Saverio Todaro has admitted to putting hundreds of contractors at danger by exposing them to hazardous asbestos material.

On March 26, Todara, who owns the company SAF Environmental, admitted to falsely claiming that numerous New York buildings he had supposedly “inspected” were absolutely free of asbestos. He had done so by acquiring falsified test benefits.

Todaro has agreed to pay over $300,000 in damages–an amount which will cover most of his false inspection reports. Todaro never set foot in the buildings he had claimed to between the years 2001 and 2009, however, he continuously collected the inspection fee money.

Todaro has also pleaded guilty to 11 violations, and could receive a prison sentence of up to 88 years.

Todaro’s actions are particularly alarming concerning those who were exposed to asbestos due to the inspection agent’s falsified reports. For inhaling airborne asbestos fibers puts those exposed at risk for contracting mesothelioma. Mesothelioma, though a rare cancer, is difficult to diagnose and often goes unseen for several decades. The disease’s latency period tends to, unfortunately, make mesothelioma treatment unsuccessful.

The inspection agent has refused to speak to reporters about the scandal. However, it has been noted that Todaro feels remorse for what he has done, and for endangering the lives of countless contractors.

Todaro’s actions may, in the future, result in individual suits against his company, SAF Environmental. For once mesothelioma doctors diagnosis the contractors with the disease, the employees may sue the company for compensation.

A man serving a prison sentence for crimes related to the improper handling of asbestos has asked for a furlough from his jail time in order to donate a kidney to his sick son. Alexander Salvagno is serving a 25-year prison term at Fort Dix, New Jersey after being found guilty of federal asbestos crimes. Salvagno and his conspirators were found guilty of falsifying over 75,000 asbestos tests. Now, he wants nothing more than to help his 9-year-old son, Alexander, Jr.

Asbestos crimes are taken seriously by the federal government. Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, and the majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years following diagnosis. Even patients who undergo extensive palliative mesothelioma treatment, which may include chemotherapy or surgery, generally do not survive longer than twenty-four months.

“I respectfully request permission to be allowed to file a joint motion with my wife, Rebecca O’Keefe, seeking a temporary furlough from my term of imprisonment to facilitate a kidney transplant for my nine year old son, Alexander Jr., for which I will be the kidney donor,” Salvagno wrote to U.S. District Court Senior Judge Lawrence E. Kahn, who is based in Albany, New York.

“[My son] was born with a bulk of medical ailments, including kidney failure, which has deteriorated to the point that his doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital have determined that transplant is now necessary and are seeking to perform the transplant in approximately July of this year,” he added.

New York City Police Officer Robert Oswain, who served in the Bronx and also participated in recovery efforts following the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, passed away on Saturday following a battle with cancer that his family attributed to the dust at Ground Zero. Officer Oswain was just 42 years old and a newlywed.

Officer Oswain served with the 47^th Precinct in the Bronx and played an important role at Ground Zero following 9/11. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly issued a statement lauding Officer Oswain for his public service and “valiant struggle” against cancer.

Officer Oswain’s family and fellow police officers believe that toxic dust at Ground Zero caused his cancer. Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, believes that no one can really predict the outcome of inhalation of toxic dust at Ground Zero, and believes that the government must do more to support those who volunteered following the attacks and were exposed to all sorts of airborne contaminants, including asbestos.

“More must be done on a federal level for the thousands who answered the call without question and were stricken from toxic exposure,” said Lynch.

Initially, some recovery workers, NYPD and first responders did not wear protective gear like self-contained breathing apparatus’ to protect themselves from inhaling toxic air: there simply was not enough time to think about such protective measures, as their first priority was searching for survivors. Eventually, all workers at Ground Zero were provided with proper safety equipment, but by then it could have been too late to prevent the eventual onset of diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer, asthma, and mesothelioma cancer. Many have already developed what is called the “World Trade Center Cough” as a result of breathing in contaminated air. A first responder named Deborah Reeve, who assisted with recovery efforts on 9/11, died of mesothelioma (a fatal cancer caused only by asbestos exposure) in 2006. Her doctors say that her cancer was caused by exposures at Ground Zero. The real effects of asbestos exposure on 9/11 may not be known for decades.

Officer Oswain, called “one of the forgotten heroes of 9/11,” will certainly be remembered for his heroic and selfless dedication to the city which he served.

Two contractors based near Buffalo, New York have been charged with asbestos-related crimes by the State Attorney General’s office. According to officials, Robert Bishop of East Amherst and Salvatore Capizzi of Grand Island have been arrested and charged with felonies related to improper disposal of asbestos, a known carcinogen. Bishop is the owner of Peerless Environmental Control, a local asbestos abatement contractor, and Capizzi is a self-employed demolition contractor.

The two men allegedly disposed of over five tons of asbestos-contaminated debris in an abandoned warehouse on Leslie Street in Buffalo. While the site has now been cleaned up, the total cost associated with making the warehouse safe to occupy once more was over $137,000. If found guilty both Bishop and Capizzi will face up to seven years in jail.

When improperly handled or disposed of, asbestos can release tiny fibers that can kill if inhaled. Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, as well as asbestosis, a chronic inflammatory disease that can damage the lungs and cause death in some cases. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure.

"People who try to cut corners by illegally dumping harmful materials like asbestos endanger the public and hurt the environment," said Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

"My office has no tolerance for polluters who fail to comply with the state’s stringent hazardous waste disposal laws."

The cities of Watertown and Ogdensburg, New York, are set to receive financial assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfield program. Funds from the program are given to initiatives that clean up dangerously blighted or contaminated properties to make them suitable for new use. The city of Ogdensburg will receive a $1 million award, as well as an additional $200,000 to continue the cleanup at the former Standard Shade Roller property.

"This is all very good news," Ogdensburg City Manager Arthur J. Sciorra said in a statement. "We are eager to get the asbestos abated and the buildings demolished at the Shade Roller site, and the cleanup grant is another step toward achieving that goal."

Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are various kinds of treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, and the majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years following diagnosis.

The $1 million grant awarded to Ogdensburg will set up a larger fund to help other area property owners who are dealing with contamination issues. "We’ll use the program to inventory those sites and then put together redevelopment plans and then make money available to implement those plans through the revolving loan fund," Ogdensburg City Planning and Development Director J. Justin Woods said, adding, "The fund will give us another tool in our redevelopment toolbox."

After an asbestos scare rocked Mount Vernon High School in Westchester County, New York, officials say that the school is now safe for students and staff. Teachers and other staff returned to work today, and students are set to return tomorrow. Engineers say the building is structurally sound, and air quality tests show that asbestos is not present.

Asbestos exposure has been conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, and remains tragically incurable. Sadly, the cancer usually kills within two years following diagnosis.

Classes were canceled last Monday after a 100-foot section of wall in the auditorium collapsed, sparking fears of possible asbestos release in the school. Desiree Grand, a spokeswoman for the Mount Vernon City School District, told reporters: “That entire area has been sealed off to undergo more testing.”

But even though asbestos was not present at detectable levels, many students and parents are leery about the risks of returning to school. Student Felipe Marcelino was in the auditorium an hour before it collapsed. "And if I had been there what would they be saying to my mom today? Would they be apologizing for my death or would they be making up some excuse?"

"I have to get the kids back in school and I would not bring kids back to a school that I felt was unsafe," said Dr. Welton Sawyer, school superintendent.

Over the weekend, the son of the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon participated in the sixth annual Asbestos Awareness Day conference in Chicago, Illinois. The conference was hosted by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. Jordan Zevon is the son of recording artist Warren Zevon, perhaps best known for his smash hit “Werewolves of London.”

Zevon spoke at the conference in memory of his father, who passed away several years ago from mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Zevon spoke alongside noted asbestos and mesothelioma experts, as well as research scientists, doctors, mesothelioma patients, and families who lost their loved ones to mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and remains incurable despite promising efforts from researchers around the world. Sadly, this cancer can kill within months of being diagnosed in some cases, although treatments like chemotherapy can help some patients to prolong their lives.

Many cases of mesothelioma are due to occupational exposure to asbestos. Those who worked with asbestos-laden brake pads, insulation, fireproofing materials, and other products which contained asbestos repeatedly during the course of their careers face an elevated risk of developing mesothelioma later in life. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has worked in recent years to raise awareness of mesothelioma and other occupational diseases.

"The tragedy of occupational cancers resulting from asbestos, benzene and other carcinogens is that it takes so long for science to be translated into protective action," says Dr. Maria Neira, WHO Director of Public Health and Environment. "Known and preventable exposures are clearly responsible for hundreds of thousands of excess cancer cases each year. In the interests of protecting our health, we must adopt an approach rooted in primary prevention; that is to make workplaces free from carcinogenic risks."

The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer has released the 82 recipients of the 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award. Included on the list is Upstate University Hospital, located in Syracuse, New York, and Puget Sound VA Health Care System in Seattle, Washington.

The award is given to hospitals with a cancer program that offers excellence in patient care. Doctors from close to 500 medical facilities nationwide completed a survey and submitted it to the American College of Surgeons. Representatives then visited several facilities and conducted evaluations before designating award winners.

The Outstanding Achievement Award, or OAA, was first given in 2004 to recognize hospital cancer programs that provided the very best in cancer care. Winners must be in compliance with six standards representing five areas of cancer program activity, including cancer research, community outreach and cancer committee leadership. 18% of the 432 cancer programs surveyed in 2009 received an OAA.

Cancer treatment is an exciting area of medicine, as new developments are found every day. Many cancer programs are dedicated to researching various types of cancer, including mesothelioma, in an effort to one day find a cure.

Also on the list of OAA winners is Connecticut’s Greenwich Hospital, Florida’s Baptist-South Miami Regional Cancer Program, and Hawaii’s Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu.

The full list of recipients can be viewed by visiting www.facs.org.

A settlement between an insurer and the city of New York may provide a settlement to Ground Zero workers. 95% of plaintiffs/the afflicted must approve of the deal before it can be approved. Many of those afflicted include first responders and emergency personnel.

If 95% of the plaintiffs approve of the package, then the settlement will stand at $575 million. If 100% approve, the settlement package increases to $657 million. The money, which comes from a federally-funded insurance fund created six years ago, will help those who are suffering from 9/11-related medical problems.

According to New York City doctor Marc Siegel, "We don’t know what’s going to happen down the line. There’s a risk of cancer here, I believe. There’s a risk of emphysema. Permanent lung damage occurring down the line. Right now, we’re seeing asthma."

Because of the large amount of dust, asbestos, and other debris released into the air on September 11^th, many who worked at Ground Zero may be at risk of developing serious health problems later in life, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer linked almost exclusively to asbestos exposure.

Carpenter James Nolan, who helped recover bodies at the World Trade Center site, would use his settlement to pay off his medical bills. “We’ve had to fight for what we deserve,” said Nolan. “I’m glad it’s coming to an end.”

Gary Klein, a retired cop with lung scarring, says that the settlement may not be enough. “A million dollars is not a lot of money if you have cancer and need chemotherapy,” Klein said. “What’s going to be left for your family after you die?”

In Saranac Lake, New York, the village Board of Trustees has voted 3-2 to finance the removal of asbestos from a property on Neil Street. The site has fallen into disrepair, and contains a dilapidated trailer. All told, it has been reported that it will take $12,000 to remedy the asbestos situation.

The removal of asbestos is important, as exposure to the material can cause serious health problems. Inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers can ultimately prove lethal, with asbestos exposure linked to lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma, a rare cancer, can affect the lungs, the lining of the heart, and the tissues in the abdominal cavity. Sadly, the disease can kill within months of being diagnosed in some cases.

The village had planned to sell of the Neil Street property once it had been cleaned up, but the parcel is so tiny (about a tenth of an acre) that developing the land could be tricky. "At this point, the property is useless unless someone wants to put a trailer back there," said Trustee John McEneany.

"The board’s intent was to clean up the property," McEneany added. "I also know it was the intent of the board to get it back on the tax rolls and possibly put in some kind of workforce housing. But at these particular dimensions, that isn’t going to happen."

Village Manager Marty Murphy recommended that in order to entice buyers, the property should be clean and free of asbestos. "I would recommend we put it out to the open market first, and if we’re not able to sell it that way, perhaps we can approach some not-for-profit agencies and see if we can structure some kind of a partnership," Murphy said.