Credit: Blausen Medical via Wikipedia

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ration (NLR) has been used as a prognostic indicator for patients with a number of cancers, but its benefits are still unclear for patients with malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of internal organs caused by asbestos exposure. It is usually deadly within 12-18 months of diagnosis and has few effective treatment options, prompting researchers to continue to find ways to help treat the disease and measure the effectiveness of those treatments. Read the rest of this entry »

The first study to place a monetary cost to Canadian society for work-related asbestos exposures has suggested a high price tag. The Institute for Work & Health in Toronto has suggested the costs total $2.35 billion for Canadians, according to Canadian Occupational Safety. Read the rest of this entry »

A Salt Lake City-based judge dismissed a motion last week that was filed on behalf of a number of states after asbestos trusts failed to answer discovery requests in a suit alleging they are mismanaging funds, according to Forbes. Read the rest of this entry »

The last asbestos mine in the United States closed in 2002 due to a decline in the markets “associated with health and liability issues,” according to the U.S. Geographical Survey (USGS). However, unlike more than 60 countries around the globe, the United States still allows asbestos to be imported, primarily for industry. According to a press release by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, the amount of asbestos imported into the U.S. in 2016 “nearly doubled” from the previous year based on data from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission. Read the rest of this entry »

Credit: Hellerhoff via Wikipedia

Mesothelioma, a rare, deadly cancer that affects the lining of internal organs, is most commonly associated with exposure to asbestos,  a group of six naturally occurring silicate minerals that were once used in a variety of construction and manufacturing processes for heat resistance. However, other causes of the cancer have been discovered, including radiation therapy and most recently, a genetic mutation, according to Science Daily. Read the rest of this entry »

Credit: EPA

What happens when a former asbestos mine catches on fire? It’s a question those fighting fires nearing Libby, Montana, the home of the former W.R. Grace & Co. asbestos mine, have had to address this week. News reports earlier this week discussed concerns the nearing West Fork Fire was causing due to its proximity to the mine and potential to release amounts of asbestos into the air. Read the rest of this entry »

Despite the belief black lung disease was under control in Australia, the state of New South Wales saw its first diagnosed case of black lung since the 1970s this year. With similar symptoms to mesothelioma, black lung is a “type of lung disease affecting the tissues and gas-exchange surface of the lung,” often associated with dust from long-term coal mining and resulting in shortness of breath, loss of pulmonary function and eventually death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The alarming uptick in cases prompted federal and state governments to dig into regulations aiming to protect coal miners and determine why they seem to be falling short. Read the rest of this entry »

Pleural effusion, the buildup of fluid in the space around the lung, is often one of the most uncomfortable and life-threatening symptoms of mesothelioma. United Kingdom researchers have developed an evaluation tool to measure the patient-reported benefits of having fluid drained. Read the rest of this entry »

After years of remediation efforts, the owner of the former Vermont Asbestos Group mine has developed a long-term plan. The catch? It involves transporting millions of tons of asbestos to a plant that doesn’t exist yet to convert it into useful materials. It’s a plan that is tentative, faces many hurdles and wouldn’t happen for years, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is on board, according to the News & Citizen. Read the rest of this entry »

Last week Hillshire Brands Co. was found responsible for the death of Mark Lopez, 60, from mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure caused by the company. Read the rest of this entry »