Category Archives: Environmental News
Canada Blocks UN Asbestos Resolution
Members of the Canadian delegation blocked a UN resolution that would list chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous material. The resolution, called the Rotterdam Convention, lists several grades of hazardous materials. The convention rules stated that materials labeled as “Annex III” would compel exporters of toxic chemicals to warn importers of the hazards involved with the [...]
New Cause for Concern Following Joplin Tornado: Asbestos and Mesothelioma Risk
According to numerous reports, more than 130 people have died from a massive tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, last month. A report from the Missouri Department of Public Safety estimates than more than 8000 dwellings and 500 commercial property sites were either damaged or destroyed in the storm. With so much property damage, especially among [...]
Alabama Tornado Debris Poses Asbestos Danger
As residents of Jefferson County, Alabama, recover from the recent devastation from tornadoes that swept through the area, public health officials are warning them that the danger may not be over just because the storm clouds have passed. Some of the debris from older houses, businesses and government buildings may contain hazardous substances, which can [...]
EPA Removes New Jersey Site from Asbestos Superfund List
Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced that they have removed a major asbestos dumping ground in New Jersey from their National Priorities List of sites eligible for federal cleanup funds. The site, located in Long Hill Township, New Jersey, was on the agency’s “Superfund” list after investigators discovered asbestos tailings spread [...]
ASDTR Funding New Libby Study
In the small town of Libby, Montana, where former vermiculite mining at the W.R. Grace mine has led to a great many asbestos illnesses, including mesothelioma, a new study is aimed at determining the reason for the inexplicable rapidity and morbidity of these diseases by examining former Libby High School students. Libby and the W.R. [...]
New EU Chemical Laws Could Have Global and Commercial Impact
The European Union has approved new chemical guidelines that could affect businesses around the word as companies scramble to meet the increased safety requirements. The laws will require companies to demonstrate that a chemical is safe before it can be used in manufacturing and commercial products. The laws themselves are the opposite of those in [...]
