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Pleural Effusions & Mesothelioma

“My husband had a large amount of fluid drained from his chest a couple of times before he was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The other man we were talking to at the meeting never had any fluid drained. What does that mean for the future? Is that bad?”

This question in one form or another is asked frequently. The pleural fluid is located around the lung between the pleural and visceral layers – thin cell layers that line the lung. Usually in a healthy person there is about a tablespoon of fluid that lubricates the cell layers and allows the lungs to expand. Pleural effusions become significant when there is more than 200cc, just less than a cup. When draining a pleural effusion most practitioners stop draining at 1,000cc, around a quart.

There are many diseases that can cause pleural effusions. Some of the common reasons are congestive heart failure, liver or kidney failure, pneumonia, infection, and lung cancer. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is usually diagnosed after other more common reasons are ruled out.

In a research study published from the Academic Respiratory Unit at the University of Bristol, a team led by Anna C. Bibby looked at a center in England at patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma between 2008 and 2017. They looked back at the symptoms that the patient presented with, the presence and size of pleural effusions, and then followed the patients through their journey with mesothelioma.

They found that 82.8 percent of all 229 patients diagnosed during this time had pleural effusions. Of the 192 patients, 41 percent had fluid that occupied more than 50 percent of the hemithorax. They also confirmed that right sided tumors and early stage disease were more common in patients that have pleural effusions and those that don’t. In addition, they found that patients with pleural effusions were more likely to be short of breath as the presenting symptom. Those without pleural effusions presented with chest pain as the most common symptom.

This study looked at the size of pleural effusions, and whether or not you had a pleural effusion did not contribute to overall survival. The study also found that effusions are associated with lower disease stage. The reason may be that when someone is short of breath they may go to the doctors earlier and disease possibly diagnosed sooner leading to more treatment options.

The study supports once again the importance of seeking treatment at a Mesothelioma Center of Excellence with an expert team experienced in malignant pleural mesothelioma. Research is constantly behind the answers to questions and constantly evolving.

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and has questions about this or any legal issues, Belluck & Fox is here to help you get justice. Call today for a free consultation.

Living Life with Mesothelioma

With mesothelioma in the headlines, and important recognitions like Mesothelioma Awareness Day, we have witnessed many tributes to mesothelioma warriors who have fought, and continue to fight, this terrible disease. As tributes poured in via social media it encourages us, as healthcare providers, to evaluate how well we are doing.

The one true payoff is when you meet someone with mesothelioma and watch them recover from the treatment and continue to live. The greatest reward is watching someone go out and do the things they enjoy. It made me reflect about a patient I had met who was forty years old and was recovering in a hotel waiting for the “OK” to get back to his southern state. He appeared stable, his wound looked well, his vital signs were stable, and his mood was in good spirits. 

When I asked him how he was going to spend his time in Boston, he told me he was taking a bus to a casino. He was showered, clean shaven, happy, and ready for his day out. The story does not end there. I am not sure whether he won or not. When I reported in with his surgeon about his progress and spoke about how he was going to head to the casino, the surgeon’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. 

The goal of being the best in the business is great, as you are the person people travel to from far and wide to get the best chance of survival. The truth of the matter though is that while it is great to be offering the latest treatment options, it is even better to see how you have been able to provide the opportunity for people with this rare cancer to live their lives. 

As my conversation progressed with the surgeon, it made me think about how while the mesothelioma centers offer the best of the best, what is the patient doing with it? Cleary, living is the greatest thank you that you can give your medical team. A couple of days ago I called a patient to visit and check in on her and her recovery.

Be brave, seek out your best options for treatment, but go live your life to the best of your ability. Don’t let your disease define you, because you can take control.

Balancing Mesothelioma with Everyday Life

Balancing living with mesothelioma over time and living day to day with mesothelioma is a challenge. Living with Mesothelioma at times can be frustrating. Many people question and critique their progress daily or even sometimes hourly. It is important that you pay strict attention to your overall health and stamina, but when is it too much or not enough? The patients that we see after initial treatment are often in their homes or local hotels, rehabs, or staying locally near a mesothelioma center.  There is a wide variety of expectations after this initial hospitalization. For some they keep logs of weights, medication, and lists of fluids and food that they have consumed. This can be helpful with accuracy and to stay ahead of changes to a situation. For others they are more accepting of symptoms that can be improved on. It is a balance that every person has to find.

Two examples that come to mind are a patient that had logs for his weights, charts for his meds, diaries for his food intake – all was going well in those areas. Sleep was an issue, and became something that he focused on. He realized the one area that he had not put enough emphasis on was walking. Ambulating is very important and could help improve his sleeping, and so balancing these activities helped him recover.  

Another patient had no energy, was dizzy, and blood pressure was low. He expected that he should feel bad and thought this was just how it should be. He did not reach out to his mesothelioma team. Adjusting his blood pressure meds improved his energy, appetite, and outlook.

When is there too much focus on something? There is no easy answer to that. Many times, we see patients and families who are hyper focused on one thing. Sometimes it can be weight, pain, shortness of breath and they constantly talk about it. How do we refocus on life and not so much the disease? Professionally speaking we try to focus on something else, preferably something positive. Maybe if someone is focused on lack of sleep or shortness of breath, we try to engage the patient about mobility. We concentrate on the value of ambulation, how it builds endurance, strength, promotes confidence, and overall is good for you. We encourage them to measure their distance and how they felt after each outing. This can sometimes work in a favorable way and it can encourage people to push themselves and not focus on the other stuff.

As you enter the world of mesothelioma you may hear that this disease can also affect you mentally. Many patients previously have chosen to focus on being a warrior and not a victim of asbestos. This is not an easy task to do day to day. It takes practice to incorporate this mindset into your daily life. 

Physically we all know when something feels different out of our norm. We are quick to pick up if we are coming down with a cold, or we have bruised a bone. If something does not feel right you should let your team know about it.  

Seeking and undergoing treatment for mesothelioma is a challenge. This is about taking the disease by the hand and taking charge of how your recovery will go. Controlling what you can and letting go of what you can’t control will allow you to work with your team for the best possible results.

World Lung Cancer Day

August marks the beginning of a new summer month, and with it, World Lung Cancer Day. Lung Cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers worldwide, claiming more lives than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined. In the early twentieth century, lung cancer was rare. Today it is one of the most common cancers in the world, affecting nearly one in five cancer deaths globally. Factors that attribute to lung cancer are smoking, asbestos, and air pollution, to name a few. If you are a smoker you are 24-36 times more likely to get lung cancer than a nonsmoker.  

Those who are part of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) and the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) use this day to communicate, celebrate, and support those impacted by lung cancer throughout the world.

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) holds a World Conference on Lung Cancer – the largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other chest malignancies. Last month the IASLC group hosted a dedicated Mesothelioma Forum of medical professionals sharing the latest clinical trials. Although the research is hopeful, there is much work to be done. Collaboration throughout the world leads to more treatment options. More research could help end this disease. The other factor is education, and reaching as many people as possible with knowledge of the risk factors that can lead to a diagnosis of lung cancer.

The goal of World Lung Cancer Day is to bring education and attention to a disease that still remains a global threat to health. Therapies are still being developed and education is still needed. People throughout the world  continue to smoke cigarettes, and now the latest fad of vaping whose long term effects are unknown.       

According to the World Health Organization, 34,000 Americans die from preventable asbestos-caused lung cancer each year. Asbestos causes lung cancer and causes Mesothelioma. Despite how you have contracted your disease, please early treatment and detection are you best fight against these diseases.  

Collaboration, awareness, support, and education are all factors in making the first day of August World Lung Cancer Day annually.

News Report Points to Asbestos and Other Environmental Hazards in Philadelphia Schools

Too many times, asbestos issues have come up in America’s schools. U.S. government officials have sent out a call to encourage school districts to plan carefully to remove asbestos before it becomes an issue. Now, schools in Philadelphia are faced with “serious environmental hazards” and students and employees face health risks from lead, mold, and asbestos.

The Inquirer and Daily News conducted an in-depth investigation into the condition of public schools in Philadelphia, identifying more than 9,000 environmental problems dating back to September 2015. Their findings reveal “filthy schools and unsafe conditions — mold, deteriorated asbestos, and acres of flaking and peeling paint likely containing lead — that put children at risk.”

According to the report, about 90 percent of the district’s schools were built before 1978. Asbestos was a common part of construction materials used in U.S. buildings up until the 1980s, and lead paint was banned from residential use in 1978. Schools built prior to the 1980s more than likely were built with materials that contain asbestos and/or  lead, and unless the schools have undergone extensive renovations, they still harbor the dangerous materials.

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), established in 1986 to protect teachers, students and all school employees from asbestos exposure, requires local education agencies to inspect for and manage asbestos containing materials.

The investigative team from the Inquirer interviewed 120 teachers, nurses, parents, students, and experts, and had staff members at over 19 schools use surface wipes to gather samples from throughout the schools to test for lead dust, mold spores, and asbestos fibers.

Results of the testing conducted at a “nationally accredited lab” revealed “dangerously high levels of cancer-causing asbestos fibers” in classrooms, gymnasiums, auditoriums, and hallways. Residue was reported to be from crumbling pipe insulation, damaged floor tiles, and deteriorating ceilings.

When intact, asbestos does not pose a problem, but when asbestos-containing materials become damaged and must be abated (or removed) the size and scope of construction projects can quickly spiral out of control. The Philadelphia school district found this out with school officials saying it could take $3 billion over the next 10 years to build new schools, replace roofs and heating systems, and finish all urgent repairs, according to Education Week.

Although school officials disputed some of the information in the report, they do acknowledge there is work to do to clean up the schools.

“We want to be proactive in identifying, assessing, controlling, and preventing environmental health conditions in our schools,” said Francine Locke, the district’s environmental director. “So we go above and beyond regulations when we collect data about dampness, mold, paint, and plaster damage.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Once exposed to the toxic mineral, a person faces a lifelong risk of developing asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, a terminal cancer. The disease has a decades-long incubation period, often not revealing itself for 15-60 years after exposure.

If you are concerned about asbestos in your child’s school, contact your school administrator. According to the EPA, your local school district/local education agency must nominate a “designated person” to perform and delegate, if necessary, the management of asbestos in a school building. This person should be able to address any specific concerns you have about management of asbestos in your child’s school.

For any legal assistance you need, you can contact our trusted asbestos attorneys at Belluck & Fox, LLP. We also have locations at AlbanyRochester and Woodstock.

Parents Concerned Over Connecticut School Asbestos Removal Project

In 2015, a government-issued report raised an alarm over the amount of asbestos in U.S. schools. Since then, several Connecticut schools have been working in earnest to clear the hazardous material from the buildings. (See how one Hartford school was forced to deal with an asbestos issue.) Now, some parents are concerned that officials from a West Haven high school may be endangering the students’ health during an asbestos abatement project.

One wing of the West Haven High School is about to undergo a two-month asbestos abatement project, but, according to a Dec. 6 report from WTNH, the work is scheduled to be done while students are attending classes. Although the building is draped in a tarp and no classes will be held in that section, Conn. asbestos laws require the work to be done when no students or faculty are there. The school received a waiver, however, and that is raising concerns with parents to the more than 1,500 students who attend the school.

“It’s very concerning for me,” said one concerned parent. “I’m asking for them not to abate asbestos at all while students are in session.” This parent, in fact, is so concerned, that she is considering a lawsuit to block the work.

In May 2017, it was revealed that when surveillance cameras were installed at the school asbestos was disturbed, leading to allegations that asbestos abatement work was not managed properly. WTNH reported at the time that the mayor’s office, parents and the environmental company had differing opinions of whether asbestos was released. Ultimately, a spokesperson for the environmental company said, “The individuals that did that work weren’t licensed to handle asbestos. It’s pretty clear.” This raised the parents’ concerns making them suspicious of the newly scheduled asbestos work at the school.

U.S. buildings built prior to the 1980s were more than likely built with materials that contain asbestos. Unless the schools have undergone extensive renovations, they still harbor the asbestos-containing materials. The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), established in 1986 to protect teachers, students and all school employees from asbestos exposure, require local education agencies to inspect for and manage asbestos containing materials. Unfortunately, when officials attempt to clean up, they often run up against financial issues and push-back from parents and the community.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that asbestos that is in good condition and left undisturbed is unlikely to present a health risk. However, risk of mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases becomes an issue when asbestos is damaged or disturbed where asbestos fibers become airborne and can be inhaled. This can occur during renovations, requiring careful management and work by certified asbestos contractors.

A letter from Hygenix, Inc., Environmental Consultants and Laboratory Services, reported on Dec. 1 that various perimeter air samples from the school were returned with “No Asbestos Fibers Detected.” The report was posted on the school’s website along with the statement noting that abatement will begin on Dec. 4.

School superintendent Neil Cavallaro told WTNH, “West Haven High School has taken all of the appropriate steps to ensure everyone’s safety … contingency plans are in place in case there are elevated levels.”

If you are concerned about asbestos in your child’s school, contact your school administrator. According to the EPA, your local school district/local education agency must nominate a “designated person” to perform and delegate, if necessary, the management of asbestos in a school building. This person should be able to address any specific concerns you have about management of asbestos in your child’s school.

If you’ve been exposed to asbestos and have concerns on your health, our reliable asbestos attorneys at Belluck & Fox, LLP can help you. Call or visit our law office in New York City today.

Need Know Sept 11 Asbestos Exposure

On Sept. 11, 2001, our country was forever changed.

When terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, more than 2,500 innocent people died.

Children lost parents.

Families lost sons and daughters.

As a country, we mourned these great losses.

But we did not let them break our spirit.

Stories of triumph emerged from the tragedy. Firefighters and police rushing selflessly into the Twin Towers to save anyone they could. Everyday people sacrificing themselves to help co-workers and strangers escape the collapse. Exhausted and sometimes injured rescue workers searching the rubble around the clock to pull out survivors and give closure to families.

We will never forget the sacrifices that were made that day and for the days and weeks to follow. For many of us, the images of brave rescue workers and survivors covered in dust and soot are forever burned into our memory.

Unfortunately, these images also serve as a stark reminder of the lingering threat that many survivors face:

More than 400,000 people were exposed to asbestos and other toxic dust as a result of the World Trade Center attacks.

Now, sixteen years later, survivors are being diagnosed with asbestos lung diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

Compensation is available for those who are coping with serious diseases as a result of the toxic asbestos dust released after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Contact us today to learn what types of financial assistance are available for you and your family.

What Is Asbestos and How Much Was in the World Trade Center?

symptoms asbestos exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in construction and industrial products until the 1980s. It is a human carcinogen, meaning it is shown to cause cancer such as malignant mesothelioma.

Researchers estimate that the World Trade Center’s North Tower contained as much as 400 tons of asbestos. (The builders of the Twin Towers stopped using asbestos insulation and other materials by the time they constructed the South Tower.)

When the Twin Towers collapsed, they created a massive cloud of dust filled with asbestos fibers and other toxins. Even after the initial dust cloud settled, microscopic asbestos fibers remained a serious risk to anyone who inhaled or ingested them.

Who Could Be at Risk of Asbestos Diseases After 9/11?

There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Anyone who was in the vicinity of Ground Zero may have breathed in or ingested the dangerous fibers. This includes:

  • Rescue workers such as firefighters, police officers, and paramedics
  • Clean-up crews
  • Construction workers
  • Survivors
  • Bystanders
  • Residents of Lower Manhattan

 

In addition, family members of rescue workers and survivors may have been exposed to asbestos that was carried home on clothing or skin. Anyone who was exposed to asbestos on or after Sept. 11 should be aware of its effects and know what symptoms to look for.

What Are the Symptoms of Asbestos Disease?

asbestosis symptomsAsbestos diseases have a long latency period, which means they may not develop until decades after a person was exposed to the dangerous fibers. It is crucial that Sept. 11 rescue workers, survivors, and others who may have been exposed watch for signs and symptoms of asbestos diseases, including:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Painful cough or coughing up blood
  • Fluid build-up in the chest or abdomen
  • Pain in the chest or abdomen
  • Lumps under the skin on the chest or in the abdomen
  • Swelling in the neck or face
  • Loss of appetite or weight loss
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Hoarseness

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor and share your history of asbestos exposure. Early diagnosis of asbestos diseases leads to more effective treatment options.

Even if you are not experiencing symptoms, you may want to talk to your doctor about the best ways to monitor your health. Your doctor may recommend annual chest X-rays or other tests to catch any signs of disease as early as possible.

What Type of Help Is Available for 9/11 Victims?

9 11 attorneys

Your options for pursuing compensation and assistance for a 9/11-related cancer or illness will depend on your circumstances. For example:

The government has set aside billions of dollars as part of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund to compensate those who were harmed or lost a loved one during the attacks or the clean-up efforts.

The fund originally operated until 2004, but it was reactivated as part of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, also known as the Zadroga Act. Recognizing the ongoing health effects of Sept. 11, the federal government has currently reauthorized the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) through 2020. Thousands of claims are paid every year, with more than $2.8 billion being paid to victims and families so far.

The World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program is a separate government program that provides medical monitoring and treatment for injuries and illnesses related to 9/11 exposure. Also set up as part of the Zadroga Act, the WTC Health Program is available for people who “were present in the dust or dust cloud on 9/11 or who worked, resided, or attended school, childcare, or adult daycare in the New York City disaster area for a period of time on 9/11 and/or during the following months.”

The State of New York has also extended workers’ compensation benefits to WTC workers (including volunteers). If you or a loved one is suffering from an illness related to work in 9/11 rescue, recovery, or clean-up efforts, you may be eligible to collect these benefits.

Thousands of people have filed personal injury and wrongful death claims against contractors, building owners, and others responsible for the clean-up of 9/11 debris. Rescue workers and others have been able to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements.

If you have been diagnosed with a 9/11-related cancer or other asbestos disease, you need an experienced New York asbestos lawyer on your side to help you navigate the complicated claims process.

Our nationally recognized attorneys have secured more than $1 billion for asbestos victims and their families, and we stand ready to fight for you now.

 

We have represented many clients who were expose to asbestos on 9/11. And Joe Belluck, our founding partner, worked for Trial Lawyers Care on behalf of 9/11 victims.

Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your options for pursuing compensation, and let our dedicated asbestos attorneys at Belluck & Fox, LLP take the pressure off you so you can focus on what’s important ─ your health. We have locations at New York City, Woodstock, Rochester and Albany.

Detroit Neighborhood Residents Concerned About Possible Asbestos Exposure From Abandoned Dumpster

It has been a challenging year for residents in Flint, Michigan as they fight for clean water after the city’s water lines were found to be tainted with lead. Now, residents in the neighboring city of Detroit may be facing another health crisis after a dumpster loaded with asbestos was left in the neighborhood for several weeks.

According to a May 31 report from Fox 2 News in Detroit, workers from a construction project apparently abandoned a dumpster used during demolition work. Once the house was leveled, the dumpster was left parked along an east side neighborhood street for nearly three weeks. A member of the New Era Detroit initiative, who was filming on location, alerted Fox 2 about the dumpster after seeing the “Asbestos” warning signs on the dumpster.

A resident of the neighborhood told Fox 2 reporters that the contractors alerted them about the work when they “put little things on the door; it didn’t say anything about asbestos, though. It just says close your windows, your doors and keep your pets in. Stuff like that.”

Asbestos was used heavily in construction materials in residences  prior to the 1980s. It can be found in a wide range of building materials, including roofing shingles, and ceiling and floor tiles, and is likely to be present in older homes.

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that there is no safe level of exposure, and that three of the major health effects associated with asbestos exposure are lung cancermesothelioma, and asbestosis. Exposure leads to a life-long danger of developing these diseases that can take decades to develop.

Congress established the Clean Air Act to protect the U.S. publics’ health from air pollution and environmental hazards. The Act contains specific provisions to address hazardous or toxic air pollutants, such as asbestos, that pose health risks including cancer. Businesses and individuals must adhere to strict federal, state and local guidelines and regulations during construction and demolition. The guidelines include information on disposing of the waste material “as expediently as practicable.”

“The sealed dumpster should have been removed by the contractor more quickly than it was,” said Brian Farkas, the director of special projects for the Detroit Building Authority. “Once we became aware of the issue, the dumpster was removed the next day.”

Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. There is no cure for the cancer.

Photo Credit: Fox 2 News Detroit

If you have been suffering from asbestos-related diseases, our asbestos attorneys at Belluck & Fox can certainly help. Call or visit our locations in New York City, Woodstock, Albany and Rochester.

Government Raises Concerns Over State of Asbestos in U.S. Schools

Administrators of public school systems, colleges and universities are sometimes caught scrambling to rid their schools of asbestos once it is uncovered. We have reported on issues in the past in New York, Connecticut and Ohio public schools, and in Texas and New York universities. Now, U.S. Senators are concerned too many schools may soon be faced with asbestos hazards.

Schools, and other buildings, built prior to the 1980s more than likely were built with materials that contain asbestos. And, unless the schools have undergone extensive renovations, they still harbor the asbestos-containing materials.

Per the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), established in 1986 to protect teachers, students and all school employees from asbestos exposure, local education agencies are required to inspect for and manage asbestos containing materials. But to what extent that is being done is unclear to U.S. officials.

According to a March 31 press release from U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), the Senators sent a letter to all U.S. governors in an effort to assess the conformance of school systems to AHERA and to determine the extent of the presence of asbestos within the U.S. school system.

The letter included a series of questions about the scope of asbestos hazards, awareness and monitoring of hazards, abatement efforts, notification to parents and staff, and reporting to the EPA.

“As implementation of this law approaches the thirty year mark, the extent of asbestos hazards remaining in schools across the nation is largely unknown,” wrote the Senators in the letters. “We think it is an appropriate time to assess how the law is being implemented in each state and whether any legislative or other reforms are needed.”

Following is a sample of questions posed to the governors:

  • How many local education agencies in your state have been identified as having school buildings that harbor asbestos-containing materials?
  • How frequently do local education agencies report AHERA compliance information to the State?
  • Of the local education agencies known to have or have had buildings with asbestos-containing material, how many local education agencies have completed full abatement of the asbestos hazards? By “full abatement” we mean full removal of the asbestos hazards and not management in place through encapsulation, enclosure, or other means.

An Aug. 5 Washington Post article reports all of the governors responded to the letter, but according to a Markey spokesperson, the answers indicated that the federal law was not being followed uniformly.

The Post article reports that as older schools across the U.S. begin to deteriorate, management of asbestos is becoming  a concern. Citing issues at 11 schools in the Orange County, CA school district, when asbestos-containing materials become damaged, the size and scope of construction projects can quickly spiral out of control.

Gina Clayton-Tarvin, president of the Ocean View school board, said, according to the Post, that while the district officials knew that asbestos had been used in some of the schools, when the modernization project was being planned “no one raised the issue of asbestos remediation.”

“Really, whose responsibility is it [asbestos abatement]?” said Clayton-Tarvin. “I don’t think it’s the school district. We’re trying to educate kids today. We shouldn’t be responsible for paying for past sins.”

In an October article, Belluck & Fox, LLP reported on the asbestos issues encountered in the Ocean View School District. Huntington Beach parents pulled their children out of school over concerns that they could have been exposed to asbestos during construction projects to update the elementary schools. At the time, Ocean View School District officials estimated they could lose $68,000 each day in lost head count while the schools were closed to remove the asbestos.

mesothelioma and lung cancer ny

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos that is in good condition and left undisturbed is unlikely to present a health risk. However, risk of mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases becomes an issue when asbestos is damaged or disturbed and asbestos fibers become airborne and are inhaled.

“Everyone has asbestos, but they don’t want to deal with it,” said Clayton-Tarvin.

If you are concerned about asbestos in your child’s school, contact your school administrator. According to the EPA, your local school district/local education agency must nominate a “designated person” to perform and delegate, if necessary, the management of asbestos in a school building. This person should be able to address any specific concerns you have about management of asbestos in your child’s school.

 

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease, you need to speak with our responsible asbestos attorneys at Belluck & Fox, LLP today. We have available locations at NYC, Rochester, Woodstock and Albany.

Once Again Asbestos is Found in Binghamton, NY Schools

In August we reported about the presence of unsafe levels of asbestos at Calvin Coolidge Elementary School in Binghamton, NY. Now, asbestos has been found in several other schools in Binghamton – Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, West Middle School and Woodrow Wilson Elementary School.

According to an article in PressConnects.com, maintenance workers found asbestos-containing debris in a window track at Theodore Roosevelt when they pulled out a blind to repair the window. An asbestos abatement company is cleaning the area and removing the asbestos.

“The students were immediately moved to another classroom,” said Karry Mullins, Binghamton City School District Assistant Superintendent. She added that the space has been sealed and students will not return to the classroom until the air is clear.

Principal David Chilson sent a letter home to parents alerting them to the issue and informing them that the room will be cleaned according to state and federal protocols.

The federal government requires public and non-profit private schools to strictly adhere to requirements to protect school children and school employees from asbestos exposure. Specifically, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) and its regulations require public school districts and non-profit schools including charter schools and schools affiliated with religious institutions to: inspect their schools for asbestos-containing building material, and to prepare management plans and to take action to prevent or reduce asbestos hazards.

Parents of students at West Middle School and Woodrow Wilson Elementary School were sent a letter in early December reporting that samples of material from certain areas of the basement had tested positive for asbestos. The affected areas have been sealed, and authorities report no students came into contact with the asbestos. The asbestos was found during an inspection, and authorities report the asbestos has not been disturbed.

“(We’re) going back through every nook and cranny of the buildings looking for suspect material to ensure that we have found everything that needs to be addressed,” said Mullins when asked about actions being taken to prevent further risk to students and staff in Binghamton-area schools.

If you’ve been exposed to asbestos and have concerns on your health, our experienced attorneys for asbestos at Belluck & Fox, LLP can help you. Call or visit our law office in New York City today.