How Depression Impacts Survival Time for Lung Cancer Patients

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Steven Kazan

After people are diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening disease, it is understandable that they would develop depression. This is not a run-of-the-mill case of the blues, but a persistent feeling of despair, hopelessness and inability to enjoy life that can prevent someone from taking part in the world around him or her.

Patients who have lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure are also at risk of depression. If this condition is not addressed effectively, patients may find it difficult to maintain personal relationships or engage in everyday activities.

Additionally, if depression interferes with an individual’s commitment to medical treatment, his or her illness may progress quickly.

At Kazan Law, we want to make sure all of your needs – physical, emotional and mental – are taken care of. When you are undergoing treatment for lung cancer resulting from exposure to asbestos, it is important to be aware of whether or not you have developed depression so you can treat it properly.

What causes depression?
Experts from the National Cancer Institute estimate that 25 percent of cancer patients develop depression. Certain factors can make some individuals more vulnerable than others. These variables can be divided between those that are related to the cancer, and those that are not.

Those that are linked to the disease include:

Pain that is not well-controlled.
A case of advanced illness.
Physical weakness.
Certain types of medication.

Factors independent of the disease are:

A personal or family history of depression.
A weak social support system.
Stress caused by other events in life not related to the cancer.

Depression hurts quality of life
One team of scientists from Mexico decided to investigate the effects of depression on individuals who had advanced cases of non-small cell lung cancer. Specifically, they wanted to know how depression and anxiety impacted the prognosis, treatment adherence and health-related quality of life (HRQL).

For their study, the researchers enrolled 82 subjects diagnosed with stage IIIB or stage IV disease. All participants underwent a series of psychiatric health assessments before treatment, then again at the three-month and six-month marks following the initiation of treatment. In order to record treatment adherence, the scientists kept track of how many clinical consultations the patients missed.

Results showed that approximately 33 and 34 percent of subjects had depression and anxiety, respectively. Depression was more likely among females and those who had poor performance status.

Other results showed that subjects who were depressed had a median survival time of 6.8 months, compared to 14 months for those who did not experience depression. Additionally, 58 percent of depressed subjects had poor treatment adherence, while the same was true for only 42 percent of non-depressed patients.

“Depression and anxiety were present in one-third of patients with recently diagnosed NSCLC. Depression and anxiety were associated with decreased HRQL scales, and depression was independently associated with treatment adherence and with poor prognosis,” the researchers wrote in the Annals of Surgical Oncology.

There is help for depression
The Environmental Working Group estimates that lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure claims the lives of 4,800 individuals in the U.S. every year. That figure is expected to increase during the next 10 years or so.

These trends underscore the importance of identifying and treating depression effectively among lung cancer patients.

Experts from the NCI say that if you have a hard time accepting your cancer status after a long time following your diagnosis or lose interest in activities that were once enjoyable, you may have depression. You should immediately discuss these symptoms with your healthcare team.

Once your doctors are aware of your condition, they may recommend counseling or medication. Remember that depression remedies, whether they are prescribed or bought over the counter, can interact with your cancer therapy and should only be used under the supervision of your healthcare team.

Asbestos Exposure a Problem for Welders – Know Your Rights

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Steven Kazan

The image of a welder, meticulously crouched over his or her work, usually conjures sentimental pictures of hope and promise. Buildings are erected. Ships set sail. Roads traverse the country. Unfortunately for the welder, asbestos exposure is a problem.

At Kazan Law, we are dedicated to helping all individuals who struggle with potentially fatal diseases as a result of coming into contact with asbestos, which is a likely consequence of several occupations. Welders are among the workers who are most at risk, and we believe these employees deserve both gratitude and just compensation for their labor.

Welders deal with a hazardous environment
Most of the occupational hazards associated with welding have to deal with chemicals and fumes. Among these potential toxins are zinc, cadmium, beryllium, iron oxide, mercury, lead, fluoride, chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, phosgene, carbon monoxide, ozone and nitrogen oxides, as listed by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

However, exposure to asbestos can also be problematic. Scientists from France said that this is likely to happen if welders are wearing old protective equipment, such as gloves or blankets, that were manufactured with asbestos. Furthermore, they are likely to encounter the mineral because of insulation materials at work sites, such as shipyards.

The World Health Organization estimates that 125 million people all over the globe are exposed to asbestos because of their job. This is likely to lead to an increase in the incidence of deadly diseases such as malignant mesothelioma.

‘We never wore a mask’
John Magee, a former apprentice welder who lives in the UK, is living proof of the asbestos-related dangers of the trade. Starting in 1963, he worked at James Watkinson (Engineers) for eight years. While holding this job, he frequently hammered large amounts of asbestos lagging from the pipes in boiler houses. Additionally, he performed more work in factories, coal mines and gas works.

“The work I did was always dusty and dirty because I had to knock huge amounts of asbestos lagging from the pipe work in the boiler houses with a hammer,” Magee told the Lancashire Evening Post. “The lagging was often old, and crumbled off easily, which meant it covered my clothes and hair, and I couldn’t help but breathe it in. We never wore a mask.”

Today, Magee is 66 years old and a grandfather of two – and he is living with mesothelioma. He has a lot of difficulty performing tasks around the house or shopping for himself.

His doctors tried to treat him with chemotherapy during April 2012, but his condition cannot be cured. All doctors can do now is keep an eye on his health.

In the meantime, Magee hopes to find former coworkers who may also be sick and not even know it.

Know your rights as a worker
Although public awareness of the risks associated with asbestos has improved since Magee worked as a welder, you should still be on the alert and know how to protect yourself.

OSHA has several tips:

Know the permissible exposure limits. Over an eight-hour shift, the PEL is 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter. In the short term, that figure is 1 fiber per cubic centimeter over 30 minutes.
Employers must conduct period monitoring if the asbestos concentration is expected to exceed the PEL.
Employers need to create regulated zones for areas where asbestos is a hazard.
Protective clothing and respiratory equipment must be provided by employers.
Employees must be properly educated about asbestos if air concentrations in the workplace exceed the PEL.

Studies Linking Asbestos Exposure to Bile Duct Cancer Raises Urgency for Asbestos Ban

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Steven Kazan

The link between exposure to asbestos and fatal respiratory diseases is undeniable. The scientific studies that describe this relationship are used to support efforts to ban the use of asbestos in the manufacturing of new products, and call for more protective measures for workers who frequently have to handle the material.

However, at Kazan Law, we know that asbestos can have negative effects on more than just the respiratory system. In fact, a team of scientists recently published a report in the journal Cancer Causes Control, in which they linked asbestos exposure to cholangiocarcinoma, which is also known as bile duct cancer.

What is cholangiocarcinoma?
The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation describes the liver as an organ with many functions, including the production of bile, which is a fluid that helps the liver filter out wastes while aiding the digestive system in the breakdown of fat in the food we eat. After the liver cells make bile, the liquid collects in tubes and drains out of the liver and into the gallbladder for storage via the bile ducts. These larger branches connect the liver to the gallbladder and the small intestine, into which the bile is released once food enters.

Bile duct cancer occurs when these larger, branched tubes develop a malignancy. This diseases can cause symptoms such as chills, fever, itching, decrease in appetite, weight loss, pain in the upper right abdomen that may travel to the back, and jaundice.

The five-year survival rate of this disease is 30 percent in cases when doctors are able to spot it in its early stages. However, only about 20 percent of incidents are found in such a timely manner.

Asbestos may be tied to disease trends
The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation estimates that more than 2,500 cases of bile duct cancer are newly diagnosed every year in the U.S. However, the incidence is increasing, and experts from the patient advocacy group are not entirely sure why. They suggest that doctors are becoming better at diagnosing the disease.

One team of scientists from Italy decided to investigate whether asbestos exposure played a role in this trend.

For their study, the researchers analyzed the medical data collected from 155 patients, all of whom were treated for bile duct cancer between 2006 and 2010. This information included the occupational histories of the individuals, all of whom were matched with data from control subjects.

Results showed that there was an increased risk of asbestos exposure among the patients who had intrahepatic bile duct cancer, which affects the ducts inside the liver. Furthermore, there was some evidence that asbestos was also associated with extrahepatic bile duct cancer, which occurs outside the liver.

One reason why asbestos may stimulate the development of these diseases is that the mineral can drive inflammation within the body, according to the scientists.

“Exposure to asbestos could be one of the determinants of the progressive rise in the incidence of [intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma] during the last 30 years,” the researchers wrote in Cancer Causes Control.

Calls for better asbestos control become more urgent
The Environmental Working Group estimates that asbestos exposure is responsible for more than 9,900 deaths in the U.S. every year. Out of those incidents, about 1,200 are related to malignant diseases of the digestive system.

This is cause for concern because asbestos has not been banned outright in countries like the U.S., where the material is a common component of automotive parts and insulation materials, potentially putting both trades workers and consumers at risk.

Hopefully, studies such as the recent report on bile duct cancer will urge government groups and manufacturers to become more conscientious.

How Firefighters can Minimize Risk of Asbestos Exposure

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Steven Kazan

Emergency workers regularly risk their lives in order to save others. Paramedics have to navigate through busy traffic to reach people in need. Cops sometimes have to immerse themselves in tense situations. Firefighters have to battle blazes in increasingly unstable buildings. Furthermore, burning structures force fighters to face another danger: asbestos exposure.

At Kazan Law, we firmly believe that people who put themselves in the line of danger in order to serve the public are deserving of not only gratitude, but protection from workplace hazards. To that end, we believe it is important to review why asbestos is a potential danger for firefighters.

Risk comes from buildings and equipment
Usually, when people consider the risks that firefighters face, they may think about smoke inhalation, skin burns or explosive materials. However, asbestos exposure increases the likelihood of being diagnosed with a potentially fatal disease, such as malignant mesothelioma.

Where would firefighters come into contact with this hazardous material? Experts from the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control in Connecticut’s Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection say that exposure can happen if these individuals have to enter a burning building constructed with asbestos-containing materials. Although asbestos is supposed to be both strong and fireproof, roofing, shingles and insulation materials may release particles into the air when exposed to high temperatures or physical impact.

As if that were not bad enough, some older fire-resistant equipment, such as coats and helmets, may contain asbestos. These outdated products are rarely used anymore, but firehouses that utilize them may be putting their workers at risk.

‘Breathing in clouds of asbestos’
One recent story that illustrates the dangers of asbestos for individuals of this chosen profession is the case of Douglas Garnham, a firefighter from the UK who was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma. Although he is only 54 years old, his doctors have told him he only has a year left to live. His disease is a possible consequence of asbestos exposure during the 1970s and 1980s, as reported by Get Surrey.

“During his initial training and on refresher training Mr. Garnham would have to crawl into confined and hot spaces, often the ducts under hospital boiler houses, containing pipes lagged with asbestos,” Simon Kilvington, Garnham’s lawyer, told the local news source. “He would crawl over and among asbestos-lagged pipes and through the asbestos dust and debris on the floors. Once the exercise was over, he would knock off the asbestos dust and fibers from his fire kit, breathing in the clouds of asbestos dust and fiber.”

In addition to being vulnerable to asbestos during training, Garnham likely came into contact with the material in burning buildings.

The Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, which employed Garnham, told the news source that they are continuing to invest in up-to-date technology and training methods.

Firefighters need to practice safety measures
FireRescue1, an internet network for firefighters in the U.S., says that workers are usually safe while they wear self-contained breathing apparatuses. However, this equipment is not always required on the job. Additional risks of exposure occur if asbestos fibers get trapped in protective clothing.

In order to minimize the risks, firefighters should:

Remove and isolate clothing when asbestos contamination is suspected.
Sample the surfaces of the response site for laboratory screening of asbestos.
Clean clothing in accordance to policy NFPA 1851.
Conduct follow-up testing of clothes.

Cancer Center Recruiting Mesothelioma Patients for Clinical Trial Showing Encouraging Results

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Steven Kazan

When it comes to medication, sometimes the way that doctors administer it is an important factor that can affect its effectiveness. One active area of scientific research aimed at developing better treatments for malignant mesothelioma involves exploring different methods of delivering drugs.

For example, Genelux, a pharmaceutical manufacturer based in California, is working in collaboration with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to evaluate the performance of GL-ONC1. The researchers want to know how effectively the agent can treat diseases such as mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer after doctors deliver it directly into the intra-pleural cavity of patients who develop malignant pleural effusions.

Current treatments fall short
Experts from the National Cancer Institute say that the treatments most suited for mesothelioma may partly depend on the stage of one’s disease. For example, if you are in the earliest stages of the illness, doctors may recommend surgery to remove the abnormal pleural lining and portions of other tissues in order to minimize the amount of malignant tissue that is present. This may be combined with radiation therapy as well as chemotherapy, both of which help further eradicate the cancerous cells.

In the advanced stages of the disease, surgery may no longer be an option.

Although these treatments may help alleviate the symptoms of your disease while extending survival time, they cannot cure mesothelioma. This underscores the need for better approaches to this illness.

Pleural effusions may provide a window
In order to develop a better treatment for respiratory malignancies caused by exposure to asbestos, scientists at Genelux created GL-ONC1, which is a modified form of the vaccinia virus that produces green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the body after it is activated. The GFP allows medical providers to track the medication’s activity.

Researchers at Genelux designed GL-ONC1 as a regimen for patients who develop malignant pleural effusions, which affect about 30 percent of individuals who have respiratory cancers. The NCI described this medical complication as an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural space that envelopes the lungs. If not treated properly, a pleural effusion may cause chest pain, cough and shortness of breath.

Previous studies to evaluate GL-ONC1 suggested that the agent is safe in humans who have other types of cancer. This new trial will deliver the drug candidate as a single dose to patients who develop pleural effusions because of diseases such as mesothelioma. The goal is to further verify safety while determining the best dose for intra-pleural delivery.

Clinical trial will benefit everyone
The current trial on GL-ONC1 will ultimately enroll a maximum of 54 patients, all of whom will have to undergo video-assisted thoracic surgery and pleural biopsies. Like all clinical trials, there is a risk of failure. However, regardless of whether the experiment produces the desired results, scientists will gain valuable knowledge into how to tackle respiratory cancers.

At Kazan Law, we appreciate the value of these experiments. If you are interested in participating in this or any other clinical trials, talk to your doctor. You can also consult the NCI or the American Cancer Society, both of which carry information on the latest ongoing studies.

Remember that not all individuals with a particular disease may be eligible for specific clinical trials. Furthermore, you may not see the positive results you want. However, your participation would promote the work to help future patients.

3 Factors that Impact a Mesothelioma Prognosis

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Steven Kazan

Receiving the news that you have malignant pleural mesothelioma can be overwhelming, but knowing your diagnosis is a positive first step in fighting the battle. Next, your team of healthcare providers need to determine how extensive your disease is. This will help them decide which treatments are the most appropriate for you and which ones are not worth the expense and side effects.

At Kazan Law, we try to keep up with the latest medical developments. We know that when it comes to forming prognoses of cancer patients, doctors often rely on staging systems that describe the physical extent of the malignancy. However, when it comes to mesothelioma, arriving at an opinion may be more challenging. One team of scientists from Rome decided to comb through the various prognostic factors that researchers studied throughout the years and published their review in the journal Oncology.

Staging systems are inadequate
There are several treatment options for mesothelioma patients: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery or a combination of any of these. Deciding which regimen to undergo depends partly on how advanced the disease is.

Experts from the National Cancer Institute say that surgical options – either extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy/decortication – are typically only recommended for patients who are in stage I of the disease. This means that the cancerous tissue is limited to certain areas of the chest lining. For stages II-IV, radiation or chemotherapy are often prescribed. However, some patients may still be eligible for pleurectomy/decortication.

The options for patients who have recurrent mesothelioma are mostly limited to participating in a clinical trial.

One problem with the staging system for mesothelioma is that, by the time patients are diagnosed, the disease is usually in its advanced stages. This underscores the need for better techniques to identify the disease and determine its extent.

Reviewers go from macro to micro
Although cancer prognoses often rely on staging systems, the amount of information that can describe mesothelioma is more vast than some medical professionals may know. The review recently published in Oncology grouped the various predictive factors of this disease into three main groups:

Clinical factors. These include sex, age, extent of asbestos exposure, symptom severity, performance status, radiological imaging, blood cell abnormalities, enzyme abnormalities and the presence of certain proteins in the blood serum. Additionally, both patients’ cancer staging and their responses to treatment may also impact their prognoses.
Genetic factors. Although asbestos exposure is the only known direct cause of mesothelioma, the carcinogen interacts with a unique set of genes in each patient. Prognoses may depend in part on the presence of mutations in individuals. Furthermore, the severity of a disease can be affected by mechanisms in the cells that control how certain genes are expressed.
Molecular pathway factors. The way in which the machinery in your cells behaves can influence how well the diseased tissue thrives. For example, most healthy cells are programmed to die after a certain time, or after an extensive amount of damage takes place. It is not uncommon for cancerous cells to be missing this mechanism for cell death.

The Environmental Working Group estimates that mesothelioma claims the lives of more than 2,500 individuals in the U.S. every year. Having more effective methods of forming prognoses can help doctors decide which patients are eligible for certain treatments, including those that are more targeted.

“Until the suggested novel gene and immunologic therapies have demonstrated their effectiveness, the best approach that can be offered to patients remains as extensive a surgical cytoreduction as possible, followed by adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy,” the reviewers wrote. “Still, an adequate knowledge and evaluation of prognostic factors can help in defining the multidisciplinary approach to therapy in order to reduce the mortality from this lethal disease.”

Can a Modified Form of a Human Virus Kill Cancer?

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Steven Kazan

Most people are aware of the fact that viruses can cause a myriad of unfortunate effects, including a runny nose, coughing, fever and body aches.

In the right hands, however, viruses can actually be beneficial. One biopharmaceutical company is developing a virus-based therapy that may one day help treat lung cancer, including cases caused by asbestos exposure.

How can viruses be helpful?
The fact that viruses can wreak havoc on the body has inspired several scientists to conduct experiments to see if they can use them to kill diseased tissues. The National Cancer Institute describes these oncolytic viruses as targeting cancer cells, and not healthy ones. This may either kill the malignancy directly, or make tumors more vulnerable to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Oncolytic viruses may exist naturally, but biopharmaceutical companies such as Oncolytics Biotech are engineering their own viruses in the lab.

Phase 2 clinical trial shows promise
Oncolytics Biotech has been developing an oncolytic virus under the name Reolysin, which is a modified form of the human reovirus. So far, the company has explored the use of Reolysin for treating head and neck cancers.

In order to determine the effects of Reolysin on lung cancer, the researchers conducted a Phase 2 trial that included 20 patients who had squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. All study participants underwent six treatment cycles of the chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and paclitaxel, which were administered in combination with intravenous treatments of Reolysin.

Results showed that 19 patients experienced shrinkages in their tumors.

“It’s exciting to have 95 percent of patients in this study exhibit tumor shrinkage and these results further suggest that Reolysin may have potential use in neoadjuvant (pre-surgical) settings,” Brad Thompson, president and CEO of Oncolytics Biotech, said in a statement. “Based on these findings we intend to continue to look at Reolysin as a treatment for cancers of the lung and cancers that metastasize to the lung.”

The company is continuing to enroll patients for further studies of Reolysin.

Incidence of asbestos-induced lung cancer will increase
The NCI describes squamous cell carcinoma of the lung as a form of non-small cell lung cancer. It affects a group of cells that are thin, flat and resemble fish scales. Symptoms of this disease include chest pain, a cough that grows worse over time, wheezing, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, tiredness, problems swallowing, difficulty breathing or hoarseness.

Experts estimate that more than 228,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2013. Eighty-four percent of these will be non-small cell lung cancer, and 25 percent of all lung cancer cases will be squamous cell carcinoma.

Although the developed world has done much to curb the use of asbestos, diseases related to this toxic material can take years to develop. For this reason, the incidence of conditions such as lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma will probably continue to increase for the next 10 years or so, as estimated by the Environmental Working Group. The organization asserts that, currently, asbestos-induced lung cancer is responsible for 4,800 deaths in the U.S. every year.

If the researchers from Oncolytics Biotech are successful in bringing Reolysin to market, countless lung cancer patients may benefit.

New Device may Assist Diagnosis of Lung Cancer Caused by Asbestos Exposure

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Steven Kazan

Whenever people think of lung cancer, they are likely to associate the disease with tobacco use. However, exposure to asbestos is a potential risk factor as well. The link between these two diseases drives scientific research into several directions, from studies on how to treat the illness to the creation of better diagnostic tools. The latter is especially important because better detection can lead to a more effective treatment.

At Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, which is Israel’s oldest university, scientists joined forces with the device manufacturer Alpha Szenszor to develop a product that can diagnose lung cancer simply by analyzing samples of the air that individuals exhale.

Different tools are available – and invasive
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention described the telltale signs of lung cancer as wheezing, difficulty breathing, unexplained weight loss and coughing, which may be bloody. If lung cancer is caused by asbestos exposure, symptoms can take 15 years after initial contact with the toxic material to develop.

The American Cancer Society lists several tools that doctors have at their disposal for diagnosing lung cancer. These include imaging scans of the chest, such as chest X-rays, MRI, CT and PET. However, these radiological tests often need to be confirmed with the help of other, more invasive diagnostic tools, such as thoracentesis, which analyzes the fluid that builds up around the lungs, or a biopsy, which collects cell samples from the tumors themselves.

Breathe in, breathe out
Scientists are always trying to find better ways to diagnose diseases. When it comes to lung cancer, this could mean creating a test that is less invasive and easier to use on patients. Collaborators at Technion and Alpha Szenszor believe that an answer may be found the breaths that patients exhale.

Within the air that individuals breath out are substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Researchers from the Netherlands note that diseases such as lung cancer cause the lungs to release distinctive VOCs because of inflammation. Developing technology that could diagnose lung cancer and other conditions, simply by analyzing the VOCs in patients breaths, could prove useful. Compared to biopsies, this approach would be less invasive and easier for patients to endure.

“At Alpha Szenszor, we are excited to be working with one of the world’s premier research institutes in a field where the transformational benefits to human life have been so clearly demonstrated,” CEO Steve Lerner said in a statement. “We look forward to this partnership with Technion as a critical step in the validation of early stage diagnostics through direct digital detection of gaseous biomarkers.”

Lung cancer numbers are on the rise
A new tool, such as the one that Technion and Alpha Szenszor plan to commercialize, will be especially valuable in light of the changing dynamics of diseases caused by asbestos exposure. Specifically, the Environmental Working Group estimates that asbestos-induced lung cancer claims the lives of about 4,800 individuals in the U.S. every year. This in addition to other asbestos-related diseases, such as malignant pleural mesothelioma, gastrointestinal cancers and asbestosis, which, when combined with lung cancer, cause nearly 10,000 deaths every year.

Adding to the urgent need for new diagnostic tools is the fact that the incidences of these diseases will only increase during the next 10 years or so. At Kazan Law, we are happy to support and promote scientific research that will help us curb these trends.

Workers’ Family Members are at Risk for Asbestos Exposure

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Steven Kazan

For decades, scientists and public health experts have been passionate about a definitive link existing between asbestos exposure and several potentially fatal illnesses – and with good reason. The evidence suggesting that asbestos can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer and other malignant diseases is irrefutable. For this reason, the medical community has shown great concern for individuals likely to come into contact with the toxic material on the job.

However, these employees are not the only ones at risk. At Kazan Law, we see too many stories about how the loved ones of these individuals are also in danger of asbestos exposure because of the workers’ tainted clothing. In Wales, one family discussed how their matriarch died from mesothelioma after washing the work clothes of her husband and son, as reported by Wales Online.

‘He lost a lot of colleagues and friends’
In 2011, Valerie Ward died at the Holm Towers hospice a mere 10 weeks after she had been diagnosed with mesothelioma. She was 78.

The inquest into her death concluded that her disease was the result of exposure to asbestos that likely occurred when she did the laundry, which included the work clothes of her husband Eric and son Adrian, both of whom were employed at a power station.

After winning compensation in civil court, Ward’s family decided to donate the money to Marie Curie, the cancer care network of which the Holm Towers is a part.

“My dad worked at the power station for 20 odd years and was a fitters mate before he became a painter there,” daughter Averil told the news source. “He lost a lot of colleagues and friends to mesothelioma – not a lot was known about it then and very little protection was offered at that time. Whatever we were going to get was always going to go to Holm Towers. It’s nice to be able to give something back – they were amazing.”

Today, Eric is living with asbestos plaques in his lungs.

Asbestos is still a working hazard
Although awareness of the risks of asbestos is greater today than it was decades ago, modern-day workers may still be in danger. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that asbestos exposure may be likely among those who handle products such as car brakes and clutches, construction workers who perform renovation or demolition, or maritime employees who work on ships that were built with asbestos. Custodial workers may also encounter the toxic material on the job.

Know how to protect yourself
If you are at risk of asbestos exposure because of your occupation, remember that there are ways to minimize this – and your employer is required to help. OSHA lists the permissible exposure limit of asbestos in the workplace as 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter – averaged over eight hours – or, in the short term, 1 fiber per cubic centimeter over 30 minutes.

Employers must monitor these risks and provide protective clothing, including coveralls, face shields and vented goggles. They are also responsible for training workers on asbestos awareness.

Health and Safety Executive, a government watchdog group in the UK, has additional safety tips for tradespeople. Among them are recommendations to clean up throughout the day to prevent the accumulation of waste, wash before taking breaks or going home, and use Type H vacuum cleaners or wet rags – instead of sweeping – to clean dust.

Additionally, employees need to refrain from eating or drinking in the middle of a work site, or bringing work clothes home.

How to Protect Yourself from Naturally-Occurring Asbestos

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Steven Kazan

If you ever thought about how you need to protect yourself from asbestos exposure, you may recall the various products that contain the hazardous material. These include vermiculite and other items used for fireproofing or soundproofing. You may even think about people who are employed in high-risk jobs, such as construction workers, electricians or those who work around shipyards.

However, it can be easy to forget that asbestos is a mineral present in certain rocks. If left undisturbed, this naturally occurring asbestos does not pose a health risk to people, but careless human activity can increase the likelihood that asbestos fibers become airborne.

Ultramafic rock may contain asbestos
The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) states that asbestos can usually be found near fault zones or within ultramafic rock. Asbestos can make up anywhere between 1 percent and 25 percent of the mass of these rocks.

The soil around buildings that contain asbestos may also become contaminated during original construction or remodeling that disturbs in-place construction materials.

Human activity can increase the danger
As with most commercial and industrial products that contain asbestos, tainted soil and rocks do not pose risks to people if they are left intact. However, there are two ways in which naturally occurring asbestos can be disturbed: Through natural weathering and erosion, and human activity.

When it comes to the latter, mining efforts or actions that crush rocks can easily unleash asbestos fibers into the air. Also, construction that takes place around naturally occurring asbestos may disturb the mineral fibers.

One team of scientists from Nevada asserts that off-road-vehicle riding and other recreational activities is a major cause of disturbance in asbestos-tainted soil. This can be dangerous in light of increased urbanization, and underscores the need for better strategies for the prevention of exposure to asbestos.

Caution can minimize the risk
The ATSDR notes that not all ultramafic rocks contain asbestos. Environmental testing can help stakeholders determine whether they are at risk.

For example, laboratory service providers such as ASTM International have developed special tests that can analyze soil samples for the presence of asbestos. The company states that their test can be used for the purposes of property transfers and government cleanup sites.

At Kazan Law, we want to make sure that you know how to protect yourself and your family from all potential exposures. The ATSDR has several recommendations for people who are concerned about environmental asbestos:

Walk, hike or bike only on trails that are paved.
Play in outdoor areas only if they are covered by mulch, sand, grass, asphalt or rubber.
Pave over any unpaved areas that are likely to be walked or driven upon.
If you know that your garden contains asbestos-tainted soil, cover it with either asbestos-free soil or landscaping.
Wet all areas of the garden before you begin any shoveling or digging.
Remove shoes before entering the house in order to prevent bringing dirt in.
Place doormats at all entrances to allow people to wipe their feet.
If construction is taking place nearby, keep all doors or windows closed.
If you have to drive over unpaved areas, roll up the windows and drive slowly.
When dusting or cleaning the floors, use wet rags or wet mops.
Vacuum carpeted areas with a product that contains a HEPA filter.

Posts by: Steven Kazan

How Depression Impacts Survival Time for Lung Cancer Patients

Asbestos Exposure a Problem for Welders – Know Your Rights

Studies Linking Asbestos Exposure to Bile Duct Cancer Raises Urgency for Asbestos Ban

How Firefighters can Minimize Risk of Asbestos Exposure

Cancer Center Recruiting Mesothelioma Patients for Clinical Trial Showing Encouraging Results

3 Factors that Impact a Mesothelioma Prognosis

Can a Modified Form of a Human Virus Kill Cancer?

New Device may Assist Diagnosis of Lung Cancer Caused by Asbestos Exposure

Workers’ Family Members are at Risk for Asbestos Exposure

How to Protect Yourself from Naturally-Occurring Asbestos

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