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Many people think that asbestos causes lung cancer, and that it is the same as mesothelioma.  While it is true that exposure to asbestos fibers could cause lung cancer, such as the kind experienced by long-term smokers, mesothelioma is much more commonly the result of asbestos exposure, and it is an entirely different form of cancer than lung cancer.

mWd8Wf2Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos fibers becoming trapped in a protective of layer of the tissues inside the human body know as the mesothelium, which is the what the cancer is named after.  While there is a layer of mesothelium in the lungs, and people often get mesothelioma in their lungs (malignant pleural mesothelioma), mesothelioma will often develop in the chest cavity (malignant pericardial mesothelioma) or in the abdomen (malignant peritoneal mesothelioma).  Continue reading

Being in the military is a great sacrifice, and our brave service members throughout the history of our nation have undertaken this sacrifice, and they deserve our highest respect.  There are many ways in which a person in the military can be seriously injured or killed.

asbestosWhile there are the obvious risks associated with being in combat, there are also many soldiers and sailors injured in training accidents and injured on the job in the same manner in which civilian workers are routinely injured.  While there is nothing that can really be done to prevent each and every one of these injuries and even deaths from occurring, there is one type of serious illness that could have been prevented for at least much the last century.  Continue reading

According to a recent news feature from Oregon Live, a local jury has just awarded $8.75 million to a man who is currently dying from malignant mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure that occurred around 40 years ago.

old-worn-out-boots-1013579-m-300x261The victim is a 65-year-old man who first became exposed to the deadly asbestos fibers when he worked on construction sites when he was in his 20s.  He was a carpenter and was regularly exposed to a product manufactured by the defendant.  The product was applied to drywall by other workers and was used as a joint compound.  Continue reading

According to a recent news article from the Worcester Patch, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has assessed a roughly $52,000 fine against a property owner in connection with alleged asbestos violations while he was renovating his three-decker apartment building in Worcester, Massachusetts.

rubble-1432323-mMassDEP officials said they were responding to complaints from an unknown source when they began their investigation into potential asbestos violations at the apartment building.  The complainant described seeing a pile of renovation waste outside of the home and believed that it contained asbestos fibers. Continue reading

According to a recent news feature from the Eagle-Tribune, a local couple that operates an asbestos abatement business have been charged with fraud, are seeking to get the court dismiss those charges. They are currently being accused of committing fraud against employers who are members of a Massachusetts construction workers’ union, and the fraud is alleged to be in the amount of $2 million.

asbestosAsbestos abatement (removal) is a very expensive process and can be very profitable for those certified and licensed to perform the work, but there are also a lot of associated expenses. Pursuant to the law in Massachusetts, properly trained asbestos abatement technicians who are licensed or certified must do the work, and they must be provided with proper safety equipment, including respirators or ventilators. Continue reading

In Quincy, the Wollaston Theater, or “The Wolly” as it is often called by locals, has been undergoing a process of asbestos abatement for quite a while, as it is no longer in operation as a movie house like it once was. Many were hoping that the town would purchase the historic one-screen movie house and restore it, so it could be enjoyed by generations to come.

vintage-hotel-1380443-mAccording to a recent news feature from the Patriot Leader, the town’s mayor actually considered using public funds to purchase the old movie theater, but sad the owner is asking way too much money, and he can’t justify using that much taxpayer money to save the historic building from demolition. Continue reading

A landowner looking to renovate a building or demolish a structure must first weigh the risk of asbestos danger. If there is any reason to suspect the structure contains asbestos, demolition work  absolutely cannot start without taken action to limit the risk. A professional asbestos abatement contractor must be called to determine the presence of asbestos.

warning-icon-45-1023139-mThe contractor will take a sample and carefully package that material so it can be taken to an approved material science testing lab to look at the material under a microscope and confirm the presence of the of asbestos fibers. Continue reading

According to a recent news report from the Times Free Press, a community that was ravaged by a series of powerful tornadoes is now facing a serious problem as result of deadly asbestos-laden debris.

vermiculiteThe tornadoes ripped through the small southern town in late April of 2011.  It was dark and people were screaming as their homes were being torn apart.  Power lines were down as were utility poles, and people were covered in destroyed plaster walls, ceiling tiles, and all types of other construction debris. Continue reading

According to a recent news feature from New Hampshire Public Radio, state and federal investigators were given a tip from a confidential informant regarding large piles of debris containing asbestos dumped outside a building in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The building is owned by one of the largest real estate developers in the state of New Hampshire.

whistle-1505616-300x225These regulators included personnel from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDep), who were told the material was from construction or demolition projects in New Hampshire that was illegally transported across the border into the Commonwealth. This real estate developer is now believed to be the target of a criminal investigation, though reporters were told, “No comment,” by MassDep when they asked for confirmation of an ongoing probe. Continue reading

When asbestos is discovered in a building and must be removed, the first thing a landowner must do is to bring in a certified asbestos abatement contractor to perform a test to confirm the presence of asbestos.  The way the test works is that the contractor will have samples taken from the suspected asbestos material and carefully secure those samples, so they can be taken to a materials testing laboratory for microscopic analysis.asbestos

Once the presence of asbestos has been confirmed, a certified abatement contractor will work with local and federal regulators to obtain the necessary permits after submitting an asbestos abatement plan. All workers must be trained in proper asbestos handling techniques and should be provided with all necessary personal protection clothing and a respirator or ventilator.  Continue reading

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