Restoring Hope With Memories and The Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund

Oftentimes we see tragedy progress into hope, and the stories are always heartening. The story of Chris Knighton and the loss of her husband, Mick Knighton, does just that; it brings tears to your eyes and empowers you at the same time.

Chris and Mick Knighton were a happily married, loving couple with children and grandchildren with whom they shared their joy for life. In 2000, Mick had been experiencing difficulty breathing, and the couple visited their doctor to investigate. Once they received the diagnosis, they were both shocked and saddened. Mick was diagnosed with mesothelioma and had only 6 months to live.

Mesothelioma is a terminal cancer, caused by exposure to airborne asbestos, which can affect the lining of the stomach or, as in Mick’s case, the lining of the lungs (known as pleural mesothelioma). Due to the advanced nature of Mick’s condition upon diagnosis, there were no treatment options available, only means to help make him more comfortable.

Mick and his wife, Chris, were shocked to learn of the limited research and information available on mesothelioma, and the family was even more surprised to learn that Mick had been exposed to asbestos during his time serving in the Navy, almost 50 years prior to his diagnosis. The Navy took no responsibility for Mick’s illness. This realization inspired Chris to launch a fundraising campaign, both to honor her husband, who died 7 months after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, and to fund more research into this aggressive disease and new treatment options.

Out of the Knighton family’s tragedy was born the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund, which raises awareness of mesothelioma and money for mesothelioma research. In 2002, Chris Knighton swore that her husband’s death would not be in vain and that the thousands of other people exposed to asbestos would be recognized as she launched the fund.

In addition to the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund, Chris launched the Snowdrop Fund that allows others to conduct fundraising efforts as tributes to loved ones lost to or suffering with mesothelioma. The Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund helps to organize and promote Snowdrop Fund programs. It is this family's hope that the combined efforts of both foundations can bring greater hope for the thousands of families who will be faced with mesothelioma diagnosis in the future.

Asbestos Tragedy of Libby, Montana Goes National

Libby is a beautiful, picturesque town located in the northwest corner of Montana. Framed by the Cabinet Mountains and Kootenai River, more than 12,000 people call Libby home, and many of those people consider Libby to be their worst nightmare.

It's a subject we've often covered on this blog because it is one of the greatest, best-known asbestos tragedies of our time. Since 1999, the EPA has been investigating asbestos-contaminated vermiculite in the area of Libby. This vermiculite was discovered in the 1800s by miners, and in 1920, Zonolite began mining the substance. In 1963, W.R. Grace bought out the mining operation, and in 1990 the plant was closed. It was later discovered that the vermiculite mined in this area for soil conditioners and building insulation contained naturally occurring asbestos materials: the same materials that can cause mesothelioma and other asbestos related-illnesses. 

Since the EPA and emergency response team's attention was focused on Libby in 1999, in 2002, Libby was placed on the EPA’s National Priorities List. Properties and land in the area of Libby were inspected for asbestos materials. Extensive cleanup efforts have been taking place in the mine area and the community of Libby for years, and samples are still tested today.

The tragedy of Libby lives on and moves beyond the small Montana town’s borders. The Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry has identified 28 other states that processed a minimum of 100,000 tons of vermiculite from those asbestos laden Libby mines. Each of these sites has been instructed by the EPA to take action regarding their contamination and the spread of the deadly asbestos materials beyond the processing facilities.

In 2002, it had been determined that the mortality rates in Libby, Montana were 40% to 80% higher than expected and lung cancer mortality rates were increased as well. Employees of the plants that processed this asbestos laden vermiculite were exposed, as well as their family members, and residents in the area of facilities processing the vermiculite. The same risks hold true for those 28 other states that processed vermiculite from the Libby mines.

The Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry has supplied public reports for those 28 states with facilities that, although they may no longer be in operation, may have exposed employees, employee family members, and residents of the community to airborne asbestos.

Catonsville Pushing State of Maryland to Put Asbestos Rules In Place

Residents of Catonsville want bigger answers from the state of Maryland regarding asbestos hazards as a natural rock formation appeared in the middle of a construction site. Neighbors are not only worried about their health, but are growing even more concerned about state and county regulations regarding the rock's removal.

Why such a fuss about a rock? As it turns out this rock is asbestos. Exposure to airborne asbestos can lead to illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, a terminal cancer, the construction company working on the site was crushing the rock, sending asbestos into the air.

Enterprise Homes, the company performing the crushing, immediately stopped operations and willingly tested nearby homes for asbestos, but it is the state’s failures that have residents really upset. It is under question to many residents if the state of Maryland has adopted the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act that would deal with situations such as these. AHERA has multiple requirements, including inspecting known asbestos-containing materials every three years, maintaining up-to-date asbestos management plans and training custodial staff in handling the mineral. Many residents believe there are no county or state regulations to deal with asbestos exposure, but that federal standards should have been followed. The Maryland Department of the Environment expressed in a Hometown Annapolis article that there is not a need to mandate asbestos handling guidelines for companies like Enterprise when they are willing to cooperate and make efforts to remedy the situation.

Construction at the site in Catonsville has resumed, although the asbestos rock is no longer being crushed. Neighbors are left to deal with dust and residue from the site on their homes and in their yards. Although they are being told the residue has been tested and does not contain asbestos, many are still uncertain. There is no doubt that residents hope that state and local jurisdiction will come up with an action plan to deal with similar situations in the future.

North Carolina Community Concerned About Former Asbestos Mill

Residents of Davidson, NC are faced with a difficult community decision as a Raleigh developer approaches the Westside neighborhood with hopes to build a commercial or residential development on the former Metrolina Warehouse LLC site. Concerns have been raised as the site was formerly the Linden Cotton Mill and, before that, it was an asbestos mill.

GreenHawk, the Raleigh developers, have opened talks with the community through several neighborhood meetings. Most residents have expressed concerns regarding asbestos, which is still buried under a portion of the site from its previous use as an asbestos mill. It has been noted that the previous owner of the site encapsulated the asbestos according to federal environmental standards and it had been certified as safe. Yet many residents retell stories of illnesses and deaths of family and friends from what they believed to be exposure to asbestos.

Many residents have rallied together and distributed fliers regarding the dangers of asbestos exposure from the proposed development, should GreenHawk decide to remove the asbestos currently on site. This flier notes, “The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious diseases of the lungs and other organs that may not appear until years after the exposure occurs.” This fact is very true, as exposure to airborne asbestos is known to cause mesothelioma, or asbestos cancer that can remain latent for many years and in many cases is terminal.

GreenHawk has been very responsive to the community concerns and has brought in many environmental specialists to speak with residents about the asbestos issue. GreenHawk currently leans toward the removal of the asbestos materials by a licensed asbestos abatement company and under the watchful eye of the EPA. Residents, however, are divided. Some residents express their desire to just leave the asbestos where it is - buried - where it can’t get into the air and do more damage. However, there is no guarantee that developing on the site would not compromise the integrity of the existing encapsulation.

The town residents and GreenHawk plan to arrange several more neighborhood meetings regarding the issue before any steps towards development are taken. Although they had not been contacted for previous meetings, town officials have been notified and plan to be part of further discussions.

Kentucky Demolition Raises Community Asbestos Concerns

As highlighted on KYPost.com, the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection has issued a public advisory regarding asbestos contamination of demolition materials being shredded and then offered to the public as free mulch.

Although it is a requirement of the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) that businesses sample for asbestos before performing any demolition project, this demolition project was not reported to the DAQ. The demolition site was located just within city limits and close to a public highway. The building being demolished and containing asbestos materials was once the Independent Tobacco Warehouse.

According to The Kentucky Post, a grinder was used to shred any remaining demolition material, including old roofing that commonly contains asbestos, and make it into mulch, as a large portion of the material was old wood. The Department for Environmental Protection responded to a complaint about the demolition piles, and an air quality sample was taken. It was this sample which indicated that indeed there was asbestos in the free “mulch” piles.

Exposure to airborne asbestos can cause severe lung irritation and even asbestos cancers. A common asbestos cancer caused by exposure to airborne asbestos is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the lining of internal organs like the lungs and stomach and often remains dormant for many years before diagnosis.

The scariest part of this type of asbestos exposure is that it is impossible to track which residents picked up this asbestos-laden “free mulch” and took it back to their homes or businesses for use. Nor is there a way to calculate the number of adults or children who may have been exposed during the demolition itself either, as particles were obviously airborne during the shredding and demolition process as well. The Post did not mention if workers performing the demolition were properly protected from exposure.

The Department for Environmental Protection immediately alerted the mayor of the town and Emergency Management Services of the asbestos contamination. The Independent Tobacco Warehouse and the company responsible for the site demolition were also cited for their violations.

The Mesothelioma Database

Imagine how difficult it was to track and gather knowledge about certain medical conditions before the introduction of computers. Now specialists can log into central databases for cancers and genetic disorders and see how other persons in the same situation as their patients were treated and medicated, as well as how their illnesses progressed. These databases offer an abundance of information for researchers who are looking for specific information or tissue samples for treatment research as well.

Although databases have been developed for several medical conditions, it was not until recently - August - that there was an announcement of a mesothelioma database. For years mesothelioma has been one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose, research, investigate and treat, but now there is a database that can save countless hours and will become an invaluable tool in the treatment of mesothelioma.

The Centers for Disease Control and The National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety joined together to create the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank that collects, stores and distributes tissue samples, blood samples and DNA samples. In addition to this, the bank collects demographics on patients, including symptoms, treatment and recurrences. All of this information can be used to perform focused research on mesothelioma.

Researchers can perform further exploration of cures and treatments by using the information collected in the database. The database is also made available to patients and the public. Only general demographics are listed in the database, and patient confidentiality is not breached. It is completely optional for patients to have their medical information placed in the database, and each participant must provide informed consent to his or her doctor.

The National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank has already collected multiple samples and demographics and the numbers grow with each new diagnosis. All of the information gathered in the database will further research into mesothelioma and hopefully, through this research, more effective treatments of this terminal disease will be found.

Asbestos, Cancer and September 11th

It is hard to believe that the tragedy of September 11th was seven years ago. It seems like it was just yesterday. Although Manhattan is slowly progressing on building the new Freedom Tower, and the Pentagon is fully restored, there is a lingering issue that goes beyond the tragic events of that day.

When the World Trade Center crumbled to the ground, the air was filled with smoke, dust and debris. As the days and weeks progressed, and the fires eventually subsided, and the smoke cleared, the question of what was in that debris that filled the air and blanketed New York came about. Steel, glass, concrete, paper. But there was also a variety of more dangerous health hazards, including asbestos.

Many of those heroic first responders did not wear protective equipment. In all the chaos, it was only several days later that these workers were reminded to wear protective gear. Although the EPA maintains that disease from exposure to asbestos from September 11th is very low, there has already been one mesothelioma-related death. Deborah Reeve was an emergency responder on September 11th, a paramedic for the Fire Department of New York. She began to have symptoms in early 2003 and was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2004. Reeve passed away from the disease in March 2006, less than five years after her exposure on 9/11.

Deborah's case is unique in that mesothelioma usually takes decades to develop. City health officials refuse to acknowledge at this time that Reeve’s death was caused by toxic dust from the remains of the World Trade Center, but doctors for the paramedic say they have little doubt as to what caused her disease. They say the amount of asbestos she inhaled must have been enormous.

It has been estimated that more than 100,000 people were exposed to asbestos with the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11th, including approximately 4,000 first responders. Because of this concern, and cases like Reeve, it is encouraged that those who were exposed to the toxic smoke and dust caused by the attack on September 11th undergo periodic exams, including lung capacity testing and chest x-rays.