Notices that read “Danger. Asbestos Cancer and Lung Disease Hazard” popped up in various places at the Marine Drive Apartments in downtown Buffalo last Friday, prompting concern from residents who were given no explanation as to why the signs were posted.

According to an article in The Buffalo News, the city Housing Authority received a mandate from the Office of Public Employee Safety and Health telling them where to post the signs and ordering that they be posted immediately. That meant there was no time to meet with residents before the signs appeared. Hence, when the signs were spotted on elevators and on the front and back doors of each of the seven buildings in the complex, questions arose and tempers flared.

“I received a dozen calls and people coming to my door asking are they safe: ‘What do I do now?’ ” said Joseph Mascia, a Marine Drive resident who also serves as a  tenant-elected commissioner on the Housing Authority board.

The article noted that asbestos concerns first arose last August when contractors removed asbestos around some water pipes that were leaking. It was found that these individuals did not follow proper guidelines for asbestos abatement, including posting warning signs while they worked in the area. A state investigation into that incident also prompted the discovery of more asbestos in floor tiles, linoleum and plaster ceilings, wrapped around heating pipes, and in all exterior and interior caulking.

Residents immediately became worried that their individual units also contained asbestos but because the signs went up just before the weekend, they were unable to obtain answers to their questions. “BMHA was cruel and irresponsible in posting these warning signs on a Friday evening without any further explanation about our health risks, safety,” explained one tenant, who later found out that only the common areas, boiler room, and maintenance room are affected.

Dawn Sanders, executive director of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, says they weren’t trying to “inflame” residents. Instead, they were trying to avoid fines that could have resulted from the violations if they did not comply immediately. She noted that normally they would meet with residents first. The building manager was informed of the goings on, but was not provided with enough information in order to meet with residents to provide an accurate assessment of the situation.

Whenever asbestos warning signs are posted, there is immediate concern about the inhalation of asbestos dust, which can cause a variety of lung-related diseases to develop, usually later in life and decades after exposure occurs. This long latency period makes asbestos-caused cancer – mesothelioma – difficult to diagnosis and tough to treat as it is often not diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage.

Members of the Asbestos, Lead, and Hazardous Waste Laborers’ Union Local 78 organized a protest this week at UBS in Stamford, Connecticut, attempting to point out that asbestos can kill when it’s not removed properly.

The protest, according to an article in the Daily Stamford, was organized because the union, whose members are licensed to remove hazardous materials, claim that UBS, an international investment bank, has disregarded local and federal rules governing the proper removal of all types of asbestos materials. Union members distributed fliers to interested bypassers, claiming that New York Insulation, a company hired by UBS to remove asbestos from its Stamford location, is doing substandard work.

In addition, the fliers pointed out that the company has a lengthy history of violating federal Clean Air Act laws, and that the methods New York Insulation uses for the removal of asbestos puts everyone’s health at risk, including that of the company’s own workers.

In addition to distributing fliers, the union members brought two coffins with them to the protest. The coffins bore large yellow signs that proclaimed, “Asbestos Kills!” Inside the coffins were mannequins that were dressed to resemble construction workers, complete with hard hat.

The union, which is based in New York, also encouraged concern citizens to contact UBS’s Chief Executive Office, Bob McCann, to urge him to reconsider the hiring of New York Insulation. “Tell him what every first-grader knows: People’s health is more important than the bottom line,” the flier encouraged. It also listed the ways in which the company had violated asbestos laws, including specific examples.

Proper asbestos abatement laws are in place in all 50 states, designed to protect individuals from exposure to the toxic mineral, which was used in literally dozens of construction products throughout the first three-quarters of the 20th century. Construction workers are among those at highest risk for developing the asbestos-caused cancer known as mesothelioma, which most often attacks the lining of the lungs or abdomen. Mesothelioma kills approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Americans per year and has historically responded poorly to treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation. Though treatment options are improving, it remains one of the deadliest types of cancer.

Officials in Warren, Ohio are proud to report that the site that was once the biggest blemish on the city’s landscape is now cleaned up and ready for reuse. According to an article in the Business Journal Daily, an area known as the Mahoningside site along the Mahoning River has been cleared of thousands of tons of asbestos- and PCB-laden soil that made the area one of the most toxic sites in the state. Now, say local government officials, someone may be interested in purchasing the land and building something that will replace the long-time eyesore.

It’s been 12 years since the effort to clean up the 6.5-acre site began, and the city has spent $6 million to clean up the area that was once home to Sterling Electrical Manufacturing Company, Warren Electric Power and Light, and Summit-Warren Industries. The plant was dynamited in 1999 but the debris remained for a dozen years, threatening the health of those nearby.

The clean-up, notes the article, was especially important and extremely sensitive because of the proximity of the site to the Mahoning River. That meant that water contamination was a very real threat, stressed Mayor Michael O’Brien, who notes that contaminants – including asbestos, PCBs, and other substances – were found shortly after the plant was demolished. These were the result of 70 years of use by industries that commonly used asbestos inside their plants.

From 1999 until the clean-up was complete, more than 16,000 tons of contaminated soil was removed, added Michael Keys, Warren director of community development. “About 4,000 tons was soil containing PCBs while another 10,000 tons contained asbestos,” he noted.

The Warren site is just one of hundreds of former power plants and other industrial sites around the country that are contaminated with asbestos-containing debris. Many have been rehabilitated with funds from state Brownfields programs, which allot money for the clean-up of properties where re-use “may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Individuals who live or work near sites contaminated with asbestos are constantly in danger of inhaling tiny asbestos fibers that can become embedded in the lungs, causing cancers like mesothelioma as well as other lung-related ailments.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has begun the movement for a global ban on asbestos. Over the weekend, Rudd successfully pushed an amendment into Labor Party policy. The amendment is a commitment from Australia in the effort towards an asbestos free world.

While many industrialized nations have already taken large steps in banning asbestos production, more than one third of the world continues to expand their use of asbestos. Many of these countries are developing nations concentrated in Asia.

Many health experts fear the devastating health implications, such as a mesothelioma endemic, that this expansion may bring about.

Outlined in the amendment, in 2012 Australia will assemble a global conference along with a global alliance against the use of asbestos and the International Labor Organization.

Foreign Minister Rudd is not alone in the battle. The Australian Council of Trade Union’s president Ged Kearny fully supports the Foreign Minister’s international commitment to ban asbestos. Kearny believes that Foreign Minister Rudd is the perfect man to organize the attack on asbestos.

According to the ABC reporter, Matt Peacock, the asbestos industry is still booming, especially in Asia where countries like China and India are rapidly increasing their usage of asbestos cement building products.

Approximately two millions tons of asbestos are being sold every year. Developing countries are being flooded with the asbestos fibers simply because of a lack of information. Many of these countries have yet to realize the devastating effects of asbestos. In 30 or 40 years these countries will be faced with the devastating effects of asbestos like the waves already experienced by industrial countries like Australia and the United States.

Australia is taking a crucial step in the global ban on asbestos. The country’s global efforts will hopefully prove valiant in 2012 and will ultimately end the devastation brought on by asbestos related diseases.

Recent research by the National Institutes of Health’s Center for Cancer Research found that injected neon green spray actually helps doctors find even the smallest cancerous tumors that often are missed through more traditional methods like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Though the research sounds more like science fiction rather than science fact, this new system will revolutionize cancer medicine. However, the research was limited to peritoneal ovarian cancer in lab mice, but the implications for all types of cancers, including malignant mesothelioma, are numerous.

This spray is actually a Food and Drug Administration-approved, non-hazardous “fluorescence agent” known as indocyanine green covers cancerous material, including cells, tumors and nodules, allowing MRIs and other imaging machines to capture crystal clear pictures of the area.

The Revolutionary Neon Green Spray

Clearly, the application of the intravenous indocyanine green in cancer patients means that surgeons will be able to perform more precise and exacting surgeries, possibly eliminating the need for multiple surgeries.
Chemotherapy and radiation treatments will also become highly targeted. If doctors are able to pinpoint the exact location of cancerous tumors that are out of reach of surgeons’ scalpels, then these patients may not need to receive hazardous levels of radiation and chemotherapy.

Further, the use of indocyanine green will also limit the amount of time spent in MRIs and other imaging machines. Both doctors and patients will gain a much more thorough and comprehensive view of the cancer.
The use of the neon green spray in conjunction with MRIs may aid in the cancer staging process, overall treatment plans, prognoses and recovery times.

For patients suffering from a lethal cancer like mesothelioma, the staging process is incredibly complex. Earlier staging usually equals more longevity. Essentially, if a patient is diagnosed with an earlier stage of mesothelioma, the treatment options widen.

Even more, with the use of the indocyanine, spray may help doctors evaluate individuals at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma before any signs or symptoms begin. The neon green spray may also revolutionize the way that doctors screen for cancer, allowing for earlier and earlier detection.

As it grows colder outside, families across the country are turning their focus onto winterizing their homes, hoping to keep their heating usage and bills in check.

For most of the country, the winter season means closed windows, recirculated air and fires in woodstoves and fireplaces. Gone are the days of summery breezes, open windows and fresh air freely circulating.

Many families are rightfully concerned about how clean their air is during the winter months, simply because of the lack of consistent fresh, outdoor air.

Common Indoor Air Quality Concerns

Essentially, we live in a polluted world. Every time something is released into our air, we’re at risk for breathing it in. Consider this: every time you use your regular spray cleaner, open a window as a truck passes by or your uncleaned furnace kicks on, you’re breathing in contaminated air.

However, some pollutants are more harmful to our health than others are.

For example, many homes contain asbestos, and long-term exposure to airborne asbestos particles may lead to mesothelioma, a deadly disease that affects the lining of the lungs, heart and abdominal wall.

Radon, a naturally occurring gas, is linked to lung cancer.

Lead-based paints, if ingested, may lead to damage in the nervous system.

All of these examples pose a threat to our indoor air quality, especially if any of these materials becomes loosened and airborne.

How to Keep Your Air Safe: Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint

Above all, if you suspect that you have asbestos products or any lead-based paint anywhere in your home, leave material alone. Don’t attempt removing suspected toxic materials yourself. Contact a certified asbestos-removal professional or a contractor to tackle the issues.

Further, if the asbestos is intact and remains in good condition, then the risk of asbestos exposure decreases. As long as the asbestos is undisturbed, then the deadly particles can’t become airborne and there isn’t a danger of inhalation. The same applies to any lead-based paint.

Nevertheless, if the asbestos in your home is in good condition and, yet, you remain concerned, contact a professional asbestos-removal contractor. In most cases, these professionals will seal the asbestos so that the fibers remain intact, and upon request by the homeowner, can remove the asbestos all together.

For lead-based paint issues, always let a professional handle the material.

Again, never attempt to seal or remove any suspected asbestos or lead-based paint on your own.

How to Keep Your Air Safe: General Tips

• Install and maintain whole-house air ventilation systems
• Invest in an air cleaner or purifier
• Keep your home free of mold and dust
• Regularly service wood burning stoves and fireplaces
• Ensure that all home windows are installed correctly and maintained regularly
• Switch to natural, non-toxic household cleaners and paints
• Place plants around your home
• Clean and maintain your furnace regularly
• Test the radon levels in your home, and if the level is unsafe, install a radon ventilation system

Resources

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Accessed on November 21, 2011. (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/is-imprv.html)

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality: Asbestos. Accessed on November 21, 2011. (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/asbestos.html)

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Asbestos in Your Home. Updated on June 7, 2010. Accessed on November 21, 2011. (http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html)

US Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality. Accessed on November 21, 2011. (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/450.html)

WebMD. Breathe Easy: 5 Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality. Reviewed on January 8, 2009. Accessed on November 21, 2011. (http://www.webmd.com/health-ehome-9/indoor-air-quality)

TheDailyGreen. 10 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality. October 16, 2008. Accessed on November 21, 2011. (http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/organic-parenting/voc-paint-55101601)

Fears surrounding asbestos exposure surged recently due to several major natural disasters. From Turkish earthquakes to tornadoes in Australia and hurricanes in the West Indies, fears moved from the events themselves to what happens in the aftermath of these events.

Specifically, the focus shifted from surviving the events to cleaning up and getting life back to normal as quickly and safely as possible.

However, the resurgence of asbestos exposure fears comes directly from emergency responders, military personnel, good Samaritans, families and friends who joined together to pick up the pieces left by these terrible natural disasters.

Natural disasters are indiscriminate beasts. Structures and buildings of all ages, sizes and types are equally vulnerable, and every inch of the planet isn’t immune from Mother Nature.

During a tornado or an earthquake, building materials containing asbestos and other asbestos products come loose and become airborne. When a person inhales these deadly particles, their chances of later developing mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases increases dramatically.

Widespread destruction refuels these asbestos-related concerns because many people are inadvertently and unintentionally exposed to these particles while they are trying to help others clean up after a natural disaster.

Clearly, these concerns are valid. Though the use of asbestos in building materials has been banned since the 1970s in most developed countries, asbestos remains in many existing structures. Unfortunately, the complete eradication of asbestos from all structures is improbable.

In addition, the general awareness of the toxic nature of asbestos is virtually universal. Most people understand and recognize how dangerous asbestos is. Another problem with the aftermath of natural disasters is that many people – though fully aware of the danger asbestos poses – do not know that they’re being exposed to asbestos.

Disasters don’t necessarily take the form of massive destruction like a hurricane or tornado. Sometimes even a localized blizzard is enough to cause considerable damage. For example, heavy, wet snow can cause roofs to collapse and trees to fall. Excessive rainfall can cause flooding and roof damage. A small wind storm can down trees and rip shudders off houses.

Essentially, natural disasters are as big as the damage they cause.

If Mother Nature takes her vengeance on your area this year, remember these tips so that you stay safe and healthy:

• Keep your eyes, nose and mouth covered with protective gear if you’re working in a damaged house
• Wear protective gloves and keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth
• Keep children and household pets away from the damaged area
• If you know the house predates the ban on asbestos products, then call in an asbestos removal expert to help clear away any debris

Recently, Scottish researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow discovered a new chemotherapy delivery system for patients suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Mesothelioma is a deadly disease that affects the pleura or the lining surrounding the heart, lungs and stomach, often caused by asbestos exposure. Pleural mesothelioma – where the lining of the lungs is damaged – is the most regularly diagnosed type of mesothelioma.

Dr. Chris Carter, project leader and a Senior Lecturer with the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biosciences, along with Professor Alex Mullen and Dr. Valeria Ferro discovered that a common chemotherapy drug used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer more effective when delivered in a vaporized state.
The chemotherapy drug known as Cisplatin is administered as an injection through an intravenous drip, given over a course of several hours. However, the Scottish research team discovered that if Cisplatin is administered through an inhaler rather than an intravenous drip, the drug begins to work more quickly and effectively on the cancerous lung tissue.

Since the majority of mesothelioma diagnosis are for pleural mesothelioma, inhaling the chemotherapy drug directly into the lungs targets only the cancerous cells instead of the healthy cells that often come into direct contact with an intravenous drip.

When a potent chemotherapy drug, like Cisplatin, interferes with healthy cells, it slows the overall treatment of mesothelioma, putting the patient in further danger.

According to Dr. Chris Carter, the new inhaled delivery system “would make the treatment far less onerous for [patients] and we hope it would help them to live longer.”

With this new mesothelioma drug delivery system, the hope may be that the often devastating side-effects of chemotherapy are less severe. In particular, the side-effect risks of Cisplatin include vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss and dehydration, among others. Unfortunately, Cisplatin, like many other chemotherapy drugs, often have more physically devastating, severe symptoms that may hinder the on-going treatment and adversely affect the patient’s overall health.

Though more research into the delivery system is needed, perhaps with the direct approach of an inhaled chemotherapy drug will lessen the impact of side-effects on patients.

Moreover, the Scottish research team’s discovery may lead to other less invasive and safer drug delivery systems for malignant mesothelioma, asbestos cancer and lung cancer.

Funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, a team of international scientists and researchers published a pioneering paper about a genetic predisposition to malignant mesothelioma.

Initially, the research team set out to explore preventive measures for mesothelioma and whether there could be a genetic susceptibility to the disease. What the research team discovered is no less than shocking.

Working with two families that have a documented abnormally high rate of malignant mesothelioma, the scientists discovered that those individuals within these particular families that developed mesothelioma, all of them had distinct mutations in proteins, BRCA1 and BAP1. This study solidly demonstrates that the majority of mesothelioma cases are directly linked to asbestos exposure, there is also a genetic predisposition for others who have these mutations.

In short, individuals that have inherited mutations in two proteins – BRCA1 and BAP1 – the chance of later developing increases.

BRCA1 is a breast cancer gene, and if the gene mutates, then an individual’s risk for developing breast cancer increases. Properly working, the BRCA1 gene repairs DNA. However, if the gene mutates, then BRCA1 is unable to repair the damaged cells.

BAP1 is a protein associated with BRCA1 that helps BRCA1 combat tumor growth. Unfortunately, if BAP1 mutates, then its even more challenging for BRCA1 to prevent the growth and spread of tumors, especially if BRCA1 itself is also mutated.

Researchers found that individuals that have these mutations – specifically, a mutation somewhere along the BAP1 gene – not only increase their chance of developing malignant mesothelioma after asbestos exposure, but also may develop malignant mesothelioma spontaneously.

The discovery surrounding the BAP1 mutation and the link to developing malignant mesothelioma and other cancers at higher rates is the primary focus of the study and possibly the most astonishing.
Understanding the causal link between inherited genetic mutations and later developing mesothelioma will help researchers pinpoint high-risk individuals. Identifying individuals who carry this genetic mutation is gigantic first step in the direction of prevention and early mesothelioma diagnosis.

Further, the study also demonstrated that with these two genetic mutations, other cancers are more likely to develop, including ovarian, breast and pancreatic cancers.

This particular study is a part of on-going research into causes and prevention of mesothelioma, and how asbestos exposure affects the public the National Institutes of Health is undertaking.

Recently released reports by the state of Virginia Department of Labor and Industry indicated that asbestos exposure occurred among at least a dozen individuals at the Surry nuclear power plant in April. According to Cory Nealon of the Daily Press, the exposure allegedly occurred during the removal of piping, which required cutting through asbestos material and releasing the fibers into the air.

While there was no air sampling equipment on the premises, a dozen workers were found to have asbestos material on their clothing and person following exposure. Hopewell, Virginia-based Quality Specialties, who was tasked with labeling and handling all asbestos material, was fine $4,900 for failing to properly label the piping involved.

Workers noted upon after cutting into the piping material using blowtorches and other tools, that asbestos fibers were visible in the air, resembling dust particles or very fine snow.

Asbestos exposure is not uncommon in older facilities like the Surry nuclear plant. Asbestos was used in a number of different industrial capacities until being regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1989. Asbestos has been linked to lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other respiratory complications among those exposed. Exposure among pipe fitters, electricians, and plumbers is considered common, particularly among those working with older materials.

Asbestos like that in the Surry plant is often abated, which means it is carefully removed or encased. Without being disturbed, the fibers will pose no harm while intact. It is only upon being released into the air that it can be inhaled and present a hazard- a hazard clearly experience by workers at this particular plant. Investigations are ongoing between the state authorities, Dominion Power and their contractors responsible for abatement procedures.