Mesothelioma research funding may increase if an asbestos bill, recently introduced to Congress, is passed.The legislation, known as H.R. 3339, issued a proposal to ban the use of all asbestos and increase federal funding for research of treatments to fight against asbestos-related illnesses or conditions. The bill will go to the Committee on Energy and Commerce; it was introduced in August 2007 by 54 co-sponsors.

The purpose of the bill is to add amendments to the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) of the United States, which was passed in 1976. Although the TSCA was amended several times in the last few years to address asbestos as a hazardous material, the amendments did nothing as far as offering federally authorized funding directly for asbestos-related illnesses.

One of the amendments simply authorized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to create requirements as far as asbestos abatement in schools. H.R. 3339 has also been referred to as the “Bruce Vento Ban Asbestos and Prevent Mesothelioma Act 2007.” Vento, who was not only a state legislator and a member of Congress representing the Fourth District of Minnesota, he was also a schoolteacher and a victim of pleural mesothelioma who died in late 2000.

Mesothelioma Victims Slipping through the Cracks

While asbestos is considered a highly carcinogenic contaminant, the United States Geological Survey reported that 2,000 metric tons (approximately 4.4 million pounds) of asbestos was used in 2006 with the Department of Commerce also estimating that approximately $100 million was spent on importing brake parts each year, with these parts allegedly showing traces of asbestos.

The following are facts and statistics of the state of the asbestos industry in the United States currently and highlighted in H.R. 3339:

* There is no known safe inhalation level of asbestos exposure.

* Products imported from foreign areas may have little-to-no asbestos regulations causing asbestos-tainted products to be imported to the United States.

* New uses of asbestos were essentially banned with the TSCA, but asbestos continues to be imported and used in consumer and industrial products.

* The median survival period for mesothelioma is a mere one-year after diagnosis.

* Europe had a widespread ban of asbestos in 2005.

Asbestos Bill Breakdown

Essentially, with H.R. 3339, supporters are hoping to develop an in-depth study that will:

* Evaluate the health effects of non-asbestoiform minerals and elongated mineral particles.

* Develop recommendations to identify, distinguish and measure these minerals and particles, which may or may not cause diseases or adverse health effects.

* Provide a description of these minerals and their ability to remain biopersistent in the human body.

* Provide a description of mesothelioma, or any other form of cancer or non-cancer form of disease that is caused by these minerals and particles.

* Develop improved sampling and analytical methods for non-asbestoform minerals and elongated mineral particles.

* Within 18 months of the bill becoming law, it would require that a scientific-based study be done.

* The sponsors of the bill have also enacted a portion of the bill to address the need for public education and awareness program.

* A campaign to educate the public would need to begin within one year of the bill becoming law.

* The program would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Secretary of Labor to work together to devise a plan for a public-education campaign.

The bill requires the campaign to address the following:

* Increase awareness of asbestos-containing materials, products and contaminants in homes and work environments

* Increase awareness of asbestos-induced conditions and illnesses

* Offer current and informative information on asbestos-related conditions to patients, family members and health care providers

* Improve awareness of asbestos exposure dangers and the health effects of exposure

* Providing information on symptoms of asbestos exposure

* Increase publicity of research, treatments and clinical treatment trials for patients, family members and health-care providers

Battling Mesothelioma

Patients who are currently suffering from a form of mesothelioma cancer or other asbestos-induced conditions are advised to contact an experienced mesothelioma law firm.

Developing mesothelioma litigation is a potential source for receiving monetary compensation for the lengthy and expensive costs and bills associated with this asbestos-related illness.

Because of the severity of the condition as well as the short life expectancy upon diagnosis, it’s important for individuals suffering from this condition to act quickly and seek out the money deserved for this preventable disease.

Construction Journal Reports Mesothelioma Deaths To Peak By 2015??

Working in the construction industry can be a dangerous job, as the number of fatalities and injuries continue to rise and are accounting for one-third of all employment fatalities, according to the most recent 2007/2008 Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) statistics. However, one of the most dangerous and hidden killers of construction industry employees may actually be the development of mesothelioma cancer, according to an October 2008 issue of Contract Journal.

The journal reported that of the several reasons construction workers die on the job include the following:

* falls from height
* moving or falling objects
* moving machinery
* slips and trips
* asbestos exposure

Of the mesothelioma and asbestosis deaths, the HSE reports that, “in 2006 there were 111 deaths from asbestosis and 2,056 from mesothelioma and the HSE expects deaths from mesothelioma to peak at some point between current levels and 2,450 at some time before 2015.” An additional report from the HSE found that in the United Kingdom alone, there were approximately 4,000 deaths from mesothelioma each year, with a large portion of this number likely deriving from employees within the construction industry.

Mesothelioma cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers and asbestos dust. Asbestos, which was derived from a mineral known as vermiculite, was heavily mined and valued within the construction industry for its fire-retardant qualities as well as its inexpensive costs for mass production. The Occupation and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) describes asbestos in the construction industry as a “a group of naturally occurring, fibrous minerals with high tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to heat, chemicals and electricity.” It was used, according to OSHA, as part of the following products within the construction industry:

* sprayed-on fireproofing
* pipe insulation
* drywall joint compounds
* roofing felts and shingles
* ceiling tiles
* fire-resistant drywall
* acoustical products
* cement pipe and sheet
* floor tiles

Asbestos and Construction

While OSHA has developed standards for the construction industry as per the Occupational Standards Safety Act of 1970, the industry remains unregulated to a degree. For example, a recent report from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) found that a standard U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) check in Florida revealed thousands of falsified documents for individuals employed to remove asbestos. It is a legal requirement that individuals who are in charge of asbestos removal receive authentic certification for their employment. However, thousands of documents had been forged with false or illegally obtained social security numbers.

Developing Mesothelioma Litigation

Individuals who have suffered from the debilitating condition of mesothelioma cancer could potentially qualify for a return of monetary compensation with the development of a mesothelioma lawsuit. If costly medical bills become too much for an individual who is suffering from this rare and painful condition, they may be able to discuss litigation with a knowledgeable mesothelioma attorney.