Asbestos turns up in toys, children's clay and other products

Asbestos turns up in toys, children's clay and other products

According to an article on asbestos, the substance that can cause malignant mesothelioma was found in toys and children’s clay.

Asbestos has been found in a variety of consumer products, including one of this season's biggest-selling Christmas toys, according to the nation's largest asbestos victims’ organizations.
The CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit, two brands of children's play clay, powdered cleanser, roof sealers, duct tapes, window glazing, spackling paste and small appliances were among the products in which asbestos was found by at least two of three labs hired by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.

The group, which was created in 2004 by asbestos victims and their families, spent more than $165,000 to have government-certified laboratories examine hundreds of consumer products over 18 months to determine whether asbestos was present.

The product that is of greatest concerns to some public health experts is the fingerprint kit, which is a huge seller, according to sales personnel interviewed by the Seattle P-I.

The kit, made in China, is one of several items licensed by CBS after its popular "CSI" science-crime shows. This model has an extensive array of plastic tools, inks and three types of very fine powders -- white, black and glow-in-the-dark. The analysis done for the victim's organization found high levels of two types of asbestos in the white and the glow powder.

Physicians are especially concerned because of the significant likelihood of children breathing in asbestos fibers as they hunt for fingerprints and use a soft-bristled brush to move the powder around.

CBS Consumer Products responded quickly when told of the reported contamination.
"We've asked our licensee to immediately conduct an independent test in the U.S. for asbestos. If the toy is determined to be unsafe, then we will insist that the licensee remove it from the market," a statement from a CBS spokesman said.

The manufacturer and distributor -- Planet Toys in New York City -- said in an e-mail that it frequently inspects the plants in China that make the CSI toys. "We respect anyone's right to test our products and should their or our future tests reveal anything unacceptable, we'll of course take swift action to remove contaminated products from the market."

Another product the labs said contained asbestos was Art Skills' Clay Bucket, where asbestos was found in six colors of clay.

The Pennsylvania-based family business uses clay from Thailand and, Jennifer Hogan said, produces "a safe and hazard-free product" which has "passed all toxicology tests required to conform to applicable United States safety standards."

Hogan says her firm appreciates the seriousness of the organization's concerns "and will pursue vigorously any evidence of hazardous substances in our products."

The laboratories reported asbestos in Scotch High Performance Duct Tape and its All Weather Duct Tape, both of which are manufactured in Canada, according to 3M.

"3M has a policy against using asbestos in our products," said Jackie Berry, a corporate spokeswoman, "and we don't use asbestos in our duct tape."

The labs also said asbestos was found in numerous tests of DAP Crack Shot Spackling Paste and DAP's 33 Window Glazing.

David Fuller, vice president of marketing for DAP, said "neither product contains asbestos. As a responsible company, DAP has been, and will continue to be, in regular contact with our suppliers and will routinely review information and regulations relevant to ensuring the safety and efficacy of our products."

Paul Zygielbaum, a survivor of mesothelioma, and his wife, Michelle, proposed tests of products readily available on U.S. store shelves. "Our reasoning was that, while the continuing legality of asbestos doesn't seem to cause public outrage, the actual, unsuspected presence of asbestos in everyday products might do so," said Zygielbaum, who managed the testing.

After reporting its findings at a news conference in Washington on Wednesday morning, the organization says it will submit its testing information to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the EPA.

Asbestos in the Workplace: The Occupational Time Bomb

A blog posting on asbestos in the workplace asserts that there are entire classes of workers who have been put in danger without even knowing it.

Contrary to popular belief, asbestos when left alone, poses little threat to human inhalation though those asbestos containing materials should be replaced as a rule. However it is when it is damaged by heat, weather, or other force which renders it “friable,” when it is most dangerous.

When the asbestos fibers become loosened or otherwise disturbed by any number of factors they become airborne and inhaled.

Occupational hazards are the most common origin of asbestos related health complications. Duties which engage asbestos materials are those who are the most likely to disturb the particles and inhale them. This can happen in a myriad of occupational situations but is most common in shipyards, construction sites, and some areas of manufacturing.

Asbestos related diseases, such as the lung cancer mesothelioma, are incredibly painful and debilitating ailments, in which in the absence of a cure the body will eventually asphyxiate itself. Often the symptoms of asbestos related respiratory complications will not appear for several years, even decades after an exposure.
This can lead many to be unaware of the causal relationship between a prior occupational exposure and the reality that they now have to deal with.

It is important that if you have been exposed to asbestos, or think you may have been exposed while working in one of the above or related industries that you seek the assistance of a physician. There are medical, emotional, and legal support structures already in place to assist victims of occupational asbestos exposure. Early detection of the disease is the primary variable which can increase treatment and quality of life management options.

If you, a coworker or a family member has been exposed to asbestos, contact the law firm of LEVY PHILLIPS & KONIGSBERG, LLP. LPK has been a pioneer in representing victims of asbestos exposure, and is one of the nation’s premier law firms in the areas of toxic torts, product liability, personal injury, and discrimination law.

Benefit Concert for Asbestos Disease Awareness and Research Funds

According to an article on asbestos disease awareness, a concert will be held on December 8th,, Presented by Jones House Music, to Be Held at Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez, CA – Featuring Tributes from Jordan Zevon and Other Well-Known Artists.



WHO:

Friends of Warren Zevon Featuring:
-- Jordan Zevon, Warren Zevon's son and ADAO National Spokesperson whose debut album is scheduled for release in early 2008 on New West Records
-- Mike Campbell and The Dirty Knobs, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitar player with The Heartbreakers; performed on Zevon's Grammy winning album, the Wind
-- Kenny Edwards, co-founder of the Stone Poneys with Linda Ronstadt and Bryndle with Karla Bonoff; recorded numerous Zevon songs and performed on Zevon's Excitable Boy album
-- Matt Cartsonis, multi-instrumentalist and composer for film, television and various commercials; performed in Zevon's final tour
-- Phil Cody, singer and songwriter; toured with Zevon in the 1990's
-- Plus - up and coming young artists: Crosby Loggins and Paul Cartwright and Friends



WHAT:

Tribute Concert to Warren Zevon, who was taken in 2003 by the asbestos cancer, mesothelioma. Presented by Jones House Music, the concert will include songs from a myriad of performers who played with Zevon in various settings, including for his final album, The Wind, which earned two posthumous Grammy Awards in 2004 for Best Rock Performance By A Group or Duo for "Disorder in the House" along with longtime friend Bruce Springsteen, and Best Contemporary Folk album.

Warren Zevon's legendary career includes over 18 albums, 2 gold records, 1 platinum record, 2 Grammy awards, an honorary presidential award from NARAS, and numerous Songwriter of The Year Awards from publications like Rolling Stone Magazine. His biggest hit, "Werewolves of London" continues to make critic lists as one of the best Rock songs of all time.

Funds will be used to support the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) and the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF). The occurrence of asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, is growing out of control. Studies estimate that during the next decade, 100,000 victims in the United States will die of an asbestos related disease - equaling 30 deaths per day.

Tickets are $35 and are available starting November 5 at http://www.warrenzevontribute.com/ or at the Maverick Saloon http://www.mavericksaloon.org/.

$250,000 pledged for mesothelioma research

According to an article on mesothelioma research, a study on the cause of mesothelioma — a rare, as-yet-incurable cancer — among some Iron Range miners has been given a financial boost.

A $250,000 appropriation that would help pay for medical examinations of miners as part of a University of Minnesota and state Department of Health study was unanimously approved Thursday by the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board at a board meeting at IRR headquarters near Eveleth.

Since 2003, 58 Iron Range miners have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare, fatal form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Iron Range lawmakers have fought passionately to move ahead with a study that would pinpoint whether iron ore dust causes the disease.

The $250,000 IRR appropriation, which Gov. Tim Pawlenty still needs to approve, would be spent locally for x-rays, MRIs or other diagnostic services on miners, Rukavina said.