Lisa Jackson gave her word that the choices she will make as the latest head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency are going to be scientifically and not politically influenced. She served sixteen years at EPA which consequently gave way to doubts that she might not be able to deliver on her word because she was incidentally within the system that produced wrongful policies for the past two decades.
A Scientific Advisory Board formed by the EPA currently presented a research that declared asbestos as non threatening material despite an age of reliable medical proof that asbestos is a cancer-causing agent.
The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine back in 2004 asserted that asbestos still endangers the health of more than one million construction workers in the United States. Mesothelioma makes up three percent of cancer cases in the country while a study from the Environmental Working Group Action Fund also showed that there are around 10,000 deaths related to asbestos exposure each year. EPA has not done anything to date that will officially forbid it.
Ms. Jackson may be determined to handle business in EPA with an ardent commitment to the American people but then she will have to challenge a past filled with demand from political and industrial entities.
An official restriction of asbestos must be enacted by the EPA right away even if it will not bring back the lives of those who suffered from asbestos-related diseases but can hopefully spare the coming generation from its adverse effects.
Source: Mesothelioma Victims Hope New EPA will Change Asbestos Policies
Share This
PENN Medicine worked alongside with the National Cancer Institute in a current study that used genetically engineered human immune cells to destroy cancer cells having mesothelin, a protein component in all pancreatic cancers and mesothelioma.
Former laboratory findings have presented that antibodies aimed at mesothelin can make tumor cells smaller while specific T-cells or human immune cells can eliminate tumor cells that produce mesothelin. It was shown in the study that depending on the size of the tumors and the number of cells applied, approximately one mesothelin targeted T-cell have consumed around 40 tumor cells.
Clinical studies are on its way to examine this method of defeating tumors in mesothelioma and ovarian cancer patients.
Source: New Study Provides Hope for Mesothelioma Cure
Share This
Researchers at Wake Forest University’s Department of Chemistry have developed a new kind of anti-tumor drug with the help of its Health Science Comprehensive Cancer Center. These drugs made with platinum were established to be more capable of combating particular kinds of cancer cells as much as ten times over.
The drug considerably delayed the growth of tumors in mice and poses a more productive way of curing non-small cell lung cancers. The research results could help people with mesothelioma, a type of cancer brought about by exposure to asbestos which normally appears in the pleural lining of the lungs as well as the abdomen and heart.
These drugs will hopefully get into clinical tests in the coming years while new research is being aimed at reducing the harmful results of using anti-cancer drugs.
Source: Wake Forest University Researchers Develop Anti-Tumor Drugs
Share This
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is already on its fifth year of promoting mesothelioma consciousness through its International Asbestos Awareness Conference which will happen on March 28, 2009 at Manhattan Beach Marriott, California.
ADAO communicates knowledge about the ill effects of asbestos, its prohibition as well as providing inspiration and support for medical professionals to advance research and treatment choices for people affected with diseases brought by it.
The event will be attended by experienced physicians and scientists in the field of asbestos coming from the United States, India, Germany and South Africa. Mesothelioma prevention, asbestos facts and its repercussions not only in the US but also globally will be discussed there.
There will be five people who will be acknowledged for their continuous commitment and contribution for asbestos awareness. They are U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, Margaret Seminario, Stephen Levin, Pralhad Malvadkar and Raghunath Manwar.
The conference costs $250 for professionals and $125 for students, patients and caregivers. For reservations and more information visit www.adao.us
Source: Mesothelioma Awareness Through ADAO’s Fifth Annual Asbestos Conference
Share This
South Korea aims to organize asbestos management directives to be implemented by early 2010. Little was known about asbestos and its ill effects until people who were working and living near the asbestos mines in South Chungcheong Province had health problems due to their contact with asbestos.
There were 21 completely running asbestos mines in their country before and even now that they were all closed down, a sense of urgency has taken its toll when reports of mesothelioma cases increased along with other asbestos related diseases within affected communities and neighboring areas.
South Korea’s critical choice to act upon the rising asbestos related concerns of its people has proven to be a worthy undertaking. Countries burdened with asbestos issues will hopefully take after them.
Source: Steps to Prevent Mesothelioma Will Begin Next Year in South Korea
Share This
Researchers at Ohio State University are performing a study that examines the connection between asbestos fibers and human cells. This research aims to discover a means of stopping the progress of asbestos related diseases in hopes of preventing diseases such as mesothelioma.
The study uses a breakthrough process of atomic force microscopy so asbestos fibers can be tested at close hand together with its reaction to human cells that have specific receptor proteins. This process will hopefully shed a more clear conclusion about the inflammation caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which brings about mesothelioma and other forms of lung cancer. Crocidolite, which is considered the most hazardous type of asbestos is what researchers are primarily after in this study. They will go further into studying other kinds of asbestos.
Source: University Studies Molecular Relationship of Asbestos and Human Cells
Share This
A total of $200,000 in funds was given to the city of Gary, Indiana by the Environmental Protection Agency which will be utilized for the instruction of individuals about proper removal of asbestos laden materials and other activities that supports environmental awareness. There are already 74 people who have signed up for the training and the city will be able to assist and instruct at the most 75 people which will start by either summer or fall of this year.
Asbestos has been popular in the early twentieth century as a material used in the construction of buildings. As the years passed and these buildings wore out, asbestos became brittle and so asbestos removal should be conducted in order to safeguard the well being of the people who are residing and working in these buildings.
Source: EPA Awards Gary, Indiana With Environmental Grant
Share This
The miRview™meso test can tell the difference between mesothelioma caused by asbestos contamination from other types of lung cancers. It was developed and will be made available by Rosetta Genomics clinical lab situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They should be able to administer about 2,000 miRview™mesotests for the year 2009.
Through this test, doctors will be able to dismiss mesothelioma in people who have been exposed to asbestos. Since asbestos exposure has been proven to cause several types of diseases such as mesothelioma among many other respiratory related problems; these respiratory diseases related to asbestos exposure frequently have the condition of being temporarily inactive. It would take 20 to 60 years after being exposed to asbestos for it to manifest later on and only to be discovered in the individual when the disease is already in its advanced state.
This first test of its kind will definitely be a valuable instrument for all oncologists and pathologists to be able to give an appropriate diagnosis for their patients.
Source: New Test To Distinguish Mesothelioma From Other Forms of Lung Cancer
Share This
A new study organized at the University of Canberra in Australia has discovered a possible new use for mistletoes, and cancer experts said that the parasitic mistletoe plant may be effective in treating certain types of cancer.
Dr. Ljubov Simson of the University of Canberra’s Immunotherapy Group stated that mistletoe is already used to cure cancer in Germany, and has been doing laboratory work that has “confirmed” the plant’s capability to “stimulate the body’s immune system” to kill cancerous cells.
According to their work, mistletoe killed off approximately 80% of a cancerous tumor. Mistletoe sets off coagulation, or the development of blood clots, and it also “separates” cancer cells and activates the eosinophil. Eosinophil is what makes a plant effective in treating cancer.
Important reminder is that mistletoe is a parasitic plant, meaning that it contains toxins and dosage would be further studied. Researchers are positive that this can be a potential treatment for mesothelioma cancer patients.
Source: Australian Study Claims Mistletoe Effective in Killing Cancer Cells
Share This
One of the many projects that the Bush administration is trying to achieve before the Obama administration takes over the White House in January is a legislation that would weaken the future regulation of asbestos. The bill will attempt to obscure the government process of monitoring certain hazardous materials, including asbestos.
Among the bill’s opposers are Barack Obama as well as a large group of the incoming administration. The bill would sellout worker safety, leaving many to be exposed to asbestos. The Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center strongly discourages any legislations which could leave workers in danger of the deadly chemical. Asbestos products were banned in the late 1970’s and a bill that would intimidate the power of the agencies to control harmful chemicals can compromise existing arrangements and put these bans in danger of withdrawal.
Source: Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center Urges Lawmakers to Decline Legislation Seeking Weakened Asbestos Regulations
Share This