Widow fears killer disease

A WIDOW whose husband died after working with asbestos 40 years ago fears it could kill her next.

Barbara Eason and hubby Michael were planning their ruby wedding anniversary and looking forward to a long and happy retirement together.

But their dreams were shattered when the 62 year old was diagnosed with deadly mesothelioma. He died just three months later.

The former mechanic, of Darnton Road, Ashton was exposed to asbestos while working in a power station and chemical company over a seven-year period in the 1960s and 70s.

He started with a troublesome cough in December 2004 and soon began having difficulty breathing. A biopsy was carried out and it was revealed to be mesothelioma — which is caused by previous exposure to asbestos in almost all cases.

Barbara, 63, spoke out to highlight a campaign by the Health and Safety Executive on the hidden killer.

She said: "Asbestos is still the most lethal workplace killer today. Young plumbers and electricians know it’s dangerous but just don’t believe they are personally at risk.

"Michael used to climb over the pipes which were lagged with asbestos. He also had to strip it away to carry out maintenance, but was never given a mask."

Families of those who work with asbestos can also be infected if asbestos particles are brought home on clothes.



"I used to wash his work gear every week and could easily have inhaled the dust," added Barbara.

"It’s a terrible disease. It took hold of him so fast. The pain was unbearable, he said it was like a rat gnawing at his chest. His weight plummeted. At the end he looked like a concentration camp victim. It may sound shocking but that’s the only way to describe it.

"He never smoked in his life and was quite health conscious. He used to have a glass of red wine a day because it was good for his heart. Little did we know of the hidden killer already inside him."

Judith Hackitt, HSE chief, said: "Every week twenty tradesmen die simply because they have breathed in asbestos fibres during the course of their work.

"The problem today is that we associate it with a problem that’s been and gone because asbestos is now banned. The younger generation entering the workforce may think this does not apply to them, but it does."

This article was originally published at tamesideadvertiser by Adam Derbyshire on February 20, 2008

Read more...

'WE USED TO CUT UP ASBESTOS FOR BLANKETS'

For years, many of Derbyshire's industrial workers were exposed to asbestos during their employment, putting them at risk of developing an incurable form of lung cancer called mesothelioma. Hundreds of people have died from the disease and the number of those diagnosed is expected to increase during the next decade. Aly Walsh reports.

Every time Lance Barker has a bad chest, he wonders if it is the start of something more serious.

He worked in the heavy fabrication shop at International Combustion, in Sinfin Lane, Derby, for 37 years. Until the 1970s, he says, workers were surrounded by asbestos.



"Derby has its own ticking timebomb," said the 62-year-old, of Bath Street, Derby, who believes that about 10 per cent of the workforce in his 80-strong department have died of asbestos-related conditions.

"We were surrounded by asbestos. We used to get metre-wide rolls of this stuff, which we cut up to make into blankets.

"We were making high-pressured vessels for coal-fired power stations.

"We would sit inside them and weld them together. If you didn't have asbestos matting, the temperature would melt your boots.

"We would come out literally covered in asbestos fibres.

"We were never told that it was dangerous."

Mr Barker said that at the moment, he is "one of the lucky ones".

But he added: "I'm conscious that it could erupt at any time."

One man who, sadly, knows his fate is Garford Gaskin.

"Bedridden and needing 24-hour care" are the words of a doctor describing what Mr Gaskin should expect in the last few months of his life.


When you are only 65, have never smoked and always kept fit, this kind of death is hard to comprehend, especially when you are told it may be only months away.

But this is the harsh reality of mesothelioma.

"What the doctor wrote sounds evil - especially when it's me they're talking about," said Mr Gaskin, of Clinton Street, Chaddesden.

"The doctors estimated that it would take 20 years off my life."

Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos and can develop between 20 and 50 years after a person has been exposed to the material.

The cancer is usually well-developed by the time they experience symptoms, such as feeling breathless, and from this point their health rapidly deteriorates.

It is difficult to diagnose early.

Treatments that prolong a sufferer's life include surgery to remove the cancer, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Mr Gaskin, who is now 67, first noticed the signs of the disease after returning from a holiday with his wife, Janet, when they celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in May 2006.

He returned home breathless after his daily trip to the local shop to buy a paper.

Five days later, he was told by his GP to go to Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, where doctors revealed he had suspected mesothelioma.

This was confirmed a week later through biopsy results.

Mr Gaskin was shocked. It was almost 40 years since he had worked in the asbestos-surrounded environment of the former Derby Locomotive Works, owned by British Rail.

Mr Gaskin said that during his time there, between 1957 and 1968, workers did not realise that the asbestos which lingered in the atmosphere would prove deadly.

Mr Gaskin said: "They used to spray the asbestos on the locomotives for insulation and it just hung around in the atmosphere. We didn't know it was dangerous at the time and didn't wear masks.

"Quite a lot of people from there have had asbestos-related health problems and a couple have died from them."

After being diagnosed, Mr Gaskin lost four stone in a period of five weeks.

"I was breathless all the time - it's horrible when you cannot breathe in or out," he said.

In August 2006, he was admitted to Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, for an operation called extrapleural pneumonectomy, which is thought to extend a sufferer's life by 18 months.

Once mesothelioma sufferers start to show symptoms of the disease, they usually die within a year without medical intervention.

Only patients who are considered strong enough to survive are considered for this major surgery.

The operation involves removing the lining of the lungs and heart and the diaphragm to eliminate as many cancer cells as possible.

The operation went well for Mr Gaskin.

He now goes for X-rays every three months and although some new tumours have been detected, he has been told he does not need treatment at the moment.

He received a payout from British Rail last year. He did not wish to reveal the amount, but said that it in no way made up for what he and his family were having to endure.

He said: "I didn't do badly with compensation but it's not quite the same as being able to walk around and being healthy.

"They could have it all back if they could put me back to what I was two or three years ago."

Nationally, deaths from mesothelioma are predicted to rise by about 20 per cent within the next decade, with a peak in numbers between 2011 and 2015.

This is because of the period of time taken for the disease to develop in a person - 20 to 50 years - and the fact that regulations to stop widespread exposure to asbestos were not introduced until the late 1970s.

With Derbyshire's industrial history, including British Rail and the Trent Valley power stations, many of the county's workers were exposed to this deadly material.

And doctors and solicitors in the area say they are already seeing an increase in sufferers.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics and Derby Coroner's Court, studied by the Evening Telegraph, show that at least 300 people in Derbyshire have been killed by the cancer in the last 30 years.

In the period between 1985 and 2004, 122 men in Derby died from mesothelioma - ranking the city at 44 out of 408 local authorities for this period. The number of deaths has gradually increased each year.

It is thought there are 75 people suffering from the disease in the county but exact figures are unknown.

As soon as people are diagnosed with the cancer, they are advised that they can lodge a claim.

The amount awarded from civil claims varies but on average ranges from about £70,000 to £100,000.

However, most mesothelioma sufferers die before their claims are settled, because of the rapid and aggressive nature of the condition.

Many widows have to take on the battle themselves while dealing with their bereavement.

Angela Cox, whose husband, Derek, died of the disease at the age of 63 in 2002, did not receive any compensation until the end of last year.

Mrs Cox said her husband was exposed to asbestos in the 1960s while working at a number of companies, including International Combustion Ltd, which was eventually bought by Rolls-Royce Industrial Power (India) Ltd.

This was the only firm that could be traced. But R-R had argued it could not be proven how long Mr Cox had worked for them, or whether his job had sufficiently exposed him to asbestos to increase his risk of getting the cancer.

The company took the case to the Court of Appeal after a judge ruled it should pay Mrs Cox a six-figure sum.

But the judges at the London court dismissed R-R's case and ruled that the firm should give her the money.

Mrs Cox, 61, of Swadlincote, said: "It took more than five years for our case to be completed and it was very difficult.

"There were times when I felt really down and thought, why am going through this? It was the thought of my husband that kept me going."

Tony Tinley, regional officer for the Unite union, which represents many workers who have been exposed to asbestos, said that getting compensation was often a long battle.

Mr Tinley said: "Many of the sufferers die not knowing their loved-ones are being cared for and looked after.

"The insurers have tried every trick in the book to avoid paying out. Most of these employers were aware that they shouldn't be exposing people to asbestos at that time. It has been known since the 1930s that asbestos causes health problems.

"Every time their solicitors come up with a new legal argument, we have to either fight it through the court or take it to the Government."

Joanne Carlin, of Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team, said that some sufferers had a struggle trying to get compensation.

She said: "If people have worked for a small firm that has stopped trading then the insurers cannot always be found, so they cannot get a payout through a civil claim."

These people received between £10,000 and £30,000 from the Government if they were unable to make a civil claim because their employer had stopped trading.

"This is not a lot. Through no fault of their own, they are just going to work and then develop this devastating cancer that kills you."

This article was originally published at thisisderbyshire
on February 20, 2008

Read more...

Campaign to cut asbestos deaths

YOUNG tradespeople are being warned of the dangers of Asbestos which kills six electricians and three plumbers every week.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a campaign to warn of the dangers of the “hidden-killer” epidemic which has killed 661 people across Merseyside in the past 20 years.

Helena Owen, of Aigburth, lost her husband of 35 years, Robert (Bobby) to Mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer caused by asbestos, in March, 2007. A print and radio campaign using Helena’s picture has been created and will be shown to Everton fans attending a game at Goodison Park.

Bobby was 61 and had worked as a pipe fitter between the ages of 16 and 23.

This article was originally published at liverpooldailypost by Laura Sharpe
on February 19, 2008

Read more...

PLANTING RAISES AWARENESS OF CITY'S ASBESTOS 'TIME BOMB'

Victims of asbestos-related cancer and their families will gather for a tree planting ceremony to raise awareness of the disease 'time bomb' in Plymouth.

The poignant event is due to be held in the grounds of Saltram House, Plympton, on February 27 which is national Action Mesothelioma Day (AMD).

It has been organised by Jackie Lowe, who launched the Roger Lowe Asbestos Mesothelioma Campaign in memory of her dockyard worker father. Mr Lowe died of the cancer aged 68 in December 2005.

Jackie, aged 35 from Brixton, said: "We want to raise awareness of all asbestos-related conditions.

"The day is also about tying in Plymouth with the rest of the country. Despite our unfortunate links with asbestos-related conditions, it has taken a long time for people to come to terms with just how many people there are in the city affected by them. It's a ticking time bomb and numbers will peak in the next ten years."

Plymouth has been identified as the UK's fourth largest 'hotspot' for the disease, with 320 people dying from mesothelioma caused by asbestos between 1985 and 2004.

Cases are expected to peak between 2011 and 2015, as the condition takes between 30 to 40 years to emerge.

At 10.30am on February 27, families will gather near the entrance to Saltram House to plant a commemorative cedar of Lebanon.

Jackie said she also hopes to plant snowdrops at the tree's base.

There will also be a free walk-in advice clinic, with specialist medical, legal and benefits advice, and film about mesothelioma in Saltram House's Fennamore Room until 2pm.

White ribbons will be sold to raise funds for the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund.

The Roger Lowe campaign, supported by Roger's union Prospect and its solicitors Russell Jones and Walker, aims to provide a support network for mesothelioma sufferers and their families, raise funds and campaign for research into the disease, and raise awareness of the condition.

This article was originally published at thisisplymouth
on February 18, 2008

Read more...

Appeal to find asbestos workers

THE family of a Scarborough repairman who died from exposure to asbestos have launched an appeal to trace his former colleagues.
Geoff Edmonds, 79, who worked for local engineering company Brogden and Wilson for almost 30 years, died from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma last year.

It is believed Mr Edmonds was exposed to asbestos dust and fibres while working for the heating and ventilation engineering company, which closed about 15 years ago.

It is understood that neither Mr Edmonds nor former workmates were informed of the dangers associated with asbestos.

Lawyers acting for his family now need to speak to his former colleagues to find out more about his work at the firm to support a claim for compensation by his widow.

His son Chris, 49, of Kingfisher Close in Crossgates, said: "It's important that anyone who worked with him or relations of those people contact our solicitors to gain further information about the asbestos exposure. We have information about where he worked and how he was exposed to asbestos but we need witnesses to verify that.

"Quite a few of my dad's apprentices could still be working.

"Some of the people who were working with him have passed away now. Some of them have died of a similar condition to my dad," he added.


Mr Edmonds, of Westway, was born in Scarborough and after leaving school went to work for Brogden and Wilson in Sussex Street in 1941.

At the firm he repaired and maintained boilers, radiators and pipework and left in 1969.

He then worked for a couple of smaller companies to do the same work before moving into the steel industry and retired aged 65 but later became ill.

Mr Edmonds leaves a widow Audrey and two other children Terence and June.

Marion Voss, from Thompsons Solicitors in Leeds, representing the family, said: "Mesothelioma is a terrible terminal illness caused by employers' disregard for their workers' lives.

"Asbestos related diseases will cause 10,000 deaths a year by 2010 and will be the biggest industrial killer of all time.

"It is vital we trace Geoff Edmonds' former colleagues, not because compensation can make up for his death but to ensure that those people who forced him to work in such deadly conditions pay for what they did."

Davey Hall, regional secretary for trade union Unite, which is working with the solicitors, added: "As part of our successful extended family service, we're pleased to be able to offer support to Mrs Edmonds and her family and hope this appeal is successful in tracing some of Mr Edmonds' former workmates.

"There are too many tragedies caused by negligent exposure to asbestos and we hope to be able to secure justice for another innocent victim."

This article was originally published by Paul Derrick at scarborougheveningnews
on February 14, 2008

Read more...

Message of hope for asbestos victims

A MAN hit by an insidious form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure, will step into the limelight to raise awareness of the silent killer this month.

Mesothelioma sufferer John Towersey will address families affected by the disease at Barking Town Hall, Town Square on Wednesday, February 27.

Mr Towersey, diagnosed with the asbestos cancer more than four years ago, will share his experiences as the country swings into action to mark National Mesothelioma Day.

Dagenham MP Jon Cruddas will also join a panel of experts at the town hall at a time when statistics show Barking and Dagenham is one of the biggest asbestos hotspots in the country, with about 25 people dying from cancer linked to its exposure each year.

The high incidence of asbestos cancer is linked to emissions from the notorious Cape Asbestos Factory in Harts Lane, Barking, which closed in 1968.

The main forms of asbestos cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, can take decades to incubate and are marked by severe respiratory problems.

Mick Connelly, 66, of Barking and Dagenham Asbestos Victims Support Group, said: "I'm really looking forward to listening to Mr Towersey. It's a nasty disease - to get someone who can talk about it is really good.

"It will give encouragement to people who suffer from some of these issues.

"It's a very serious form of cancer. For people normally diagnosed, it used to be 12 months and that was it.

"This guy was diagnosed four and half years ago. It's an encouragement to people not to give up."

The support group will also use the awareness day to launch a database of people suffering from mesothelioma and asbestosis in Barking and Dagenham.

The news comes after the Recorder revealed a new memorial honouring the victims of asbestos cancer could be built near the defunct Cape factory site, possibly at the Barking Abbey ruins or a Quakers' burial ground in North Street, Barking.

Mr Connolly said: "There's been a bit of a delay, which was very disappointing. We're about to get it moving again and will be meeting again in a week's time and talk about this issue.

"There's been virtually no progress on that, to be perfectly honest. It's down to people changing jobs, essentially.

This article was originally published by JOHN PHILLIPS at bdrecorder
on February 14, 2008

Read more...

Heart condition killed man

A coroner ruled a man would almost certainly have died of an industrial-related disease if a heart condition had not killed him first.
Deputy coroner David Hinchliff said Robert Asquith, 58, of Highfield Road, Elland, died of natural causes on April 6 last year, as a result of his coronary arteries thickening and becoming blocked.

But an inquest heard how Mr Asquith had been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma caused by his work with asbestos, from the mid 1970s to 2002.

Mr Hinchliff said: "The cause of death was natural but an industrial disease caused him a lot of distress in his life. I am in no doubt the mesothelioma, in a very short time, would have led to his death."

This article was originally published at halifaxcourier
on February 12, 2008

Read more...

What is Mesothelioma and it's Type

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

Mesothelioma cancer affects the serous membranes that surround the major organs in the midsection of the body. Different organs can be affected by mesothelioma because the serous membranes surround the lungs, heart, abdomen and others. The most common type of mesothelioma is that which affects the lung lining, and is called pleural mesothelioma. Other types are pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the heart, and peritoneal mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the abdomen.

Mesothelioma, contrary to what many people think, is not a type of primary lung cancer. That is, mesothelioma does not originate in the lungs, but as described above, it starts in the serous membranes or lining around the lungs (or other organs). However, mesothelioma can spread to the lungs and when this occurs, it is considered to be a secondary lung cancer. Mesothelioma is also commonly referred to as an asbestos lung cancer. Technically, this is also incorrect, since mesothelioma does not originate in the lungs. Asbestosis is a type of asbestos lung disease that is often confused with mesothelioma.

Types of Mesothelioma:

• Pleural Mesothelioma




• Pericardial Mesothelioma




• Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma represents about 75% of all mesotheliomas. The disease can grow quickly and enlarge the pleural space, causing it to fill with fluid. This fluid leads to the discomfort or pain associated with first detection of the disease. It is thought that pleural mesothelioma is caused by the inhaling of fibrous materials, including asbestos. These fibers lodge in the pleura and, over time, cause damage to the tissue layer and cancer erupts. Learn more about pleural mesothelioma.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

The rarest form of mesothelioma is that which affects the linings of the heart cavity, called the pericardium. Less than 10% of all mesothelioma cases are related to the heart. As in the lung, the rapid growth of the cancerous tumors can cause expansion of the tissue and accumulation of fluid. The fluid can interfere with the functioning of the heart and cause chest pain. Mesothelioma cases are known to be caused by exposure to asbestos; but it is completely unknown how the asbestos fibers enter the tissue layers surrounding the heart. Learn more about pericardial mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma of the abdomen is called peritoneal mesothelioma. The serous membrane surrounding the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. This disease accounts for approximately 10% to 20% of mesothelioma cases. In addition, a rare form of peritoneal mesothelioma affects the male testicles. The covering layer of the scrotum is actually an outpouching of the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesothelioma is due to the ingestion of fibrous materials, including asbestos. Learn more about peritoneal mesothelioma.

Read more...

Mesothelioma: F.A.Q’s

Mesothelioma: F.A.Q’s

If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma a type of cancer, you may feel dread, fear and confusion. fortunately, there is much information available about mesothelioma and its symptoms, effects, and long-term causes. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about mesothelioma:

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

How common is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare disease. Every year, approximately 3,000 Americans and 10,000 patients worldwide are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
What is asbestos? How is it linked to mesothelioma?

Asbestos is an industrial agent used for insulation and fireproofing since ancient times. While its use is stringently regulated in the United States at this time, its dangers were not known until relatively recently. A fibrous mineral, asbestos is used in industrial applications and releases tiny fibers into the air that may be inhaled. Inhalation of asbestos can lead to mesothelioma in some patients.

What is the mesothelium?

The mesothelium is the lining of the human abdominal cavity, chest and heart.

How many mesothelioma victims have been exposed to asbestos?

Medical professionals estimate that at least 75 percent of all mesothelioma cases are linked to asbestos exposure.
Does mesothelioma present itself immediately after asbestos exposure?

Mesothelioma is known for its long dormancy period. The disease has appeared in patients decades after their exposure to asbestos. Misdiagnosis is common, with mesothelioma being mistaken as pneumonia or other diseases.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Symptoms of mesothelioma include abdominal pain and swelling, chest pain, chronic cough, heart palpitations, blood clotting problems, labored breath or shortness of breath, fever, and weight loss.

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.
Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

Read more...

Daily Dose Of Asbestos

ONE OF my friends has lung cancer. I’m told I may also get mesothelioma. Asbestos has entered my lungs. I have difficulty in breathing, running, climbing.” Ravi Mohite is one of 41 certified victims of asbestosis from a cohort of 181-odd workers from Hindustan Composites Ltd, a Mumbai-based asbestos product manufacturer. With mesothelioma, what begins as a pronounced shortness of breath and a rasping incessant cough, quickly degenerates. The victim suffers rapid weight loss, and coughs out sputum. Such symptoms, though, can take 20 years or more from the time of exposure to emerge. There is no help in sight for Mohite or for the more than one lakh Indian workers who are exposed to this deadly fibre every day at the workplace.

Asbestos is widely used in Asia as insulation material, and in asbestos-cement products such as pipes and roofing. At least 10 million lives will be lost globally before asbestos is banned worldwide, according to a 2004 report in the international journal Environmental Health Perspectives. In Roro, close to Chaibasa in Jharkhand, Hyderabad Asbestos Cement Products Ltd of the CK Birla group, abandoned the chrysotile asbestos mines 25 years ago, and left the waste piled on top of a hill. The wastes now wash down on Adivasi villages at the foothills of Roro Hills.

Meanwhile, a new report compiled by Corporate Accountability Desk, a program of New Delhi-based The Other Media, reveals that the Indian government is concerned more about the health of the asbestos cement industry than health of workers. Titled “A Fox in the Hen House”, the report documents, in the words of the asbestos industry and the Ministry of Chemicals, a tale of government-industry nexus to manufacture science with the stated intent of defending chrysotile asbestos use. More than 40 countries have banned chrysotile asbestos, which finds use as insulation material, and in pipes and roofing. In May 2008, the Chemical Review Committee of the Rotterdam Convention on Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides will meet to consider listing chrysotile as a material requiring prior informed consent (PIC) for international trade. India is one of six countries opposing the inclusion of asbestos against the wishes of 95 percent of parties to the Convention.

LEST ITS opposition be termed unscientific, the Ministry of Chemicals in 2004 commissioned study for Rs 60 lakh — funded by the asbestos cement industry by Rs 16 lakhs — to assess the health and environmental hazards of chrysotile. “Using science to inform policy that will affect millions of people is laudable,” says Madhumita Dutta, author of the report and an environmental justice advocate. “This is made-to-order science. It is unethical, ill-designed and will prove to be an international embarrassment for India and NIOH.” Ahmedabad-based National Institute of Occupational Health is the agency chosen to conduct the study. All forms of asbestos, to varying degrees, increase the risk of lung cancer and cause mesothelioma.

The asbestos industry grudgingly acknowledged the hazards of most forms of asbestos after delaying regulatory action for nearly a century since the first evidence emerged in 1899 linking asbestos with a fatal disease. But the industry has dug its heels to keep markets open for chrysotile, an asbestos variety that it claims is less risky when used in controlled conditions. About 95 percent of all asbestos used worldwide is chrysotile. “It was chrysotile that we worked with, and chrysotile that caused my illness,” Mohite says. The WHO estimates that 125 million people are being occupationally exposed to asbestos, and that such exposures lead to 90,000 preventable deaths annually. The squeeze on asbestos began in the 1980s in industrialised nations that were faced with mounting litigation costs and crippling compensation claims filed by injured workers. Simultaneously, asbestos-producing countries — Canada is the largest producer — began pushing the product to unsuspecting markets in the South that were ready for anything with a cheap price tag.

Today, 90 percent of the countries with the highest percent increases in asbestos consumption are in Asia, with India accounting for 10 percent of global consumption in 2005. Just 17 Indian companies producing asbestos cement products have chalked more than 30 percent growth, producing more than $200 million worth of products in 2005. According to Laurie Kazan-Allen, an asbestos industry watcher with the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat in London, “The industry’s success buys it powerful allies.” The Ministry of Chemicals set up a Review Committee to guide the NIOH study. The study is predisposed to justify continued asbestos use, the Other Media report alleges.

A letter of April 24, 2006 from the Ministry to NIOH is seemingly open about what the findings of the study should be: “The deliverables will include generation of data which would justify the safe standards of (chrysotile’s) usage as also the reasons/ rationale justifying its non-inclusion/or otherwise in the PIC ambit.” However, subsequent minutes of Review Committee meetings and the definition of stakeholders — only asbestos industry and chrysotile asbestos-producing and consuming countries — suggest a strong inclination to manipulate data. “The study will specifically indicate as to how technology has made working conditions better. The same will include relevant photographs showing protective measures being undertaken,” says a note dated April 18, 2007. “After submitting the draft report, NIOH will organise a national workshop to discuss the findings with the relevant industry stakeholders and based on the feedback the final report will be prepared,” reports another letter from the Ministry to NIOH.

AN INDUSTRY representative, however, was emphatic in his denial of the very existence of a “review” committee. “First, there is no review committee. It cannot be there. We are only assisting in providing facilities and logistics. We have no access to the report in progress,” claims Brig AK Sethi of the Asbestos Cement Products Manufacturers Association. “Peer review has been replaced by payer review... the results will have no credibility,” says Dr Barry Castleman, a US-based environmental consultant who has spent a lifetime tracking the asbestos industry. The Indian government and asbestos industry’s justification for continued asbestos use hinges on the theoretical possibility of “controlled use”, a claim dismissed even by the World Trade Organisation, a body known to be averse to labour and environmental objections to free trade. In 2000, the WTO dismissed Canada’s appeal against France’s decision to impose a ban on chrysotile. WTO’s 2001 report is revealing: “...scientific evidence of record for this finding of carcinogenicity of chrysotile asbestos fibres is so clear, voluminous, and is confirmed a number of times by a variety of international organisations, as to be practically overwhelming.”

The Indian ship-breaking industry presents the starkest demonstration of “controlled use”. The multi-billion dollar industry employs migrant labour to strip asbestos insulation from dead ships. If released and used in its evolving form as a scientific justification of continued asbestos use in the country, the NIOH study will, in Castleman’s words, expose “the Indian government’s role as a modern low point in corruption of governments by the asbestos industry.”

This article was published at Tehelka on
February 9, 2008

Read more...

Asbestos exposure will kill 300 workers a year: survey

About 300 construction workers in B.C. will die of asbestos-related diseases each year for the next five years, according to a survey by the B.C. and Yukon Building and Construction Trades Council.

The survey, which among other things concluded that workers in the province's insulation industry have had heavy exposure to the deadly asbestos fibres, is supported by a Canadian physician involved in mesothelioma research and a professor in the University of B.C.'s school of environmental health.

WorkSafeBC also said Monday that although their claim numbers aren't as high as those in the survey, asbestos-related deaths are spiking and now represent most of the deaths in B.C. from occupational disease.

"We've known that 51 per cent of work-related deaths accepted last year were occupational disease deaths and the vast majority are related to asbestos exposure that happened often decades ago," WorkSafeBC spokesman Donna Freeman said in an interview. "There were 139 deaths [reported] in 2007 and 71 were occupational disease deaths. In 1984, only eight per cent of work-related deaths were from occupational diseases.

"They [asbestos-related deaths] are certainly increasing year over year and we expect to see this trend for the next 10 to 15 years. It's a very big issue for us."

Wayne Peppard, executive director of the construction trades council, said in an interview that asbestos exposure illness and mesothelioma [a type of cancer in the lung] is now epidemic and that 1,500 workers in B.C. will die of it in the next five years.

He said their survey is based on an analysis of preliminary WorkSafeBC [formerly the Workers' Compensation Board] statistics and the latest research at the UBC School of Environmental Health.

Peppard said their review takes into account that many mesothelioma fatalities are missing as WorkSafeBC statistics only register and track their own accepted cases.

"A lot of the cases go undiagnosed. If a worker is a smoker and doesn't indicate they've been exposed to asbestos, there's no reason for the doctor to suspect it.

"This is a serious epidemic and it won't be going away very quickly, especially if the federal government and Quebec continue [allowing] it to be mined.

"We know that many mesothelioma fatalities are not recorded in the statistics, nor are many lung cancer cases that are caused by asbestos exposure," Peppard said. "This carnage from asbestos related fatalities is disastrous for those workers and their families."

The 60-year-old Peppard, himself a plumber for 37 years, is now being tested for possible disease caused by his lengthy exposure to asbestos.

"I'm starting to lose my breath, so I'm a little concerned," he said. "I'm getting tested now. I can remember pulling asbestos off boilers and pipes. I went home coughing the stuff up."

He said asbestos is still used in B.C., including in some house siding products, and roofing and paving materials.

Wayne Laxton, business manager for the B.C. Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, Local 118, said in an interview that workers in B.C.'s insulation industry have had heavy exposure to the deadly asbestos fibres.

"I now have a spot on my left lung," added the 61-year-old Laxton, who recalls as a young man mixing large amounts of asbestos called "blue mud" to make an insulating product.

"The fellows who used it, including myself, weren't made aware of the carcinogenic properties. In 1970, I mixed carloads of this material. I'm now being monitored very closely."

Laxton said asbestos was used extensively as an insulation product in the 1950s, '60s and '70s and that thousands of British Columbians have asbestos fibres in their lungs and don't know they've been exposed. He said widows of deceased union members should demand an autopsy to find out for certain if their husbands' deaths were caused by asbestos.

"People have no idea about the use of this product. I just buried [a member] last Sunday. He was 61 and had mesothelioma."

Prof. Paul Demers of UBC's school of environmental health agreed with the union survey, saying that B.C. will experience a conservative estimate of 65 to 70 mesothelioma cancers and 130 to 140 asbestos-related lung cancers per year.

He said there is also asbestosis, as well as mesothelioma that is misdiagnosed and other asbestos related cancers (larynx, colorectal, stomach), which could push the number of new cases up to 250 to 300 per year.

Demers said that according to current trends, the numbers should crest between now and 10 years from now.

"It's not restricted to B.C. It's throughout the world.

"Asbestos was used for all kinds of insulation, extensively in ships and to increase the strength of concrete. And Canada still produces and exports asbestos."

Al Johnson, WorkSafeBC's regional director with responsibility for construction, said in an interview that asbestos was widely used from the 1920s to the mid-1980s as an insulating product that didn't burn and also added extra strength to other construction-related materials including floor tiles.

He said the most serious exposures involved workers handling and installing the material.

He said that "very, very little" is used in Canada today and that WorkSafe's current focus is on workers who remove asbestos from old buildings. "We have very strong guidelines."

He said mesothelioma has a long latency period, typically taking 30 to 40 years to develop into cancer.

Johnson said most older homes contain asbestos, but that today's greatest threat to the general public is if it's disturbed and the dust becomes airborne, perhaps while renovating.

Dr. Michael R. Johnson, a professor of surgery at Halifax's Dalhousie University who has performed several successful operations on patients afflicted with mesothelioma, said in a statement that "mesothelioma is often difficult to diagnose and even more difficult and frustrating to treat."

This article was originally published at canada.com/vancouversun/news
on February 5, 2008

Read more...

Asbestos link to worker’s death

A RETIRED shipyard worker died of an asbestos related cancer linked to his work in the 1950s.
An inquest in Blackburn heard that Barrow-in-Furness-born Thomas Keith Armer had been employed in the town's ship building yards cutting asbestos sheets.

He took voluntary redundancy in 1992 but four years later a chest X-ray revealed the possibility of problems.

Ten years later he became breathless and chesty and it was subsequently confirmed that he had a malignant mesothelioma.

Mr Armer, 73, was provided with palliative care and was living at Birchall Nursing Home, Darwen, at the time of his death.

A post-mortem examination revealed a timorous mass encasing the left lung and the pericardium and diaphragm and there was also encasement of the aorta.

The medical cause of death was given as malignant mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos and coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of industrial disease.

This article was originally published at blackburncitizen
on February 1, 2008

Read more...

Died From Asbestos Exposure

A CARLISLE painter and decorator allegedly exposed to asbestos at work died of a cancer related to the substance, an inquest heard.

Thomas Minns, of Nelson Street, died aged 83 last April of the condition Mesothelioma.
The inquest in Carlisle on Tuesday was told Mr Minns was diagnosed with the lung condition in October 2005.

Mr Minns, who had worked in the trade since leaving the army in 1947, worked from the former Carlisle depot of North West Electricity Board in James Street between 1970 and 1974.

Colleague David Mossop, of Blunt Street, Carlisle, told the inquest that the pair would work in “the bowels” of the building where crumbling asbestos lagged pipes.

He said: “Dust used to drop off. We had to sweep it up to paint.”

He said the painters at the depot drank their tea in the basement and stored materials there.
The depot site is now home to the Carlisle Enterprise Centre.

The inquest heard that tissue samples taken from Mr Minns’ lungs after his death showed traces of asbestos.

Mr Minns’ widow, Freda Minns, a retired care worker, and daughter Julie were in the inquest to hear North and West Cumbria Coroner John Taylor record a verdict of death by industrial disease.

Mr Taylor said: “It is recognised that you can be affected up to 40 years after you have inhaled the material.”

In a statement Ms Minns said: “My late husband’s death from Mesothelioma has been horrendous for the family. The result will help us to move forward.”

The family were represented by solicitor Lucy Proctor and are pursuing a legal claim against Mr Minns’ former employers, the North West Electricity Board, which is now United Utilities PLC.

This article was originally published at newsandstar
on News section on January 1, 2008

Read more...

Pleural plaques campaigners want action over asbestos

Campaigners are stepping up pressure on the government to reintroduce the right to compensation for victims of asbestos exposure after it was revealed that some senior civil servants dismissed resulting diseases as being as harmful “as freckles”.

Prolonged exposure to asbestos causes scarring of the lungs known as pleural plaques.

Fred Hewitt, a 73 year old former ship building worker, has lived with pleural plaques for four years and has the constant fear of developing the lung cancer mesothelioma as a result.

“I worry very much about that and it is constantly in my mind,” Fred told Socialist Worker. He is calling on Gordon Brown to bring in new legislation to overturn a House of Lords ruling that denies victims the right to compensation.

The decision removed a right that had existed for 20 years until insurance companies lobbied successfully to end the pay-outs last year.

Disgrace

“It is an injustice to all of us and an absolute disgrace,” says Fred.

In almost every case the condition is caused by workers being exposed to asbestos due to negligence of their employers.

Asbestos related disease is the biggest cause of work related death in this country.
More than 2,000 people will die from mesothelioma this year and tens of thousands will die over the next decade. It is estimated that the House of Lords ruling will save insurance companies £1.4 billion.

Socialist Worker has seen a letter from Jack Straw’s Ministry of Justice to a trade unionist which states that allowing plural plaques sufferers to get compensation “could have damaging effects on business and the economy”.

As a further indication of the government’s attitude to the plight of the victims, Thompsons trade union solicitors were told by senior civil servants, “What are you worried about? It’s no more than freckles.”

A lobby of parliament over the issue, organised by the GMB, Unite and UCATT unions, was set to take place on Tuesday as Socialist Worker went to press.
Dennis White, who has just retired after 47 years working at Falmouth docks said, “In the early days I was exposed to asbestos before they really knew what the problem was.

Unfair

“I was diagnosed as having pleural plaques a couple of years ago and had a claim in.
“To know people you worked alongside have received their compensation, and to be told that you cannot have any is so unfair. My condition has not affected me yet, but it lies dormant. Having compensation would be a big relief to all my family.”

Kevin Mason, officer for the South West GMB, said, “You cannot put financial restrictions on people’s health and safety.

“This is devastating to those affected. We are not going to stop campaigning on this. We will use all the power we possibly can.”

This article was originally published at Socialistworkeronline
on February 2, 2008

Read more...

Key pioneer in health law

Laid groundwork for division at law firm, built up Loyola University Chicago
program

In the early 1980s, health law was a fledgling field. But a leading law firm, Gardner, Carton & Douglas in Chicago, sought out the talent of Mary Cosgrove Cosentino, a young St. Louis attorney who had already made her name known in the field."There were very few lawyers who were deeply interested in health law as a topic," said Edward Bryant, partner with Drinker, Biddle, Gardner & Carton. "I thought Mary was a highly empathetic lawyer, which is essential in health law.

You have to appreciate the needs of the patients and clients and have to have that as a foundation ... Clearly she was that kind of person."In 1980, she was hired to help start the new health law division in the law firm and soon became a leader in the field.

Mrs. Cosentino, 55, died of cancer Saturday, Jan. 26, in her Western Springs home.She shared her knowledge with future generations of lawyers at Loyola University Chicago, where she taught health law and legal research and writing."She had a profound impact on multiple levels," said Larry Singer, director of the Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy at Loyola. "She was a pioneer, and that was really true. She was one of the early professors in health law.

Many of the students that Mary has worked with over the years have gone on to great prominence."Mrs. Cosentino played a large role in helping the program achieve its current ranking of fourth in the nation, Singer said."She really did have a significant impact to get us to the stature we have today ... She really made a strong contribution to that in the early days and her continued work more recently," Singer said. "She was also a dynamic personality, eternally optimistic and devoted to her students and colleagues."Born and raised in St. Louis, Mrs. Cosentino graduated from Fontbonne College in 1974 and went on to St. Louis University Law School, where she met her future husband, Robert.

After she graduated in 1978, she worked for two years in the legal department of the Catholic Health Association of the United States in St. Louis."That led her into a career in health law, which at that time was a fledgling field," her husband said. "There really was no such thing as health lawyers at that time." At the Catholic Health Association, she gained experience, both in the law and health policy, which then attracted the law firm."The couple married in 1981, moved to La Grange, then settled in Western Springs.Mrs.

Cosentino helped establish the law firm's commitment to health law, often taking the underdog point of view, Bryant said."Mary was a unique individual and what I call a legally curious person who always tried to understand fully what she was doing, rather than just doing it. Sometimes a lot of disputes are just settled because people don't want to pay the money or use their resources. Mary always looked at the big picture and what was the just way in solving the matter. That made it a real pleasure to work with her," Bryant said.She left the law firm in 1984 to become general counsel at St. Joseph Hospital and Health Care Center in Chicago. She worked there until 1988, when she joined the faculty at Loyola.

When her third son was born, she went from full-time to adjunct professor.Five years ago, Mrs. Cosentino was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. She joined the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation in California. Soon afterward, she was asked to join the board of directors, said Christopher Hahn, executive director of the foundation, where her knowledge of health law melded with her experience as a patient.

Soon she became an activist for the disease, searching for a cure and more research dollars."She brought a very sensitive and warm wisdom as well as optimism [to the group]," Hahn said. "I don't think she should be remembered as a person who had mesothelioma. [She was a] vibrant and optimistic and spiritual person who was bringing all those things to her fight, and we got to see all those things as we got to know her."Mrs. Cosentino was a former member of the board of directors of the Illinois Association of Hospital Attorneys and a member of the National Legal Committee for the Catholic Health Association of the United States.

Locally, she served on the school board of St. John of the Cross Parish School in Western Springs and was chairman of the swim and dive committee of the La Grange Field Club.In addition to her husband, other survivors include her three sons, James, Peter and Timothy; a sister, Colleen Goodman; and a brother, John Cosgrove.Services will begin at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday in Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside, followed by a 9:45 a.m. mass in St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 5005 S. Wolf Rd., Western Springs.

This article was originally published at chicagotribune News section on January
29, 2008

Read more...