Asbestos News Roundup: 12.30.10

December 30th, 2010. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. An ongoing list of asbestos hot spots from the Asbestos News Roundup archive appears on our asbestos map.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Charleston, WV:  Delbert Warren Kittle, of Fairmont, is suing 97 companies he alleges caused his lung cancer. On December 11, 2008, Kittle was diagnosed with lung cancer.

The 97 companies named as defendants are: A.W. Chesterton Company; Ajax Magnethermic Corporation; Aurora Pump Company; 3M Company; Beazer East, Inc.; Borg-Warner Corporation; Brand Insulations, Inc.; Buffalo Pumps, Inc.; BW IP, Inc.; Catalytic Construction Company; Caterpillar, Inc.; Certainteed Corporation; Chicago Pump Company; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Columbus McKinnon Corporation; Continental Electric Company, Inc.; Copes-Vulcan, Inc.; Crane Co.; Crown Cork & Seal USA, Inc.; Dezurik, Inc.; Dow Chemical Company; Dravo Corporation; Durabla Manufacturing Company; Eaton Corporation; Elliott Company; Flowserve, Inc.; Flowserve FSD Corporation; Durametallic Corporation; Flowserve US, Inc. f/k/a Durco International, Inc.; FMC Corporation; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; George V. Hamilton, Inc.; Georgia Pacific Corporation; General Electric Company; General Refractories Company; Gordon Gasket & Packing Co.; Goulds Pumps; Greene Tweed & Company; Grinnell Corporation; Henry Vogt Machine Company; Hercules, Inc.; Honeywell International, Inc.; Honeywell International, Inc. f/k/a AlliedSignal, Inc.; Howden-Buffalo, Inc.; I.U. North America, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; ITT Corporation; J.H. France Refractories Company; Kelsey-Hayes Company; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Maremont Corporation; McJunkin Corporation; McNally Industries; Met-Pro Corporation; Monsanto Company; NACCO Materials Handling Group; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; National Service Industries Venutres, Inc.; Oakfabco, Inc.; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Pneumo Abex Corporation; Premiere Refractories, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Roper Pump Company; Rust Constructors, Inc.; Rust Engineering & Construction, Inc.; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), LLC; Stockham Valves & Fittings; Superior Boiler Works, Inc.; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; the Gage Company; the William Powell Company; Tyco Flow Control Company, LLC; Tyco Flow Control Company, LLC, a/k/a Lunkenheimer Valves; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Union Carbide Chemical & Plastics Company; Uniroyal, Inc.; Uniroyal Holding, Inc.; United Engineers & Constructors, Inc.; Energy & Construction, Inc.; Viacom, Inc.; Viking Pump Company; Vimasco Corporation; Warren Pumps, Inc.; Waukesha Cherry-Burrell; Washington Group International; Weil-McLain Company; West Virginia State Electric Supply; and Zurn Industries, Inc. (wvrecord.com)

Asbestos Hot Spots

Merrimac, MA: The Donaghue School will likely be kept closed beyond the end of winter vacation due to the presence of asbestos in the floor tiles. The asbestos-containing floor tiles were found during mold remediation at the 400-student facility.

According to an e-mail from Superintendent of Schools Paul Livingston, “we encountered a problem with some of the old asbestos tile, previously encapsulated under the rugs, drying out and curling on the edges.” Areas affected include the fifth- and sixth-grade hallway and several places in the third- and fourth-grade wing.

Board of Health Chairwoman Eileen Hurley explained the situation: “Plans have been laid out and approved by the DEP, licensed personnel have been retained, a large crew of workers will work two shifts per day, asbestos tiles will be removed and properly discarded, everything will be thoroughly cleaned, air clearance will be done through TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) as mandated by the state, and maintenance people will move furniture into the rooms after we receive clearance.”

Hurley added that it was very likely the school would remain closed past its planned opening date of Monday, though whether the Board of Health will allow the school to open next week has not been discussed or determined yet. (Newburyportnews.com)

Turkey Bans Asbestos as of Friday, December 31, 2010.

Ankara, Turkey: Turkey’s Environment Management Directorate General released a statement this announcing a regulation banning use of asbestos, effective as of Friday.

The country had partially banned asbestos some time ago. This complete ban brings the country into full compliance with European Union (EU) regulations.

The regulation bans the use of asbestos in production of any goods and supply of all products containing asbestos. “The ban on use of asbestos will both eliminate diseases stemming from the substance and end emission of asbestos to the environment,” the statement said. (The Anatolia News Agency)

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma, asbestos_mesothelioma

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