After its own third party investigation, Johnson & Johnson once again asserts that its baby powder does not contain deadly asbestos. A 64-year-old Australian woman who lives in Hawaii doesn’t agree. The Australian equine chiropractor filed a civil lawsuit last month alleging her use of talcum powder produced by Johnson & Johnson led to her…
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Asbestos Disposal: Improper Practices Could Cost Tens of Thousands of Dollars
Asbestos Disposal Violator in Massachusetts Learns the Hard Way A Framington, Massachusetts company now owes almost $50,000 in fines after attempting to dispose of asbestos-laden building materials improperly. Laborers from SMBG, a construction firm, tore out the interior of a multi-unit apartment building in Southbridge and hauled the building materials to an asbestos waste facility…
Libby, Montana Asbestos Disaster: 20 Years Later
Before 1999, the tiny town of Libby, Montana — population less than 3,000 in the far northwest corner of the state — ranked unknown to most Americans. That all changed 20 years ago when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finally responded to cries from local citizens to take notice of the tragedy devastating their community.…
Federal Court Strikes Down Amendment to Toxic Substances Control Act
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), enacted in 2014, proved to be a monumental victory for legislators and environmental groups seeking to ban or limit dangerous chemicals in the United States. Formulated under the law, asbestos made the list as one of the top ten most deadly substances. Ruling Fails to Consider “Legacy” Asbestos This…
Former EPA Heads Call for Asbestos Ban
While legislation seeking to ban asbestos recently moved from a House subcommittee to a full committee, two past Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrators decried the current agency and demanded passage of the bill. Harsh Words for Current EPA in New York Times Op-Ed Gina McCarthy and William K. Reilly wrote a scathing op-ed in the…
Asbestos in Old Buildings: Scare at Brooklyn Bus Depot Illuminates the Dangers
While many buildings from decades past hold a certain charm and historical ambiance, their outdated construction materials may pose a deadly risk to those who work in them. Why Is There Asbestos in Old Buildings? This recently became reality for more than one thousand employees, when the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) discovered cancer-causing asbestos in…
Teacher’s Mesothelioma Diagnosis Prompts $100 Million Proposal to Remove Asbestos in Schools
After a Philadelphia teacher developed mesothelioma, a form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) took a stand. The organization created a plan — which could take 5 years and cost $100 Million — to remove asbestos and lead from over 175 local schools. In Philadelphia, It’s Not Rare to…
Johnson & Johnson Issues First-Ever Baby Powder Recall Due to Asbestos
Amidst more than 15,000 lawsuits, Johnson & Johnson recalls their once-beloved product, Johnson’s Baby Powder®. On Friday, October 18, 2019, the company announced the recall of over 33,000 bottles of the baby powder after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found trace amounts of chrysotile asbestos in a sample of the product. Johnson &…
Repeated Chemotherapy May Extend Survival in Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients
New research suggests that patients with peritoneal mesothelioma would benefit from multiple rounds of chemotherapy. Findings show a newer treatment protocol produces a 5-year overall survival rate in 75% of patients. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that forms in the lining of the abdominal wall. The current standard of care is cytoreduction…
