Many believe that the asbestos found in serpentine makes it a bad choice for a state icon

Serpentine has been California’s state rock since 1965, making California the first state to name an official rock. However, serpentine contains asbestos and some state legislators want to remove the rock’s official title. Yet geologists counter that not all serpentine contains asbestos, and there are people who want the rock to remain a California icon.

Serpentine was mined in California through the 1960’s to collect asbestos, which was later used in common building materials, such as insulation, flooring, ceilings, roofing, siding and fire coating materials. These same materials now have to be removed from buildings because asbestos is toxic and can cause such fatal diseases as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdominal cavities.

Asbestos is no longer used in building materials, its disposal is highly regulated, and individuals and companies are subject to prosecution if asbestos regulations are not adhered to. Disposal is tricky because asbestos can be easily aerosolized, creating a dangerous environment for workers and nearby residents. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs that is difficult to detect and incurable.

Because it was used to collect asbestos, some might see maintaining serpentine as the state rock, as not only a denial of the dangers of asbestos, but also an insult to those who have died or are suffering from asbestos-related disease. Whether serpentine’s questionable usage is enough of a reason to lead to legislative change is still up in the air.

The next step in campaigning against the adverse health impacts of asbestos exposure and its resulting diseases is the creation of a Mesothelioma Awareness Day. A bill, sponsored by the Mesothelioma Research Foundation, has been filed in the U.S. House of Representative by Rep. Betty McCollum and Sen. Patty Murray and is currently pending before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. This bill could be the birth of just such a day.

Tentatively scheduled for September 26, the first annual National Mesothelioma Awareness Day is an asset to lobbying efforts and collective action against mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdominal cavities that is predominantly caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos.

On September 26^th, the officials of the Mesothelioma Research Foundation will attend the taping of the “Today” show in New York and sponsor huge displays and billboards on the facade of the Rockefeller building. In the meantime, the Mesothelioma Research Foundation continues to sponsor marathons, conferences, publicity events and seminars that benefit patients and their families. The organization’s goal is to raise research funding and increase awareness both in the US and abroad.

Mesothelioma is the cause of 90,000 deaths worldwide and 2,500 deaths in the United States each year. At least 77% of those victims will have been, at some point in their lives, exposed to asbestos. Despite aggressive mesothelioma treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the disease is almost always fatal.

When David King died of malignant mesothelioma at the age of 66, his family decided that the best thing they could do was campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos exposure. Pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs known as the pleura, and other types of asbestos cancer, which affect the linings of the organs in the chest and abdomen, are, in the majority of cases, caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos.

King’s sons, Stephen and Peter, completed a four-day charity bike ride from London to Paris in their father’s memory on August 21. The ride raised over £4,000 for the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund.

"We had been training for the last three months and it was unfortunate that dad passed away the week before we went,” said Peter King. “Dad was over the moon that we were doing it and he was backing us all the way. After his last operation he was hoping to get fit enough to be able to come and follow us on the ride by car but sadly he didn’t make it."

King’s case was ruled death by industrial disease by the Nottingham Coroner’s Court, as King was likely exposed to asbestos while working on power stations, which required him to work with pipe lagging and to strip out boilers.

King’s family is still collecting funds for the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund, and donations can be made via www.justgiving.com/peter-king1

A historic building located in Temple, Texas may soon fall. The building deemed as a gem to some and an eyesore to others is contaminated with hazardous asbestos material.

The former Hawn Hotel has been vacant for several years, and continues to decay. The building has been closed for such a long time, that Temple residents are unaware of what the building is. “I think it had a sign at one point that maybe said hotel, but how can you tell?" noted resident Sherry Sheppard.

Sheppard added: "I don’t know if I can rightly say anything in particular, anything besides a waste of space.” The building began falling apart in the 70s, and has been closed since then.

The Temple City Council hopes to adopt resolutions to award contracts for asbestos abatement, reports KXXV. Before the building is redeveloped, the hazardous asbestos material must first be removed.

Asbestos is highly toxic material, found in many older buildings. When disturbed, the particles become airborne, and are easily inhaled. Once inhaled, the particles lodge themselves in the lungs, and cause diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is the most aggressive asbestos-related disease.

Due to a latency period of 10 to 50 years, even the best mesothelioma doctorsstruggle to diagnose patients in the early stages of their disease. Because of this, treatment tends to arrive late.

The city purchased the building in 2006 for $340,155. They plan to sell it to a developer.

d Senior Services has extended the deadline by 30 days.

"We had asked for an extension because of the air tests…We needed to go out and hire someone to do so,” explained Mayor Patrick McHale. The town has until August 17 to complete the air tests, and remove the asbestos.

Contractors have lined up for the project, which will not go out to bid. The borough has received a proposal from Detail Associates, and is expecting to receive an estimate from A Mac Contracting. The Municipal Council will review the proposals this week.

During a May inspection, the asbestos was discovered in the firehouse’s basement and horn tower. And although these areas aren’t heavily frequented by firefighters, the town wishes to remove the asbestos, in order to ensure the firefighters’ safety.

Asbestos is a highly hazardous material, found in many older homes and buildings. When disturbed, the airborne particles pose a serious health risk to those exposed. Asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma have been known to form from extended exposure to the material.

Mesothelioma is the most aggressive asbestos related disease, which affects nearly 3,000 Americans each year. The disease forms from the mesothelium.

Symptoms of the disease, such as chest pain and shortness of breath, lie dormant for several decades. Because of this, even the best mesothelioma doctors struggle to diagnose patients in the early stages of their disease.

McHale believes removing the asbestos will be more cost-efficient than encapsulating it.

A man from Tyneside, England has won a payout from his former employers. 18 months ago, Mr. Wilfrid Craig was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos fibers. While there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure for mesothelioma cancer. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, and the majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years following diagnosis.

“I am so angry to think my life and those of my wife and children have been torn apart unnecessarily because of my former employers’ negligence,” he told reporters. “Throughout my employment I was never provided with a mask or any protective clothing because I was working with asbestos. Had I been given this equipment to protect myself I wouldn’t be in this dreadful situation. I was absolutely devastated when I received my diagnosis and as a result I’ve now had to leave my job.”

According to Roger Maddocks, an industrial illness specialist with the law firm Irwin Mitchell, “Throughout Mr. Craig’s employment at George Wimpey & Co, and due to his position at the time, he was routinely tasked with duties which often involved working closely with asbestos without any form of protective equipment.

Mr Craig is just one of the thousands of workers who have either been killed by, or are now facing, a devastating terminal illness because their employers did not take the necessary precautions to protect them when they either knew or should have known of the risks.”

In South Berwick, Maine, local officials have unveiled their plans for a proposed new library. Over 100 residents stopped by Wednesday’s presentation by the town building committee to see architectural plans and speak with local officials. Public opinion of the proposed library has been mostly positive, but some concerns have been raised about the proposed site: a former church known to contain asbestos.

According to Town Manager John Schempf, the total cost for creating this new library space (including the costs to address the building’s ongoing issues with mold, lead and asbestos) is a whopping $2,165,958. However, the blow of the sticker shock was softened by news that $310,000 of that cost may be subtracted by a $110,000 federal grant and a $200,000 capital improvement bond.

Removing asbestos is often painstaking and time-consuming, as strict removal protocols must be adhered to, in accordance with state and federal laws. Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure.

"In our current space, we are overcrowded," said librarian Mamie Ney. "We can’t work very efficiently or serve our patrons well," Ney said.

"I think that going forward we will definitely be attuned to what was voiced by the residents," Ney added. "The building lends itself to making a great library for South Berwick. We’re very encouraged and looking forward to working with all to see this through."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has levied fines against three Arizona charter school operators, alleging that the schools have failed to adequately follow federal guidelines for asbestos management. EPA officials say that the violations date back to 2008, and as of this year, the three school operators all have EPA-approved asbestos management plans in place to protect both students and staff.

According to EPA officials, “Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber, once widely used in building materials for its thermal insulating properties and fire resistance. Although the removal of asbestos from school buildings is an option for schools, many schools and local education agencies have chosen to manage some asbestos-containing building material in place. Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk… [however] these materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged.”

Inhaling these tiny asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, a rare cancer that kills some patients within just a few months of being diagnosed. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure. The majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years following diagnosis.

The three schools fined were as follows:

-Career Success Schools was fined $12,580 for failure to conduct asbestos inspections at four Phoenix schools.

-Precision Academy System, Inc. was fined $9,700 for failing to create an asbestos management plan.

-Vail Unified School District was fined $5,200 for failure to conduct asbestos inspections, as well as failure to create a management plan for asbestos located in the school.

A Washington couple has filed two mesothelioma lawsuits in two different circuit courts in the state of Illinois. Glenn and Joyce Metzger of Othello, Washington filed a lawsuit against 59 corporations in St. Clair County Circuit Court in Illinois: six days later, the couple also filed suit against a number of companies in Madison County Circuit Court, also located in Illinois.

In both lawsuits, the Metzger’s allege that companies were responsible for creating asbestos-laced products that ultimately caused Glenn Metzger to develop mesothelioma. Mr. Metzger was exposed to these asbestos-containing products during the course of his duties as an insulator, a trade that he was employed in from 1953 until 1989.

Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, and the majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years following diagnosis. Exposure to asbestos can also cause benign scarring of the lining of the lungs.

Glenn Metzger says that his struggle with mesothelioma has disfigured him, caused him physical pain, and forced him to pay out large sums for money for his medical care. According to local news sources, the Metzger’s are seeking over $200,000 in damages, as well as any other payment that the court deems fit.

A woman once employed in an aircraft factory has passed away from mesothelioma that was likely caused by occupational exposure to asbestos, a known carcinogen. Health professionals are saddened by the case, with one coroner calling mesothelioma “capital punishment for the hard worker.”

The deceased, UK resident Edna Jones, was 74 at the time of her death. Mrs. Jones had worked as a cleaner at the De Havilland aircraft factory, along with her husband Colin.

Mr. Jones recalled: “In the sun you could see all the [asbestos] dust coming from the pipes. As we were working she would be vacuuming it up…It all came as a terrible shock when we found out [that she was ill.]…Indeed, it is all coming to a head now - asbestos exposure from the 1950s and ’60s.”

Mesothelioma typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, and the majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years following diagnosis. Mesothelioma is incurable, and affects thousands of new patients every year around the globe. Researchers are hopeful that someday a cure for mesothelioma can be found. Asbestos exposure can also cause other respiratory health problems, including various forms of lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural plaques.

Cheshire Deputy Coroner Dr. Janet Napier spoke to reporters about the case. “This is very sad. It is very unfortunate and seems rather like capital punishment for people who do their jobs, work hard and never complain.”