Cancer Society: Ban Asbestos to Stop Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cancer Death

Canada has long been the world's largest exporter of chrysotile asbestos, which accounts for more than 90% of the asbestos historically used in the United States.

The Canadian government continues to claim that chrysotile asbestos is safe.

Now Canadian cancer experts are taking a stand against this long held government policy which seeks to protect the prized, but deadly, mineral and the profits it brings to Canadian mines and manufacturers.

The Canadian Cancer Society is now calling for an asbestos ban.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=50d51cc6-b606-4ffd-a1c9-db40c1e8d42b&k=15816

According to this Canada.com article: "The society believes that exposure to asbestos must stop so that asbestos-related diseases can be eliminated," Barbara Whylie, CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society, said in a written statement.

In response, Pat Martin, an MP and former asbestos worker was quoted as saying:

"....it was high time a group as credible as the Canadian Cancer Society 'debunked the myth' that chrysotile asbestos is safer than other types of asbestos."

It is refreshing to see an influential group like the Canadian Cancer Society challenge the Canadian government's irresponsible position that has caused tens of thousands of workers in Canada and the United States to develop mesothelioma and asbestos cancer.

The same propaganda put out by the Canadian government is adopted by American corporations who seek to avoid responsibility for compensating asbestos victims.

Chrysotile asbestos accounts for nearly all the asbestos ever used in the United States and is the greatest contributor to malignant mesothelioma in this country.

Early Diagnosis of Mesothelioma By Testing Levels of Mesothelin in Pleural and Peritoneal Effusions

Mesothelioma researchers in Australia have announced that mesothelioma can be diagnosed at an early stage by testing levels of mesothelin in fluid taken from a pleural effusion or peritoneal effusion. http://www.cancerpage.com/news/article.asp?id=11098 Such effusions are a classic mesothelioma symptom and testing fluid from pleural and peritoneal effusions is often the first diagnostic test for suspected cases of mesothelioma.

According to the article in Cancerpage.com, the team of Australian researchers, led by Dr. Jenette Creaney, maintains that: "Measurement of mesothelin levels in effusions could facilitate earlier diagnosis."

The article also states: "Dr. Creaney and associates previously showed that serum levels of mesothelin had high specificity and moderate sensitivity for mesothelioma. Based on these findings, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of serum levels of soluble mesothelin for disease monitoring in mesothelioma."

The possibility of a test that could detect mesothelioma at an early stage could extend and perhaps even save lives. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed at advanced stages when the mesothelioma has already spread in sheets throughout the pleura or peritoneum.

We hope this break-through will lead to earlier mesothelioma diagnoses and ultimately a mesothelioma cure.

Texas Suit Claims Asbestos Caused Refinery Worker's Colon Cancer, Death

According to an article on asbestos exposure in the Southeast Texas Record, William Holmes, a local refinery worker, died of colon cancer more than a year ago. His benefactor, Joy Holmes, claims William's cancer was caused by asbestos and is suing Chevron U.S.A. and Texaco for negligently exposing him to the "toxic" dust during his employment at the Port Arthur plant.

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal (colon) cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. There is no single cause for colon cancer. Nearly all colon cancers begin as benign polyps, which slowly develop into cancer. And in almost all cases, early diagnosis can lead to a complete cure.

However, Joy Holmes and her attorney are confident William Holmes colon cancer developed from asbestos exposure.

"During Holmes employment as a laborer and outside machinist, he used and was exposed to toxic materials including asbestos dust and/or fibers," the suit said. "As a result of such exposure, Holmes developed an asbestos-related disease, specifically colon cancer, for which he died a painful and terrible death on March 1, 2006."

The suit alleges that the oil conglomerate knew for decades that asbestos-containing products could cause the disease asbestosis and other asbestos-related cancers but still allowed its employees to work with and around the naturally occurring mineral.

Asbestos, an excellent fire retardant, was used for centuries in the construction of buildings.

Joy Holmes is suing for exemplary damages and seeks "to recover from the defendant an amount in excess of the jurisdictional limits of this Court. "Further, plaintiff seeks a claim for prejudgment interest for all elements allowed them," the suit said.

Asbestos and the World Trade Center Ad

I was doing a little more research on Asbestos and the World Trade Center buildings, and I came across the above advertisement on Gawker.com and their ongoing Lies Well Disguised series of Blog Posts. Back in 1981, there was research coming out that Asbestos was cancer causing and this ad was in rebuttal to that research touting the benefits of using Asbestos. The text over the Twin Towers states, "When the Fire Alarm Went Off, It Took Two Hours to Evacuate New York's World Trade Center." I do not need to remind anyone of the images of September 11th and this ad. The copy below the ad goes on to mention all of the places that Asbestos was used in the World Trade Center. I can not not think of all of the innocent victims in the area that were exposed to all of the dust, smoke and inherent asbestos that was in the air after the buildings collapsed. The cloud of smoke went across the entire city and potentially exposed hundreds of thousands of individuals to asbestos. Hopefully there can be a cure or treatment for Mesothelioma before all of these potential victims are diagnosed.

Questions Surrounding Asbestos from World Trade Center Collapse

According to a recent USA TODAY article, when the World Trade Center collapsed, thousands of tons of asbestos spewed into the air of Lower Manhattan. In recent months, the asbestos has aroused more fear and blame than any other pollutant in the controversy over air quality near Ground Zero. Asbestos does not cause the respiratory and eye problems that many New Yorkers are experiencing, but the microscopic fibers do cause lung cancer.

Officials at the Environmental Protection Agency say city officials took responsibility for whether buildings should be reoccupied. So the EPA restricted its testing to air and dust levels outdoors. Despite the lack of monitoring, EPA officials started reassuring the public soon after Sept. 11 that asbestos posed no problem. "EPA is greatly relieved to have learned that there appears to be no significant levels of asbestos dust in the air in New York City," EPA chief Christie Whitman said Sept. 13. Whitman and other EPA officials neglected to say that the agency tested only outdoors, where air pollution and toxic dust are quickly diluted to harmless levels.

Dozens of private firms have run tests, but the results can be controversial. A private scientific firm hired by elected officials found up to 79,000 of the most dangerous types of asbestos fibers per square centimeter in the dust in an apartment near Ground Zero. "These dust numbers are extraordinary," says Richard Lee, president of RJLee Group, a materials lab and consulting firm. "I think you'd have to recommend, based on (these) numbers, that these be professionally cleaned."

Even one-time doses of asbestos, if large enough, can raise the risk of mesothelioma, a rare cancer.