Over the weekend I traveled to Detroit, Michigan, to attend the fourth annual Asbestos Awareness Day Conference, presented by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. The conference included a full day of educational and informative presentations on Saturday, as well as a remembrance service on Sunday.

Following is a story that appeared in the Detroit Free Press about the remembrance service, and the mission of asbestos awareness. I will post some stories and images from the conference this week, but I wanted to share this excellent report.

By Amber Hunt, Free Press Staff Writer

For Andrew Manuel, it began with back pain.

But the seemingly benign symptom turned out to be something far more sinister, and within two years, the married father of three shed 65 pounds, underwent surgery to have a lung removed and endured chemotherapy and radiation to no avail.

At 42, he was dead. The killer: mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos.

“When I heard the diagnosis, I said, ‘Meso-what?’ ” said Manuel’s wife, Latanyta Manuel, 45, on Sunday. “All I heard was ‘lung cancer,’ and I said, ‘No, that’s not possible.’ My husband never smoked or drank, but they said this cancer is about asbestos.”

On Sunday, a group of people affected by the deadly disease, which they refer to as “meso” for simplicity’s sake, gathered at the Marriott in downtown Detroit’s Renaissance Center for a remembrance brunch.

The event was sponsored by California-based Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Michigan.

Some, such as Manuel, had lost loved ones. Others have been diagnosed with the deadly disease themselves.

They gather annually, they said, to support each other and to spread the word about asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer and asbestosis.

Asbestos is a fiber that for decades was routinely used for fireproofing and insulation.

While the U.S. government has limited its use, asbestos still can be found in many products, including some stuccos, vinyl flooring and even theater curtains, according to the Asbestos Resource Center.

“Asbestos is still being imported. It’s still being put in products,” said Michelle Zigielbaum, whose husband, Paul, has been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma.

By the time he was diagnosed, his stomach was so full of fluid and tumors that “I looked like a pregnant woman,” Paul Zigielbaum said.

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization recently conducted a study that tested 250 products off store shelves for asbestos content. A first lab found that 18 of the products contained asbestos.

A second lab confirmed that eight of the products had asbestos, while a third confirmed that five products — including a child’s toy — contained asbestos.

Those gathered Sunday said they and their loved ones got sick in different ways.

Andrew Manuel’s father worked in a pipeline, bringing asbestos back into the home. Paul Zigielbaum said he believes he was exposed secondhand, too, but said he also believes that contact with everyday products contributed.

All blamed aggressive asbestos lobbyists as the reason the United States hasn’t banned the substance altogether.

“It’s disturbing to see how companies and politicians try to cover it up,” said Dwayne Manuel, Andrew Manuel’s 26-year-old son. “This is a preventable disease.”

Latanyta Manuel said she just wants to honor her husband’s wishes and spread awareness about the disease.

“Once it erupts, it just kind of takes over,” she said. “People need to know.”

Contact AMBER HUNT at 586-826-7267 or alhunt@freepress.com.

Recently, it has been reported in the news that older vinyl flooring is made with asbestos. A common home repair project is replacing a worn vinyl or linoleum floor. What are the dangers? Should homeowners hire a professional?

There seem to be conflicting opinions on this issue, with some experts saying that removal of vinyl flooring is relatively safe if proper precautions are followed, and others recommending that you call asbestos abatement professionals.

James Carey and Morris Carey, known as the Carey Bros., are nationally-recognized experts on home building and renovation. They share their 55+ years of experience as award-winning, licensed contractors with millions of people nationwide through a weekly radio program and syndicated newspaper column, both titled On The House. You can also find their information on their web site, at www.onthehouse.com.

The Carey Bros. recently addressed this issue. They point out that vinyl flooring usually comes in two forms - tiles and sheeting. They say the tiles are safer to remove because the asbestos is held together by the vinyl during removal.

The brothers report, “Folks licensed in asbestos abatement tell us that removing the floor in large chunks is reasonably safe. However, breaking it into little tiny pieces during the process could be dangerous.”

However, they also acknowledge that no amount of asbestos is considered safe. Research shows that ANY exposure to any amount of asbestos can be dangerous, because even one fiber can be inhaled and imbed itself in the lungs. Asbestos does not leave the body or dissipate over time. Once you are exposed, it is there. It may not necessarily cause asbestos disease, but you are at risk.

According to literature compiled by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority, homeowners are warned that by removing materials potentially contaminated with asbestos themselves, they are accepting serious health risks.

Also, the Spokane publication points out that homeowners are liable when they choose to remove asbestos containing materials themselves. They note that “Your only legal options in having asbestos removed from your home are to hire a certified asbestos abatement contractor or do the work yourself. The law prohibits you from hiring anyone other than an asbestos abatement contractor to perform asbestos removal work. Family members and friends may participate legally, provided they do so as unpaid volunteers.”

The Puget Sound and Spokane guides are EXCELLENT resources for weighing the risks and options for this type of project. You can download a PDF version of the Vinyl Removal - How-to Manual or Asbestos-Vinyl removal warning documents. These are essential reading prior to starting a project like this.

Also, it is important to check to make sure that your state does not have any special legislation pertaining to asbestos-removal from a private residence. You may want to check with your local Homebuilders Association.