Asbestos News Roundup: 10.15.14 – $10 Million Asbestos Research Program to Launch

October 15th, 2014. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. An ongoing list of reported asbestos hot spots in the US from the Asbestos News Roundup archive appears on our asbestos map.

$10M Asbestos Research Program to Look at Causes, Cures of Asbestos Disease 

Researchers at the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology (CEET), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, have been awarded a $10 million grant from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) over the next four years to study asbestos exposure pathways that lead to mesothelioma, the bioremediation of this hazardous material and mechanisms that lead to asbestos-related diseases. One of these, mesothelioma, a rare cancer diagnosed in about 3,000 patients each year, is caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos. The disease is usually fatal with very poor prognosis once diagnosed.

The Penn Superfund Research and Training Program (SRP) Center, which was established by this grant, evolved as a direct consequence of concerns from the community living near the BioRit Asbestos Superfund site in Ambler, PA, about 20 miles north of Philadelphia.

This award is the first NIEHS Superfund grant driven by problems identified in a community-academic partnership. CEET’s Community Outreach and Engagement Core (COEC) has facilitated bi-directional communication with the Ambler community for the last five years. The communities of West and South Ambler have long been active in studying the ramifications of their town’s long-closed asbestos factory.

Residents in these communities remain at risk for environmental exposure and a potentially increased risk of developing mesothelioma.

From the late 1880s through the present day, Ambler residents have had either occupational or environmental exposure to asbestos. As a result, both current and former residents of the area face potentially serious long-term health consequences. The Pennsylvania Department of Health, with the aid of the COEC, determined that there has been an increase in the rate of mesothelioma in the area compared to the adjacent zip codes, with women having a greater risk than men. The researchers are hopeful that continued investigation and education will yield more information about exposure pathways that led to these health risks.

The new Center will tackle two inter-related environmental science studies and four biomedical science studies. The six projects were designed to address a community-based question or concern that had been previously identified by the COEC:

• Can we remediate asbestos without moving it from the original disposal site?

• What do we know about the fate and transport of asbestos in the environment by water and air?

• What do we know about the exposure pathways that were responsible for the mesothelioma cluster in Ambler? And why is the incidence higher in women?

• Is susceptibility to mesothelioma genetic?

• Can asbestos-related disease be prevented?

• Is there a blood test to determine whether a person will get asbestos-related disease? 

Asbestos Lawsuits

Jefferson County, WV: The family of a man who recently died after exposure to asbestos have filed an asbestos lawsuit against his former employer Gulf Oil/Chevron in Jefferson County.

In their complaint, Dolores Belton, Carla Mahan and Myra Mitchell allege  their husband and father, Jack Belton, during the course of his employment with the defendant was exposed to toxic materials, including asbestos dust and fibers. “As a result of such exposure, Jack Belton, developed an asbestos-related disease, asbestosis, from which he died a painful and terrible death on March 6, 2014,” the lawsuit states.

The plaintiffs allege Chevron is responsible for their loved one’s injuries, saying the company knew that the products could case asbestosis and other related cancers but still allowed their employees to work around the products. In their complaint, the plaintiffs seek unspecified exemplary and punitive damages plus costs. (wvrecord.com)

Jefferson County, WV: Rosemary Philmon, surviving spouse of Jesse Philmon, and Terry and Ryan Philmon, his surviving children, have filed an asbestos  lawsuit against Chevron USA Inc. alleging the company exposed Jess Philmon to asbestos during the course of his employment at Chevron. This exposure resulted in his developing lung cancer and subsequently dying from it.

According to the complaint, Jesse Philmon was was allegedly “exposed to toxic materials including asbestos dust and fibers,” while employed by Gulf Oil/Chevron in Jefferson County.

Philmon developed lung cancer “from which he died a painful and terrible death March 6, 2013,” the lawsuit states.

Philmon’s family alleges Chevron has known for decades that asbestos-containing products could cause asbestos-related cancers but still allowed employees to be exposed to it on the job. They accuse the company of gross negligence for allegedly failing to take the necessary precautions or provide adequate training for Jesse Philmon.

Rosemary Philmon and her sons seek an unspecified amount in exemplary and punitive damages. (wvrecord.com)

Tags: Asbestos, asbestos lawsuit, Asbestos Mesothelioma, asbestos risk, Asbestos Settlement

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