Some students in Oklahoma were unable to return to classes following the holiday break in their own school today due to an issue related to hazardous materials. Asbestos was found in the Adams Elementary School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma yesterday and now the school has been closed until further notice is provided.

Officials for the Labor Department have since determined the building to be unsafe and the school district has relocated Adam’s students to the nearby Roosevelt Middle School.

Exposure to asbestos-containing materials has been known to lead to the development of a number of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.

Typically these types of diseases do not fully develop and show on tests for anywhere from twenty to fifty years. Due to this tendency mesothelioma treatment options for the diagnosed are often very limited. In many cases such diseases are already in the advanced stages of development by the time they are discovered.

Asbestos was often used in building supplies throughout the twentieth century. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that use of the dangerous substance began to become regulated when congress formed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Many buildings constructed before this time have asbestos-containing materials in some portion of the building. The materials must be safely removed in order to prevent exposure.

A new test will soon be offered by Rosetta Genomics that will be able to distinguish asbestos-caused malignant pleural mesothelioma from lung cancer. The miRview™meso test is a MicroRNA-based diagnostic test that will allow doctors to rule out the possibility of mesothelioma in those individuals that have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials.

Exposure to asbestos has been known to result in any one of a number of asbestos-related diseases which include not only lung cancer and mesothelioma, (often referred to as asbestos cancer) but asbestosis and other respiratory problems as well. Often because such diseases have a significantly long latency period treatment options for those diagnosed are often very limited. In many cases the diseases are in their advanced stages by the time that they are discovered twenty to sixty years after initial exposure to the dangerous toxin.

Rosetta Genomics’ clinical lab located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is expecting to conduct approximately two-thousand of the miRview™meso tests throughout 2009. The company has approximately sixteen million dollars in funds appropriated for the testing that will be conducted at the Philadelphia clinical lab.

According to researchers for the company this is the first test of this type and as Harvey Pass, MD has stated, “Will become an important tool for both oncologists and pathologists in obtaining the right diagnosis in these patients.”

Rosetta Genomics made the announcement regarding the availability of the test early last week.

An asbestos-related lawsuit has recently been filed in the Jefferson County District Court of Texas by four brothers who claim that their father’s recent death due to mesothelioma was wrongfully caused by Chevron and Gulf Oil. According to the lawsuit Gliese Bergeron developed mesothelioma as a result of his employment with Chevron and Gulf Oil.

In the lawsuit it is stated by Bergeron’s four sons, Kyle, Dan, Ted, and Mark Bergeron that their father was employed with the company as a pipefitter, truck driver, operator, maintenance planner, and insulator in 1942 and again from 1946 until 1983. It was during this time that the plaintiffs feel their father was exposed to dangerous asbestos-containing materials.

Exposure to such materials is commonly known to result in the development of any one of a number of asbestos-related diseases which include mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Because such diseases typically take twenty to sixty years to show in tests the diagnosed are often faced with very limited treatment options by the time diagnosis occurs. In many cases such diseases are already in the advanced stages of development by the time that the discovery is made.

The sons of Bergeron feel that the outcome of such exposure should have been foreseeable by their father’s employer.

Kyle, Dan, Ted, and Mark Bergeron are seeking punitive and exemplary damages in an unspecified amount. Gliese Bergeron passed away from mesothelioma on October 31st of 2008.

An Australian man who filed an asbestos claim against Ford Motor Company and was awarded damages found out last week that Ford intends to drop its appeal against the compensation battle. Antonio Lo Presti found out the good news on Christmas Eve but feels that Ford could have broke the news earlier in order to reduce stress for the family. The compensation awarded to Presti totaled $840,000.

Presti developed asbestosis as a result of his employment with the Ford Motor Company from 1970 to 1987. It was during this time that he was exposed to asbestos while working on automobile brakes for the company.

Asbestos was used in a number of automotive products until the 1970’s at which time the dangerous nature of the substance was discovered. Following the discovery congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and use of the toxic substance began to become regulated by the government.

Presti’s compensation was the first successful claim against an automobile corporation by a mechanic. He began to feel the consequences of working with the harmful material in the late 1990’s.

There are a number of other diseases that may be caused by exposure to asbestos-containing materials as well which include lung cancer and mesothelioma. In many cases treatment options for such diseases are limited due to the long latency period that they typically have. In many cases the diseases have reached advanced stages by the time that diagnosis occurs.

A woman has recently filed an asbestos-related lawsuit on behalf of her late benefactor in the Jefferson County District Court in Texas. In the suit Shirley Osborne names 23 defendant corporations as being responsible for the death of Michael Osborne. Included in the corporations named is A.O. Smith Corp.

Asbestos was commonly used in a number of building, automotive, and railroad supplies throughout the early twentieth century. It wasn’t until much later in the 1970’s that it’s dangerous nature was discovered. Following the formation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration by congress the use of asbestos began to become regulated by the government.

Osborne claims that Michael was exposed to dangerous asbestos-containing materials while employed for the companies named. It was due to such exposure that Mr. Osborne developed an asbestos-related disease which eventually took his life.

Asbestos exposure has been known to result in the development of a number of diseases which include asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Often the presence of such diseases is not noticeable until the disease is already in its advanced stages of development. For this reason mesothelioma treatment options for those diagnosed are often very limited.

Shirley Osborne is suing for lost wages, mental anguish, court expenses and medical expenses as well as exemplary damages.

The Lamar County Courthouse located in Purvis, Mississippi will undergo asbestos abatement starting in the summer of 2009. According to County Administrator Chuck Bennett workers will be relocated from the 104 year old building to alternative buildings to conduct their services while the abatement project is in progress.

The courthouse was constructed during a time in which asbestos was commonly used in a number of building supplies. It was not until the 1970’s that it was realized how dangerous the toxic substance is if exposed to. Upon the formation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration the government began to regulate the use of the harmful toxin.

Evacuation of the building is necessary in order to ensure that no workers are exposed to asbestos-containing materials.

Exposure to such materials has been known to result in a number of asbestos-related diseases which include but are not limited to asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Because these diseases typically have a significantly long latency period treatment options for those diagnosed are often very limited by the time the discovery is made. In many cases the disease is already in its advanced stages by the time it is found and mesothelioma treatment options are merely a temporary means of controlling pain and symptoms.

Bennett has stated that the renovation of the building will cost approximately $4 million and that some of that money may come from federal resources. The complete project is expected to take up to four years to finish.

Asbestos is currently being removed from the Memorial Hall building in Ironton, Ohio. The Ironton City Council recently hired Solid Rock Construction in order to complete an emergency restoration job on the building costing approximately $185,000. The asbestos that is left on the buildings roof is being removed with a crane.

Asbestos was used in a number of building supplies throughout the early twentieth century before it was realized how dangerous the toxic material was. It wasn’t until the 1970’s when congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that use of the dangerous substance began to become regulated by the government.

Exposure to asbestos-containing materials has been known to result in a number of asbestos-related diseases. Because of the typically long latency period of such diseases those diagnosed are often left with very few effective treatment options by the time discovery of such a disease is made. Diseases which can be caused by asbestos include lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.

According to Mayor of Ironton Rich Blankenship the emergency project is expected to be completed by February of 2009.

A developer from St. Louis, Missouri was sentenced on Friday to spend the next two years in a federal prison. Matthew Burghoff reportedly admitted to handling asbestos improperly as well as to committing financial crimes related to his development company.

Burghoff, who is the head of Mambo Development, pleaded guilty to the charges stemming from his conduct on October 1st of this year. The charges included bank fraud and a violation of the Clean Air Act.

According to prosecutors Burghoff pocketed money that was borrowed for various projects and supplied false documents to banks on at least two separate occasions.

Trash bags filled with asbestos were purportedly found outside of the Ford building which Burghoff’s company was renovating. The law says that the removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials is to be documented in order to ensure the safe removal of the toxic material.

Throughout the early to mid twentieth century asbestos was used in a number of building and automotive products. Its dangerous nature was not discovered until the 1970’s. It was around this time that congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and use of the substance began to become regulated by the government.

Burghoff was also ordered to pay in upwards of $580,000 in fines.

Exposure to asbestos that is removed and handled improperly can result in the development of asthma, asbestosis, and mesothelioma, a fatal cancer.

Three construction workers and a sub-contractor are expecting to hear prosecutors announce charges of manslaughter against them today in a Manhattan court. The charges are related to the death of two firefighters who were killed in August of 2007 while attempting to battle a fire at a bank building in Lower Manhattan.

The Deutsche Bank building was being worked on by the individuals charged. According to reports one of the building’s sprinkler systems was dismantled and emergency exists in various parts of the building were sealed off due to asbestos removal projects being conducted in the building. The two firefighters killed while battling flames in the sealed-off sections of the building were unable to escape.

Asbestos was being removed form the building as a result of the damage the building received during the September 11th attacks in 2001.

Asbestos that is disturbed is known to pose a significant risk of developing any one of a number of asbestos related diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Because these diseases typically have such a long latency period effective treatment options for those diagnosed are often very limited by the time the discovery of such a disease is made.

A report from the Center for Disease Control shows that occupational exposure to asbestos is still a problem despite efforts to limit exposure. They have stated that young trade workers are still developing diseases typically related to exposure to asbestos-containing materials.

Information from thirty-eight years of research conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shows that premature deaths of individuals who have developed asbestos-related diseases are occurring at a considerably high rate and that the number is still growing. Premature deaths are defined as those occurring before the individual reaches the age of sixty-five.

Asbestos-related diseases include mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. These diseases typically have a long latency period which makes finding effective treatment options very difficult in most cases. Often the diseases have reached an advanced stage by the time they are diagnosed.

The research provided by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health identifies approximately thirteen percent of the victims of asbestosis during the thirty-eight year period as being between the ages of 25 and 64.

Research also shows that 1.3 million workers in the construction industry are exposed to dangerous asbestos-containing materials each year, most often during the renovation or demolition of a structure. An additional study based on asbestos use in 2006 shows that 2,000 tons of asbestos were used for manufacturing purposes in the United States alone.

Researchers have stated that asbestos awareness efforts should continue to grow in order limit the dangers posed by the harmful toxin.