Pat Martin—a member of the Canadian Parliament and himself a former asbestos worker—said that the Chrysotile Institute’s announcement was a clear sign that the Canadian asbestos industry was on the wane:

I've lost an awful lot of friends and colleagues to asbestos in my time as an asbestos miner and a carpenter in the building trades…. I see [this announcement] as a real tipping point in the movement to get Canada out of the asbestos industry. It's just another demonstration of the death rattle of the asbestos industry in this country.

Because of widespread bans on asbestos in the developed world, most of the asbestos mined in Canada is shipped to developing countries where rules governing the use of asbestos are less strict. In 2010, the United Nations moved to add chrysotile asbestos to its list of restricted chemicals; however, this motion was blocked by the delegation from Canada.

Although Canada has continued to export asbestos to developing countries in recent years, widespread asbestos regulations in other countries have caused the nation’s asbestos industry to fall into decline. All of the asbestos produced by Canada is mined the towns of Thetford Mines and Asbestos; both mines have currently halted production for the first time in 130 years.

Australian researchers develop promising mesothelioma blood test (April 25, 2012): Researchers in Australia have developed a new blood test that may be able to identify patients with mesothelioma cancer. The new test could allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma cases without the need for invasive biopsies or other tests, allowing for faster diagnoses and earlier treatment.

Avondale Shipyards still slated for 2013 closure, CEO says (April 20, 2012): The Avondale shipyard—which was at one time the largest employer in the state of Louisiana—is still scheduled to be closed in 2013, the CEO of its parent company has stated. Opened in 1938, the shipyard once employed more than 26,000 workers and was the site for the construction of more than 2,500 ships.

Workers file asbestos lawsuit over hockey arena contamination (April 16, 2012): More than 75 workers have filed an asbestos lawsuit alleging that the NHL arena they work in contains the deadly material. The lawsuit claims that Nassau County never removed asbestos from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum—which holds as many as 16,000 fans for New York Islanders games.

Johnson worked as a carpenter, mechanic and plumber over a thirty year period, and was also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. After being diagnosed with mesothelioma—a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure—Johnson and his wife filed a lawsuit in California against 44 asbestos manufacturers that he alleged were responsible for his asbestos exposure.

According to the Los Angeles Times report, lawyers for the asbestos companies conducted depositions on Johnson far in excess of the maximum number of hours his doctor advised:

“Despite affidavits from his doctor stating that 12 hours of depositions over a few weeks would be about as much as the 69-year-old's health could stand, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge allowed the companies he was suing a total of 25 hours.”

“From her perch in the back of the room during the December sessions, Sue Johnson said she saw lawyers playing games on their laptops, shopping online, reading and answering emails before rising to repeat the same questions their colleagues had already asked.”

Johnson’s mesothelioma attorney states that his client’s death will severely restrict the potential damages that could result from “his family's claims for pain and suffering, mental anguish and bodily disfigurement, reducing their potential recovery in or out of court by as much as 70%.” The family’s date in court will now be delayed as well: Johnson was granted an expedited trial date in March after his doctors told that court that he would only live a few months longer; following his death, the trial date was pushed back to late August.

Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union, Unite, challenged attempts by the insurance companies to avoid paying claims that date back to as early as the 1940s. Insurers argued that they should only be forced to pay claims for policies that were in effect when symptoms of mesothelioma or another asbestos disease first appeared, rather than policies that were active when the individual was exposed to asbestos.

The Supreme Court rejected the insurers arguments, stating that they were still liable for illnesses resulting from asbestos exposure even if symptoms began to appear only decades later. The ruling will allow thousands of British families to file claims on behalf of loved ones who died as a result of asbestos exposure.

This is the best possible outcome for the thousands of people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases every year—and their families who have to endure the pain and suffering with them. It was nonsense that this even had to be taken to the Supreme Court in the first place, and we are delighted that common sense and decency has prevailed.

Unite’s challenge to the insurance companies’ position was filed on behalf of Charles O’Farrell, a union member who died in 2003. O’Farrell’s daughter, Maureen Edwards, praised the Court’s ruling and criticized the insurance industries reticence to pay asbestos claims such as her father's:

There was never any question about who was to blame—all this long battle was about the insurers wanting to get out of paying. It is very difficult for us to understand the insurance industry’s attitude to dying people....

Britain expands asbestos liability in victory for plaintiffs (April 5, 2012): The UK Supreme Court has ruled that insurers are liable from the moment a patient is exposed to asbestos, not when any asbestos-related disease develops. The ruling will enable thousand of patients to file asbestos lawsuits against companies that exposed them to asbestos.

Australian mountain climber dies of mesothelioma (March 29, 2012): Lincoln Hall, a famed Australian mountain climber who was left for dead on top of Mount Everest but survived and later returned, has died of mesothelioma at age 56. Hall received the mesothelioma diagnosis in 2011, more than 40 years after he was first exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma death toll at British factory rises to 141 (March 14, 2012): The death toll from asbestos exposure among former workers at a British train car manufacturer has climbed to 141. Arnie Gomersall—who worked at the York Carriageworks factory for 33 years—died recently from mesothelioma at age 64. Gomersall worked on carriages that contained asbestos.

Asbestos Awareness Week resolution passed by the Senate (March 14, 2012): The U.S. Senate passed a resolution designating the first week of April as “Asbestos Awareness Week.” The resolution was introduced by Senator Max Baucus of Montana. This marks the sixth year in a row Baucus has introduced the legislation.

Health experts have long theorized that asbestos exposure could increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, but were unable to confirm these assertions with hard data. The results of the British study are the first scientific evidence linking asbestos and heart disease.

Exposure to asbestos has also been linked to a number of cancers and respiratory diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer. Workers who were employed at asbestos jobsites or who were exposed to asbestos materials in the U.S. Navy may develop mesothelioma decades later due to the long latency period associated with the disease. Workers who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos disease may be eligible to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for their injuries.

Data for the British asbestos study was collected from nearly 100,000 asbestos workers who took part in a health monitoring and data gathering program known as the Asbestos Workers Survey. The majority of men taking part in the study worked in asbestos abatement, while the majority of women worked in manufacturing jobs.

Illinois junior high evacuates classrooms due to asbestos contamination (March 12, 2012): The Illinois Department of Public Health has advised an Illinois junior high school to evacuate and isolate several classrooms after finding asbestos in them. Independent air tests by the IDPH confirmed airborne asbestos in 10 separate classrooms.

Railroad worker’s family files wrongful death asbestos lawsuit (March 9, 2012): The family of New Mexico railroad worker who passed away from complications due to respiratory failure and asbestosis has filed a wrongful death asbestos lawsuit against his former employer. The family of Santiago Riley alleges that BNSF Railway failed to provide safe working conditions and exposed Riley to products containing asbestos.

New Hampshire construction company guilty of dumping asbestos (March 1, 2012): A New Hampshire construction company has been found guilty of improperly disposing of asbestos products at an open landfill. Walter Jensen of Summer and Winter Construction was fined $18,000 after his company deposited asbestos at a public site, which is prohibited by law.

Whistleblower claims asbestos dumping at New Mexico waste site (February 23, 2012): An anonymous whistle-blower complaint has alleged that a New Mexico waste center is improperly accepting asbestos materials at their disposal site. City investigators found varying amounts of asbestos at the Eagle Rock Convenience Center, which is prohibited by law from accepting products containing asbestos.

Avondale Shipyards is one of the oldest and largest shipbuilding facilities in the state of Louisiana. According to a recent history of the site:

The Avondale Shipyards was founded in 1938 under the name Avondale Marine Way about 20 miles north of New Orleans near the town of Westwego, LA. During one period, Avondale was the largest jobsites in the state of Louisiana, with about 26,000 total shipyard workers employed at the site.

Avondale initially built only tugs and barges, but after the outbreak of World War II, it began making small cargo ships for the U.S. Merchant Marines. After the war, the shipyard was expanded to its current location at the Harvey Repair Yard along the Harvey Canal... More than 2500 ships were built at Avondale in the 70 years since it opened.

According to recent lawsuits, Avondale shipyard workers may be at risk of contracting with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases as a result of the asbestos-containing materials used at the site. Because of the long latency period of asbestos diseases, workers who were employed at the Avondale Shipyard or Harvey Repair Yard decades ago may only now be developing symptoms of mesothelioma or other asbestos cancers.

Workers at the Avondale shipyard or Harvey Creek repair yard who may have been exposed to asbestos could be eligible to receive a free mesothelioma and asbestos information packet.

Italian court convicts executives in asbestos-related deaths (February 22, 2012): An Italian court has sentenced a building company’s former owner and its top shareholder to 16 years in prison in connection with asbestos-related deaths. Eternit AG’s former owner Stephen Schmidheiny and shareholder Jean-Louis Marie Ghislain de Cartier were charged with negligence and deemed partially responsible for deaths and illnesses of numerous employees from asbestos-related diseases.

Famed forensic sculptor dies from mesothelioma (February 22, 2012): Frank Bender, a forensic sculptor who helped solve dozens of murder cases, has passed away from pleural mesothelioma. Bender contracted the rare form of cancer after being exposed to asbestos while working on US Navy ships from 1959 until 1961.

CDC Data Shows Workers Exposed to Asbestos on the Job May Qualify for a Lawsuit (February 20, 2012): Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that despite federal restrictions on the commercial use of asbestos, workers who were exposed to asbestos-containing products on the job decades ago may still be at risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Workers who were exposed to asbestos on the job and have developed mesothelioma, lung cancer or other illnesses may be eligible to file a lawsuit based on their injuries.

Bankruptcy settlement would give $19.5M to Montana asbestos victims fund (February 19, 2012): A proposed settlement in the bankruptcy case of a Montana asbestos company would add $19.5 million to a trust fund for victims of asbestos exposure caused by a mine it operated. W.R. Grace and Co. says adding the money to a fund will offer long-term support for residents of Libby, Montana who suffer from complications related to asbestos exposure.

Investigation launched after workers raise asbestos exposure concerns (February 14, 2012): Washington state officials are investigating working conditions at the demolition site of several old buildings after workers raised concerns about possible asbestos exposure. Many of the buildings were built before 1976, when asbestos use in construction was common.

Family of British man files lawsuit over workplace asbestos exposure (February 10, 2012): The family of a British man who died last year of mesothelioma has filed an asbestos lawsuit against his former employer. The lawsuit alleges that James MacKenzie’s mesothelioma diagnosis was a result of asbestos exposure that occurred during his work for a construction company.

Canadian man receives jail time for exposing employees to asbestos (February 6, 2012): A Vancouver man who knowingly exposed his employees to asbestos during demolition work has been sentenced to 60 days in prison. Arthur Moore was found guilty of repeatedly failing to provide workers with adequate protection while handling asbestos.

Tennessee company found guilty of asbestos contamination (February 2, 2012): A federal jury has found a Tennessee company and three demolition workers guilty of violating the Clean Air Act when its employees demolished a building contaminated with asbestos. Don Fillers, James Mathis and David Wood could serve up to five years in prison for the violations.

According to the study, asbestos use in Louisiana has fallen drastically from its peak in the 1960s and 1970s. Asbestos consumption in 1999 was only 4% of its 1980 levels. Nevertheless, because it can take decades before workers who were exposed to asbestos develop symptoms, many individuals who worked with asbestos products when their use was commonplace are only down being diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis or other diseases linked to asbestos exposure.

Hospitalization rates for asbestosis were were higher-than-average in parishes located in the northeast part of Louisiana and in the state’s industrial corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Calcasieu parish—an industrial center and port located near the city of Lake Charles—had the state’s highest rate of asbestosis hospitalizations: 21.43 per 100,000 residents.

Hospitalizations for asbestosis in the state of Louisiana exceeded the national average every year between 1999 and 2008. Yet in spite of these rates, the number of new cases of mesothelioma and other diseases is expected to continue to remain high in the state as a result of workers who were exposed to asbestos on the job decades ago.

Firefighters reach settlement with city in asbestos lawsuit (January 20, 2012): A group of Washington firefighters have reached an agreement with the city of Everett after filing a $9 million asbestos lawsuit. Under the agreement, the city will pay for any medical tests the firefighters could require as a result of asbestos exposure that may have occurred during a training program run by the city.

Shipyard worker wins Washington mesothelioma lawsuit (January 19, 2012): A Washington ship worker has won his mesothelioma lawsuit against his former employer. Roger Hammet was awarded $1.45 million after a jury found that Sea-Land Service Inc. was responsible for the mesothelioma diagnosis Hammet received after working on the company’s ship.

New York woman files asbestos lawsuit after husband’s death (January 14, 2012): A New York woman has filed an asbestos lawsuit against her husband’s former employers after he died from lung cancer. Carolina Malone alleges in her lawsuit that Alcoa Inc. exposed her husband to asbestos while he worked for the company, which caused him to develop cancer.

Environmental agency files asbestos lawsuit against contractor (January 11, 2012): The U.S. Department of Environment Protection (DEP) has filed an asbestos lawsuit against a Pennsylvania contractor. The lawsuit alleges that Lovett Contracting improperly removed nearly 3,000 feet of asbestos insulation from a commercial building and failed to properly dispose of the materials.

Accepting the award on her late husband’s behalf, Barbara McQueen expressed her gratitude to the ADAO for their work in spreading awareness of the health risks of asbestos:

Steve’s death was a long and painful ordeal and my heart goes out to those who have been exposed to asbestos as well as their loved ones. We’re all in the same family and I commend ADAO for the great work they do on behalf of asbestos awareness.

A noted auto enthusiast, McQueen was exposed to asbestos from the protective suits that he wore during races, as well as from asbestos on movie sound stages. However, the actor stated in interviews that his disease was likely the result of his service in the Marines, during which time he removed asbestos insulation from pipes that were found onboard troop ships.

McQueen was one of the first celebrities to be diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure that can affect the lining of the heart, lungs or abdomen. Other celebrities who have died from mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure include NFL Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen and singer Warren Zevon, the namesake of the award given to McQueen.

Despite the tragedy of his death, McQueen’s celebrity help bring widespread attention to mesothelioma and the health risks of asbestos exposure for the first time. His courageous fight against mesothelioma cancer and the legacy of his career are an inspiration to the thousands of asbestos victims worldwide who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

• Tough choice looms for people suing over 9/11 health claims: to apply for gov’t aid or not (December 25, 2011): More than 1,600 people who filed lawsuits claiming that their health was ruined by dust and smoke from the collapsed World Trade Center must decide by Jan. 2 whether to keep fighting in court, or drop the litigation and apply for benefits from a government compensation fund. Although the fund would cover ailments such as asthma, scarred lungs and other respiratory system problems, patients who develop mesothelioma or other forms of cancer are not eligible for compensation.
• Asbestos victim awarded $2M in mesothelioma lawsuit (December 21, 2011): A New York man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in December 2010 was awarded $2 million in a mesothelioma lawsuit filed against his former employer. Gerald Failing received the verdict after a jury found a materials company for responsible for exposing him to cancerous asbestos fibers.
• Settlement reached in Missouri mesothelioma lawsuit (December 15, 2011): A mesothelioma lawsuit filed against U.S. Engineering Co. in Missouri has been settled for $10 million. Nancy Lopez filed the lawsuit alleging that the company failed to follow proper procedures in removing asbestos from the courthouse where she worked.

• Former worker alleges asbestos safety violations by companies (November 22, 2011): A Montgomery College student has alleged that asbestos safety violations were commtted by several asbestos abatement companies where he worked. Ernest Ojito alleges six companies throughout Marlyand, Washington D.C. and Virginia put workers at risk by exposing them to asbestos while ignoring federal safety requirements.
• British university fined for alleged asbestos exposure (November 17, 2011): The University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom has been fined for failing to take adequate steps to remove asbestos from four of its buildings. The British Health Service Executive fined the university more than £22,000 after it was discovered that officials at the university took four years before ordering asbestos removal from the buildings.
• Asbestos victim awarded $2M in mesothelioma lawsuit (November 8, 2011): An Australian man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma was awarded more than $2 million in his asbestos lawsuit. The Australian Supreme Court awarded Simon Lowes the sum after he alleged that he was exposed to asbestos as a young child at an orphanage.
• High rates of mesothelioma found among Iron Range workers (November 3, 2011): An ongoing study has found 82 deaths from mesothelioma in the Iron Range of Minnesota, up from the 63 previously reported in 2010. Lead researchers for the study have found the mesothelioma rate is considerably higher than it should be for the region.

• Colorado man files mesothelioma lawsuit (October 25, 2011): A Colorado man has filed a mesothelioma lawsuit against companies he alleges are responsible for asbestos exposure that occurred during his work as a laborer and electrician.
• Colorado landlord on trial for exposing workers to asbestos (October 18, 2011): A Colorado landlord is on trial for allegedly exposing workers to asbestos on the job without their knowledge.
• British company pledges free asbestos awareness training (October 13, 2011): British company Expedient Training Services has pledged to provide free training to educate employers about the dangers of occupational asbestos exposure.
• Inhalants may ease mesothelioma cancer treatment (October 12, 2011): Scottish researches have found that administering cancer drugs via inhalants to treat mesothelioma and other forms of the disease may reduce harmful side effects of treatment. 
• Concerns rise over cancer-causing mineral (October 7, 2011): A fibrous mineral, known as erionite, that is prevalent in western states such as North Dakota, Wyoming, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona and California has been linked to cases of mesothelioma.

The researchers found that individuals who carry a mutation of the BAP1 gene are more likely to develop mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos than individuals without the mutation. The study also found that individuals with the BAP1 mutation may be more likely to develop melanoma of the eye, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer or renal cancer.

This is the first study to demonstrate that individual genetic makeup can greatly influence susceptibility to mesothelioma. People exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos or erionite, those with a strong family history of mesothelioma, or those who have been previously diagnosed with a rare tumor of the eye known as uveal melanoma, may benefit from this new discovery.

Testa said that the findings from the study could lead to new drugs to treat patients with mesothelioma and enable earlier detecting of the disease in patients who are exposed to asbestos. Patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma during the early stages of the disease live an average of five times longer than those whose cancer is detected in the late stages, Testa said.

While genetic mutations might play a factor in an individual’s risk of developing mesothelioma, their role is small compared to the health hazards posed by asbestos exposure in the workplace or other locations. Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. While new drugs and other treatments are important to helping patients who are already afflicted with the disease, it is important to remember that the risk of workers developing mesothelioma would have been significantly lower were it not for the decades in which asbestos products were still sold by manufacturers who knew the health risks posed by their wares.

According to a study conducted by scientists at Rutgers University (PDF), the dust that was spread after 9/11 contained a number of hazardous substances, including asbestos, gypsum, glass fibers, lead and other metal particles. Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma—a deadly cancer of the chest or abdomen—and many other cancers or respiratory diseases. Gypsum—which is found in drywall—has been linked to respiratory problems, while lead and other metals can be toxic to the brain.

Studies to examine the health of workers who were at Ground Zero in the wake of the 9/11 attacks have found increased risks of a number of respiratory and other diseases. According to a 2009 study conducted at Mount Sinai, 9/11 workers are twice as likely to suffer from asthma as the general population. Residents of lower Manhattan—where the World Trade Center was located—have also reported an increased asthma risk.

Health experts say that 9/11 responders have also been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the “World Trade Center cough” due to the redness, irritation and swelling caused by the dust from the Twin Towers. Over time, these symptoms can worsen, leading to scar tissue or chronic lung diseases.

A study of firefighters who worked at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 attacks found that they were 19% more likely to have been diagnosed with cancer than firefighters who were not present at Ground Zero. However, because mesothelioma and other cancers are not covered under the bill, individuals develop these diseases as a result of exposure to the toxic dust from the World Trade Centers will not be able to receive financial aide for their illnesses.

Although the recent bill to cover 9/11 workers (PDF) will provide much needed health care and financial compensation to these individuals, the lack of coverage for victims of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other cancers caused by exposure at Ground Zero neglects thousands of individuals who answered the call for America in its greatest hour of need.

Join the free online screening and live discussion of "Breathtaking" by Kathleen Mullen on September 26 at 6:30 pm EST or watch the trailer for the film below.