The United Mine Workers of America offered the following comments regarding the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s Asbestos Exposure Limit; Proposed Rule.

The Union is pleased that MSHA has issued a proposed rule relating to asbestos exposure in the mining industry.  The reality of the circumstances is that the Agency is attempting to satisfy the three recommendations made by the U. S. Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General.  These recommendations were the result of an investigation into the condition that existed and the human suffering that resulted from asbestos exposure to workers and the community in Libby, Montana.  Those recommendations include lowering the existing permissible exposure limit for asbestos to a more protective level, use transmission electron microscopy instead of phase contrast microscopy in the initial analysis of fiber samples that may contain asbestos, and implement special safety requirements to address take-home contamination.

If MSHA had had an adequate exposure limit and enforced that limit, it might have prevented the current situation at Libby.  Given the widespread asbestos contamination at the mine and in the surrounding community, coupled with the high rate of asbestos related illnesses, no one can say enough effort was applied by anyone, to correct the problem.

Carbon nanotubes, a new product that is being studied for use in nanotechnologies, has been linked with mesothelioma in laboratory animals.

Carbon nanotubes are long and thin carbon molecules that can inflame the lining of the lungs if they are inhaled.

Manufacturers are already beginning to use the carbon nanotubes in products such as tennis rackets. The recent study indicates that more testing needs to be done on the product before it is determined that they are safe for the public to use.

Asbestos causes mesothelioma when it is released into the air through inappropriate handling of the product. The same could be the case with carbon nanotubes.

Many researchers believe that carbon nanotubes will be used to develop nanotechnology and smaller electronic products, like cell phones. Carbon nanotubes are about 10,000 times thinner than human hair.

Mesothelioma attorneys are working to prevent the devastating illness from occurring.

On May 13th, a California resident was convicted of violating the Clean Air Act by a federal jury. The trial lasted five days and the man was accused of demolishing a building that contained asbestos.

The man owned a two-story wooden building which he illegally demolished between 2001 and 2002. He failed to comply with the federal Clean Air Act, which requires the proper removal of asbestos before demolition. Since the asbestos was not removed, the man negligently exposed his employees and nearby residents to a significant amount of asbestos.

The man was charged with three counts of violating the Clean Air Act and faces up to fifteen years in prison, in addition to possible fines of up to $750,000 and restitution.

He is scheduled for sentencing on August 27th.

Asbestos is the only known cause of the rare and deadly form of lung cancer, mesothelioma. It is also the cause of other serious lung ailments, such as asbestosis.

Asbestos attorneys are working on cases in which serious illness has resulted from negligent asbestos exposure.