up and serve as a honing beacon for cancerous cells.

According to the researchers, this new technology “enables visualization during surgical treatment, showing invasive or metastatic spread to lymph nodes and distant organs, and can show the extent of treatment response.”

Dominick Mazza, owner of Tinton Falls, New Jersey demolition company Mazza & Sons, farm owner Cross Nicastro II, Julius DeSimone and Donald Torriero have been accused of dumping 30,000 tons of pulverized asbestos-contaminated construction debris on wetlands around New York’s Mohawk River for over five years and using a fake state permit to do so.  Asbestos is an extremely hazardous mineral fiber and exposure is lethal to humans.

The use of asbestos was banned in the Unites States in 1989.  However, tons of asbestos-containing construction material still exists in buildings across the nation.  To keep workers and residents safe from the damaging effects of asbestos exposure, which include lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the body’s major organs and cavities, government regulations exist regarding its removal and disposal.  Because responsible asbestos remediation can be costly, many companies aim to cut corners, endangering workers and members of the community.

This same year, another New Jersey company, Eagle Recycling of North Bergen, pled guilty to conspiracy, agreeing to pay $500,000 and comply with environmental laws.  Like Mazza & Sons, the company was accused of dumping contaminated materials on 1.3 acres of a farm in Frankfort.

Pulverizing asbestos-containing material causes microscopic, carcinogenic fibers to become airborne.  These fibers can then be inhaled by anyone handling the debris, as well as anyone that comes within the vicinity of the debris prior to and after being dumped.  These fibers lodge in the lungs, festering for year and eventually causing pleural mesothelioma, which specifically affects the lining of the lungs.

In an article recently published in Current Treatment Options in Oncology, researchers from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York have reviewed multi-modality therapy in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.  Multi-modality therapy is a combination of different types of treatments and is the most common form of mesothelioma treatment.

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and terminal cancer of the protective lining of the lungs.  It is caused almost exclusively by prolonged asbestos exposure.  Approximately 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United States, many of whom were exposed to asbestos while on the job.  Current mesothelioma treatment is considered palliative, as there is no known cure, and it consists of some combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

There are two main types of mesothelioma surgery.  The first is a pleurectomy-decortication, which strips away cancerous membrane and tumors, but saves the lung.  And the second is an extrapleural pneumonectomy, which removes the lung, diseased lining around the chest cavity and heart and part of the diaphragm.  However, after surgery, mesothelioma generally recurs, leaving doctors with no other option than to add chemotherapy and/or radiation to the patient’s therapeutic regimen.

In their article, the Sloan-Kettering researchers explain that extrapleural pneumonectomies carry a significant incidence of patient mortality and that many of the patients who survive the surgery are too weakened to handle radiation or chemotherapy.  They also noted that patients who underwent pleurectomy-decortication showed better outcomes and could undergo high-dose, targeted radiation.  They ultimately concluded that the best possible treatment of mesothelioma must be a multi-pronged response.

American soldiers have been showing their support of tsunami-ravaged Japan by aiding in the cleanup efforts.  In Ishinomaki, soldiers shoveled rotting debris from the roadside.  Spc. Brent Meadors wore a face mask while shoveling as a precautionary measure to protect against toxic waste, but most of his team didn’t bother with protective gear.

“There is lots of black tar and muck on the ground and dirt and debris flying and I’d rather not have any accidents,” said Meadors, 25, from Medford, Oregon.

In order to prevent soldiers from being exposed to hazardous materials, 1st Lt. William Wilson, an Army environmental health scientist, traveled to Ishinomaki to test the soil, air and water where U.S. personnel are living and working.  According to Wilson, the army is testing primarily for “airborne things like asbestos and silica-based compounds. We will also look for radiological things, but that is only a small part.”

Because it was so widely used in construction materials prior to the 1980’s, asbestos is a major concern.  This toxic mineral is known to cause serious respiratory diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the abdomen and lungs.  Inhaling these types of life-threatening toxins during cleanup efforts is not uncommon.  In fact, the Justice Department will be distributing $2.8 billion in compensation to rescue workers who became ill from inhaling toxins, such as asbestos, at ground zero after the 2001 World Trade Center attack.

The Japanese government warns that asbestos is a real threat and that “It’s still underneath the rubble.”  It would seem that is in the best interest of our soldiers to take every precaution necessary to protect themselves from the threat of exposure.

The national news offices of CBS in New York recently published a photo gallery reviewing the “10 worst jobs for your lungs” on their Web site www.CBSnews.com.   Among the listed professions are health-care workers, textile workers, bartenders, bakers, automotive workers, transporters and miners.  Close to the top of the list are firefighters, manufacturing workers and construction workers, who all face one of the same major respiratory threats: asbestos.

Asbestos is a highly toxic mineral that was used liberally in construction and manufacturing throughout the 19^th and 20^th centuries.  It was only banned in 1989 when there was absolutely no doubt that asbestos caused a variety of fatal respiratory diseases, such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the body’s major organs and cavities.

Asbestos is most dangerous when it is disturbed, as it releases microscopic, carcinogenic fibers that become airborne and are easily inhaled.  These fibers fester in the lungs for decades, eventually causing the onset of pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs, which can spread to the chest, abdomen and even the heart.

During demolitions and renovations, construction workers can inhale massive amounts of dust, and if the building in question was constructed before the 1980’s, there’s a good chance they’re inhaling asbestos.  The use of protective gear, including a respirator, when working on older buildings is one solution.  Learning to spot asbestos and report its presence is another.

Factory workers often have to deal with hazardous chemicals and substances, and although asbestos is banned for many uses, there are some industrial exceptions.  When working with potentially dangerous materials, workers should always wear protective gear.  However, factory workers in older plants may also be unwittingly exposed to asbestos found in decaying construction materials.

When a building goes up in flames, its asbestos becomes airborne, and firefighters without respirators are the first to inhale the material.  Even when the fire is extinguished, firefighters still have to sift through debris and inspect unstable buildings, allowing for more opportunities to inhale pulverized asbestos.

Source: CBS News Inc.

In Chester, New York, long abandoned sheds and pumping stations are proving to be more problematic than the everyday eyesore. These buildings were constructed using what are now deemed toxic chemicals and building materials, which are now seeping into the surrounding soil. What is even more troubling is that nearby Glenmere Lake is at great risk of contamination. Glenmere Lake provides the drinking water for the Town of Florida, and should its waters become contaminated, Florida’s citizens would find themselves in grave danger.

Asbestos is one toxic mineral that appears on the list of contaminants. Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral known to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare but extremely dangerous cancer of the protective lining of the body’s major organs.

Clean-up of the Glenmere Lake area has become paramount for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), who see a very real possibility of an entire town being affected by the hazards, such as arsenic. Cleanup workers face exposure themselves, and will have to use extensive safety equipment, including respirators, as asbestos exposure generally occurs via inhalation of asbestos fibers.  These fibers fester in the lungs for decades, ultimately causing the onset of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, which affect the lining of the lungs and abdomen, respectively.

The decaying property in question was once a part of the Glenmere Mansion but was abandoned when its owners could not pay the taxes to keep up the pumps and sheds.  The state must now deal with their demolition and the containment of the chemical release. Even so, the DEC’s priority is first to remove the contaminated soil to prevent contamination of the lake.

There have been a lot of conspiracy theories floating around about the 9/11 attacks, but none have ever been taken too seriously. In a September interview with Al-Jazeera at his headquarters in Chicago, Minister Louis Farrakhan thought he too might throw his hat into the conspiracy ring by giving his own account of the terrorist events.

Farrakhan first suggests the involvement of the Bush administration in 9/11 stating “the Neo-Cons that were surrounding President Bush, who were the architects of something called a “Project For The New American Century,” said that America needed something like “Pearl Harbor”—9/11 was America’s new Pearl Harbor. To summon the American people in their anger and horror over what happened.”

Farrakhan believes that the government’s so-called deceit of the American people was due to a fear of the growth of Islam in America. “And they needed something to gather the American people, and under Zionist influence, stop the spread of Islam; stop funding for legitimate Islamic projects, and frighten the immigrant Muslims in America so that they would not speak up.”

The Muslim Minister calls for a “real independent investigation of 9/11.” He claims that when Larry Silverstein bought the World Trade Center, the “building was filled with asbestos. It was not safe for dwelling.” Asbestos is in fact a toxic chemical that can cause diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen and organs, but many buildings have safely contained asbestos and don’t pose a health threat unless the asbestos products within are damaged and become friable.

Asbestos poses the most environmental risk when a building is being remodeled or demolished. When asbestos is broken or crushed, it releases toxic fibers that can be inhaled, causing pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs. There is no cure for this illness and mesothelioma treatment efforts are only palliative.

Farrakhan insists that Silverstein “had in a clause in the contract that should a terrorist attack take place, he would be paid. So he made a fortune from that event.” He concludes the explanation of his conspiracy theory by stating that these are the reasons why people question whether Osama Bin Laden was actually to blame for 9/11.

New York City is being sued by 9/11 cleanup and rescue workers, including policemen and firefighters, after having been exposed to toxic dust that has caused a plethora of respiratory illnesses. These same workers now have the opportunity to join a legal settlement that could pay them as much as $815 million, as long as they’ve made their decision by Monday, November 08, 2010.

Over 10,000 9/11 laborers have also sued the companies that handled the post-attack cleanup of lower Manhattan. The workers claim that their illnesses are directly related to the inhalation of the pulverized remnants of the Twin Towers. Among those remnants, it is known that asbestos fibers were prevalent.

Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral that was banned in the 1980’s, after it was linked to such fatal diseases as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the chest, abdomen, heart and lungs. Of patients suffering from mesothelioma, at least 77% suffered prolonged exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma can take decades to develop, on average 40 years, and is extremely aggressive in its final stages. The cancer is difficult to diagnose and treat because it doesn’t begin to show symptoms until it is in at least stage three or four. Mesothelioma treatment combines surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but rarely does anything more than increase the patient’s life expectancy by about a year and a half.

The 9/11 workers, who are already suffering the effects of other illnesses, are now facing the possibility of contracting mesothelioma, and it is because the government and its contractors failed to provide proper protective gear.

There have been many recurring complaints from staff as well as students regarding serious symptoms that were only being experienced when inside of the Laurel Plains Elementary School building in Clarkstown, New York. The entire school was evacuated and classes relocated to a neighboring elementary school in order to deal with this problem once and for all.

One fourth grade teacher, Terri Cafaro, claimed she’d been experiencing symptoms since September 16^th and said that she only suffered from them during the week. Her alleged symptoms included consistent dizziness, nausea and headaches, which could be caused by any number of unknown substances in the school’s ventilation units.

All pipes and air systems have been checked and all tests have returned negative for any harmful substances. However, the school is still taking precaution and replacing units. These symptoms are very similar to symptoms involving asbestos exposure, which can lead to many serious diseases. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the lining lungs, heart, chest and abdomen that is almost always caused by prolonged asbestos exposure.

It is not likely that Cafaro’s symptoms pinpoint mesothelioma, as the cancer takes an average of forty years to develop and is very difficult to detect. However, once it is detected it is almost always fatal. Mesothelioma treatment including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and various types of surgery, but none are surefire cures.

If a definite connection to asbestos is found in this school, children and faculty should immediately see a doctor to test or monitor for asbestos-related diseases.

For well over a century, asbestos was hailed as a miracle mineral. It was fireproof, an excellent electrical insulator and resistant to acids and other chemicals. It was woven into fireproof cloth, used in pipe insulation, mixed into concrete and included into heat-resistant clothing and equipment.

Asbestos was prevalent in the ship-making, construction, refining and steel industries, and in the military it was used as insulation in electrical wiring, ships and planes. In 1939, the U.S. Navy required its use in all constructed naval vessels, generating the use of almost 300 different asbestos-containing products in ship-building alone.

By the 1980’s the toxic effects of asbestos were well known and asbestos was banned from use. However, asbestosis’ legacy continues, as many asbestos-related diseases, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdominal cavities, take decades to develop and show symptoms.

Now, the military refuses to provide statistics regarding how many veterans have died from asbestos-related diseases, although some sources say 26% of mesothelioma patients are former military that worked around asbestos manufactured products. What’s even more disappointing is that Washington is cutting back benefits for mesothelioma patients.

Asbestos is a silent killer that still poses a threat today, as it remains prevalent in older homes and materials, such as vinyl floor tiles from the 50’s and 60’s. Asbestos is most dangerous when it is disturbed, as it releases toxic fibers when it breaks or crumbles. The fibers can be easily inhaled and can cause pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs.