San Juan won't let asbestos stand in the way of revitalizing the city's downtown area | Mesothelioma News

San Juan, Texas - November 02, 2010

The City of San Juan, Texas has submitted a federal grant application for assistance in cleaning up the site where San Juan Hospital used to be located. City officials were unaware that the building posed an environmental threat when they purchased it in October 2001. “During an initial assessment (of the building), it was found that it had a bit of asbestos content, as well as lead-(based) paint in there,” said City Manager J.J. Rodriguez.

Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral used widely in construction during the 19th and 20th centuries. Asbestos can cause can cause serious diseases of the lungs and other organs that often lead to death, including pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, rare cancers of the protective covering around the lungs and abdomen respectively.

The building site, located at 512 S. Nebraska Ave., is in the city’s downtown area and is being cleaned up as part of the downtown revitalization project. The Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine sees about 22,000 pilgrims per week and is located downtown. The city wants to make the surrounding area equally as interesting so that it won’t miss out on tourist dollars.

Whether the city decides to demolish or renovate the hospital is still up in the air, but asbestos abatement must take place before anything can be done. Asbestos is most dangerous when it is manipulated, as cracking and crumbling cause it to release toxic fibers that are easily inhaled, putting workers and the community at a great risk of contracting lung cancer and mesothelioma.

The city’s grant application requests will fund up to 80 percent of the total cleanup cost, which is estimated at $250,000.

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Asbestos found in waterproofing of window lintels in Connecticut home | Mesothelioma News

Litchfield, Connecticut - November 01, 2010

A house in Litchfield, Connecticut has been stripped down to the lintels supporting the windows and demolition temporarily abandoned because an unforeseen asbestos problem has been encountered. Asbestos is commonly found in houses built before the 1980’s. Now it is widely known that asbestos causes lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the body’s cavities and some organs.

The asbestos couldn't have been foreseen because there were slight differences and times when the buildings at Fairfield Hills were constructed. The demolition will now likely cost more than expected because asbestos removal is time-consuming and must follow government regulations. Asbestos is most dangerous when it is disturbed, so if the asbestos is not removed properly, workers and community members could be put at risk of contracting peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the abdomen.

The waterproofing in the lintels around the windows contained the asbestos. "Because the exterior walls are load-bearing walls, it means the removal and extraction is a much more delicate process," explained Public Works Director Fred Hurley. “I think we have some workable options but it was not anticipated that we would run into this."

Selectman Bill Furrier has questioned why the project is being overseen by the town department rather than the Public Building and Site Commission. First Selectman Pat Llodra says the fact that it was seen as a maintenance project may be the reason.

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New study claims that the use of Cisplatin and Raltitrexed improves mesothelioma survival rate | Mesothelioma News

Milan, Italy - October 31, 2010

A recent study addressing possible approaches to the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the lungs known as the pleura, has indicated that the use of cisplatin in conjunction with raltitrexed can improve the median survival rate of pleural mesothelioma sufferers when compared to treatment using cisplatin alone.

Mesothelioma is generally caused by long-term exposure to asbestos, and it is a cancer that can take decades to develop but is still very aggressive. Although this particular study focused on pleural mesothelioma, there are several different types of mesothelioma, including peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the abdomen, and pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the heart.

Experts attending a symposium at the 35th congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), in Milan, Italy, discussed the need for new and effective treatments for mesothelioma, such as the combination of cisplatin and raltitrexed, as the incidence rates of mesothelioma are projected to double in many countries over the next twenty years.

In relation to the study, Professor of Thoracic Oncology at Ghent University in Belgium JP van Meerbeeck has commented that mesothelioma “is a hard to treat, rare cancer with a poor prognosis. New treatment options such as a combination of cisplatin and raltitrexed, which improve patient outcomes with no detrimental effect on quality of life as compared to cisplatin alone are a welcome addition to our therapeutic portfolio.”

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Louisa County Board awards bid for asbestos inspection of flood damaged sites | Mesothelioma News

Des Moines County, Iowa - November 03, 2010

The Louisa County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved to release funding to Des Moines County for the repair of a levee near Oakville that was damaged during a devastating June 2008 flood. The Board released nearly $2 million in federal grants that exceeds the cost of the Oakville project. The funds would have had to be returned had they not been transferred, but would be used more efficiently by combining the Oakville project with levee repair in Des Moines County, according to Head Administrator for the Two Rivers Levee and Drainage Districts Vicki Stoller.

The Board also awarded a $3,245 contract to Evans Inspection Services Inc. for the inspection of asbestos in 11 flood-damaged properties. The properties have been bought out by Louisa County, and only one still has a home standing. The inspections will include soil testing and checking remaining buildings.

Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral known to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining around the heart, lungs, abdomen and chest. The presence of asbestos in soil poses a significant environmental threat, as residents could be exposed to toxic fibers that can be easily inhaled. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause asbestos-related cancer that requires aggressive treatment. Mesothelioma treatment usually consists of some combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but is usually only palliative, not curative. There is no mesothelioma cure.

If asbestos isn't found in the remaining structures, bids will be sought for their demolition. Conversely, bids will also be sought to remove any hazardous materials found.

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