Asbestos Mesothelioma Archive

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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WTF?! Asbestos Under “Throw Rugs” at Pearson School in CT?

December 24th, 2010. By AbiK

No, I’m not being alarmist here, but I’m wondering what’s going on at Pearson Middle School in Winsted, CT. We just reported an update on the asbestos situation at the school in our weekly Asbestos News Roundup—seems that earlier this month, the consultants who’ve been involved with the air quality studies in the school—ie, the folks who are conducting tests for asbestos in the air and advising on the toxicity (or not) of the situation, Mystic Air Quality Consultants, Inc. of Groton—sent a letter to town officials. Apparently the recommendation in the letter, as reported by rep-am.com, was that:

“…all floor tile and mastics in the entire school, totaling 68,000 square feet, be removed and replaced. The floor tiles have exceeded their life expectancy and have failed in a number of locations. Two classrooms have been sealed off until the asbestos can be abated and throw rugs have been used to cover damaged tiles in a number of areas, which is not an acceptable method of abatement, the consultant said.”

Ok, sounds kinda bad, no? Seriously, if you’re a parent of a child attending Pearson Middle School, well, you’d be a tad bit concerned, right? So where is the outrage? Where is the public outcry? There isn’t much evidence of any online. But in all fairness, there isn’t much online about the situation period.

A visit to the Winchester Public Schools website, with a search for the keyword “asbestos” yields nothing. You’d think with the above statements coming from the air quality inspectors Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Abatement, asbestos_mesothelioma, Pearson Middle School, Winstead CT
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Asbestos News Roundup: 12.24.10

December 24th, 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

St Clair County, IL: Recently widowed Claudia Gail Shreve has filed an asbestos complaint on behalf of her late husband Kenneth L. Shreve. The suit names 68 companies as defendants.

In her complaint, Mrs. Shreve alleges the defendant companies caused her recently deceased husband to develop lung cancer after his exposure to asbestos-containing products throughout his career.

According to the complaint, Kenneth Shreve worked as a member of the Plumbers Local 653 and worked as a pipefitter at Shell Oil, as a pipefitter at Hartford Refinery from 1988 until 1994 and as a pipefitter at Exxon-Shell from 2000 until 2002.

As a result of his asbestos-related disease, Mr. Shreve incurred medical costs and suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, his widow alleges. Further, Mr. Shreve became prevented from pursuing his normal course of employment and, as a result, lost large sums of money that would have accrued to him. And, because of Mr. Shreve’s asbestos-related illness and subsequent death, his family members have been deprived of their companionship, society and services, according to the complaints.

In her 10-count complaint, Claudia Shreve is seeking economic damages of more than $200,000, a judgment of more than $150,000, compensatory damages of more than $100,000 and unspecified punitive and exemplary damages. She also seeks punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the defending companies and to deter them from repeating their actions. (madisonrecord.com)

St Clair County, IL: Harold Webster, brother to recently deceased Gerald Webster, has filed a Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma, asbestos_mesothelioma
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Asbestos News Roundup: 12.17.10

December 17th, 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

Beaumont, TX: Rebecca Washburn has filed a petition to perpetuate the testimony of Ronald Washburn, a former Chevron USA employee who suffers from lung cancer. The anticipated defendant in the pending suit is Chevron.

According to court papers, Ronald Washburn has developed terminal lung cancer: his lung cancer “is expected to progress” and will “ultimately prove fatal.” The petition claims that Washburn’s lung cancer resulted from exposure to asbestos products during his employment with Chevron.

“The substance of the testimony which petitioner expects to elicit involves Ronald Washburn employment and exposure history at Chevron,” the suit states. “As a result, petitioner has a good faith belief that a gross negligence, wrongful death lawsuit will be filed.” (SE Texas Record)

Asbestos Hot Spots

Atlanta, GA: The US Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) announced test results for asbestos contamination of public land along the South Fork of Peachtree Creek Thursday on December 9. The news encouraged green space supporters hoping to build trails for public use near the creek.

Last spring federal agents gathered soil and air samples near the trail site, looking for remaining traces of asbestos from a closed vermiculite processing plant at Zonolite Road near Emory University. The results revealed no measurable asbestos on most of the site. Only at one site did the EPA find what it called “barely detectable” asbestos contamination.

EPA coordinator Terry Stilman says “the risks from exposure to airborne asbestos are very low for recreational users.”

The single spot still suspected of contamination is a mound or plateau about 170 x 250 feet, Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma, asbestos_mesothelioma
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Asbestos News Roundup: 12.10.10

December 10th, 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: Eighty-two defendant companies have been named in an asbestos claim made by Rick Reed and Ruth Reed, co-executors of the Estate of Willie Oliver Reed.

Willie Oliver Reed was diagnosed with asbestosis and died November 12, 2009, according to the lawsuit. 

The defendants are being sued based on theories of negligence, contaminated buildings, breach of expressed/implied warranty, strict liability, intentional tort, conspiracy, misrepresentations and post sale duty to warn.

The 82 defendants include: 3M Company; A.W. Chesterton Company; Ajax Magnethermic Corporation; Allied Glove Corporation; Alloy Cast Steel Company; Amchem Products, Inc.; Aurora Pump Company; Beazer East, Inc.; Borg Warner Corporation; Brand Insulations, Inc.; Bucyrus International, Inc.; Buffalo Pumps, Inc.; BW IP, Inc.; Certainteed Corporation; Cincinnati Gasket Packing & Manufacturing; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Crane Co.; Crown, Cork & Seal USA, Inc.; CSR, Limited; Dezurik, Inc.; Durabla Manufacturing Company; Eaton Corporation; Elliott Turbomachinery, Inc.; F.B. Wright Company; Flowserve Inc.; Flowserve US, Inc.; Foseco, Inc.; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; General Electric Company; General Refractories Company; George V. Hamilton, Inc.; Gordon Gasket & Packing Co.; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Graybar Electric Company, Inc.; Grinnell Corporation; Honeywell International; I.U. North America, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll Rand Co.; Insul Company, Inc.; ITT Corporation; J.H. France Refractories Company; John Crane, Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corporation; McJunkin Corporation; McNally Industries; Melrath Supply and Gasket Company; Met-Pro Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; National Service Industries Ventures, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Oakfabco, Inc.; Oglebay Norton Company; Ohio Valley Insulation Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; P&H Mining Equipment; Pneumo-Abex Corporation; Premiere Refractories, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; Stockham Valves & Fittings; Tasco Insulation, Inc.; the Gage Company; the William Powell Company; Thiem Corporation; Trecco Construction Services, Inc.; Tyco Flow Control Company LLC a/k/a Crosby Valve, Inc.; Tyco Flow Control Company LLC a/k/a Lunkenheimer Valves; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Uniroyal, Inc.; United Conveyor Corporation; United Engineers & Constructors, Inc.; Viacom, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; Warren Pumps, Inc.; Weil-McLain Company; West Virginia State Electric Supply; and Zurn Industries, Inc. (wvrecord.com) 

Asbestos Hot Spots

New York, NY: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma, asbestos_mesothelioma
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