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Study Suggests Carbon Nanotubes can cause Mesothelioma

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:57:44 +0000

A major study published in Nature Nanotechnology suggests some forms of carbon nanotubes — a poster child for the “nanotechnology revolution” — could be as harmful as asbestos if inhaled in sufficient quantities.

The study used established methods to see if specific types of nanotubes have the potential to cause mesothelioma — a cancer of the lung lining that can take 30-40 years to appear following exposure. The results show that long, thin multi-walled carbon nanotubes that look like asbestos fibers, behave like asbestos fibers.

Discovered nearly 20 years ago, carbon nanotubes have been described as the wonder material of the 21st Century. Light as plastic and stronger that steel, they are being developed for use in new drugs, energy-efficient batteries and futuristic electronics. But since their discovery, questions have been raised about whether some of these nanoscale materials may cause harm and undermine a nascent market for all types of carbon nanotubes, including multi- and single-walled carbon nanotubes. Leading forecasting firms say sales of all nanotubes could reach $2 billion annually within the next four to seven years, according to an article in the U.S. publication Chemical & Engineering News.

“This study is exactly the kind of strategic, highly focused research needed to ensure the safe and responsible development of nanotechnology,” says Andrew Maynard, Chief Science Advisor to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies and a co-author on the paper. “It looks at a specific nanoscale material expected to have widespread commercial applications and asks specific questions about a specific health hazard. Even though scientists have been raising concerns about the safety of long, thin carbon nanotubes for over a decade, none of the research needs in the current U.S. federal nanotechnology environment, health and safety risk research strategy address this question.”

Read the full Story at Science Daily here: Carbon Nanotubes That Look Like Asbestos, Behave Like Asbestos, Could Lead to Asbestos-Related Disease

High Profile Asbestos Lawsuit finds WR Grace Not Guilty

admin — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:25:07 +0000

The biggest news in the asbestos litigation world this month has been the verdict against W.R. Grace relating to the town of Libby’s contamination from asbestos. The case had been as high profile as they come in toxic tort litigation or any product liability litigation for that matter.

Not only was the company found not guilty of Violation of the Clean air act, conspiracy and obstruction of justice, but the three former executives had all charges against them dismissed.

The reactions of the residents in Libby speak volumes to the general shock surrounding this case:

From the Western News:

“When you have a judge like Molloy,” Libby resident Dale Herreid said Friday, “you know where the case is going – right down the toilet, just like it did.”

Herreid, who suffers from the effects of asbestos exposure, said he has followed the trial closely since it began in February. He believes that Molloy withheld pertinent information from the jury through controversial evidentiary rulings.

“He wouldn’t let the jury hear the evidence,” Herreid said. “You can’t really blame the jury when the judge didn’t allow the information to be heard.”

Read the full story here: Grace trial: Reaction around Libby toughest on Judge Molloy

From The Missoulian:

Libby barber George Bauer was on the list of potential witnesses for the prosecution. He was rejected after defense attorneys successfully argued his testimony would be repetitive.

“I was on the City Council for Libby for 25 years,” Bauer said. “I would have talked about the baseball fields, and other property we got from W.R. Grace. My twin brother and I both have it (asbestosis), and we were involved in the softball fields and the baseball fields. I am so disgusted.”

Bauer’s brother, Neil, spent 20 years with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department. He and George both focused on U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy’s role in the case.

“I spent my whole career in law enforcement, and I can’t imagine the judge doing this,” Neil Bauer said. “I followed the case almost every day. I talked to the U.S. attorney, to people who sat in the court, and I think all our guys did a pretty good job. But everybody had a feeling, even from the start. Look at how many damn things he (Molloy) rejected and the U.S. attorney appealed and we won the appeals on them. That probably really upset him.”

Read the full story here: Libby residents shellshocked by verdict

Navy Machinist Receives 12 Million Dollars in Asbestos Lawsuit

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:06:28 +0000

On May 6, 2009, A Los Angeles County jury awarded a former Navy machinist who had contracted mesothelioma, $12.1 million in damages from two defendants, a manufacturer and a supplier of a product containing asbestos.

The former Navy man, who became terminally ill due to working on a navy ship in the 1960’s, and who is 66 years old, was awarded $10 million on May 6th for pain and suffering, $506,000 in economic damages for lost wages and another $1.5 million for Cundiff’s wife for loss of consortium.

It only took the jury five days of deliberation and they found that John Crane, Inc and Lone Star Industries both failed to warn Cundiff of the potential hazard. John Crane, Inc made Insulag and Lone Star Industries delivered the insultating cement containing asbestos to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard where Cundiff worked.