Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

James Robert Soyars, Jr. was indicted last week for violations of the Clean Air Act, specifically on nine counts that included failure to put warning labels and dispose of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) properly.  Soyars’s company, Talon Environmental, supposedly removed the asbestos after being hired to perform asbestos abatement at three different local businesses that [...]

Last week, we stated clearly in an article that we did NOT support the continued use of mining and exportation of asbestos from Canada.  Almost all of the chrysotile asbestos mined in Quebec gets sent to third world, developing countries that do not have the knowledge or protections against the use of asbestos.  This means [...]

In 2007, the House of Lords ruled that patients diagnosed with pleural plaques caused by asbestos exposure did not qualify for insurance compensation.  Last week, Judge Lord Emslie overturned that ruling, rejecting insurance companies arguments that pleural plaques do not fall under compensatable injuries and that they are a symptomless condition. 
Medical studies have shown pleural [...]

Heavy rains at the end of October damaged an asbestos containing roof of a three story condominium forcing residents to evacuate.  Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was used in many construction materials, including roofing and ceiling tiles.  It was often added to roofing products because it is highly insulating and fire resistant. 
Asbestos is now [...]

A new initiative for those in the construction trades is aimed at increasing awareness of asbestos and lessening the risk of workers contracting mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases from unsafe exposure. 
The initiative is part of the Michigan Asbestos Program with the main goal of assuring that anyone working with asbestos is properly trained and [...]

Oak Cliff Christian Church in Dallas, Texas is being cleared of all asbestos containing materials to make way for demolition of a building more than a hundred years old.  The building site was bought last summer by the Dallas School District with plans to construct a new high school. 
Although the Church building is over a [...]

In June, the Environmental Protection Agency declared a public health emergency for Libby, Montana.  For decades, Libby was the center of one of the largest asbestos mines.  Because the illnesses caused by exposure to asbestos do not develop until 20 – 50 years after initial exposures, it has only been recently that the town was [...]

Thetford Mines in south central Quebec is the center of current controversy over the hazards of asbestos.  Thetford Mines was founded in 1876 when large asbestos deposits were discovered and quickly made the town one of the world’s largest regions for asbestos production.  Although asbestos manufacturing and use is highly regulated in the United States [...]

In the past week, two different universities, the University of Central Oklahoma and University of Wisconsin, have faced inquiries about possible asbestos exposures that could have occurred when both schools faced leaks in their ceilings.  UCO made immediate repairs during the holiday break so as to ensure the premises were vacated and decrease risk of [...]

Recently in the news, stories are being written of construction companies all over the United States which are violating asbestos laws and regulations with little consequence.  These companies are securing million dollar contracts yet their fines and remediation actions are minuscule compared to the profit they are making on the projects overall. 
Asbestos is a carcinogenic [...]