April 1st marks the beginning of the first annual National Asbestos Awareness Week - a time to raise awareness about the dangers and harm that asbestos can bring about. While we applaud the US Congress for taking action in raising public awareness about the dangers of asbestos, we cannot help but notice that their legislation is not vigilant enough. An awareness week is certainly a step in the right direction, but why has Congress not yet banned asbestos? Over 40 other countries have outlawed the substance, and still we remain one of the very few who have not.

Last year, it seemed there was promise on the horizon. A bill made its way through the Senate outlining a ban on asbestos. Hundreds of people testified for the bill but when it was finally passed, these supporters were shocked to see the outcome: the bill had been diluted and hardly any restrictions on asbestos were enacted. While the EPA insisted the bill should prohibit any product to which asbestos is deliberately added or used, or in which asbestos is otherwise present in any concentration, lobbyists from mines, auto companies, and businesses were able to water down the bill.

The result: a lax bill that does hardly anything to protect against asbestos-related diseases:

- The bill will not prevent the sale of talc powder, which is an asbestos-based material used in children’s clay, even though it has been proven that talc mine workers contracted disease due to asbestos exposure.

- The bill will not prevent the sale of taconite waste, which contains asbestos, to be used in construction across the country. Even though taconite has a high concentration of asbestos, companies plan to sell it claiming it is asbestos-free. The bill will do nothing to stop this.

- The bill will not prevent the sale of vermiculite, an asbestos-based substance used in home insulation. Hundreds of vermiculite mine workers have contracted mesothelioma, but the bill does nothing to prevent the re-opening of the mine. Once opened, neither the mine nor vermiculite sales would be monitored.

This bill will continue to make its way through Congress this year. Its intention was great, but it lost its meaning now that it has been diluted. An Awareness Week is admirable, but we hope that Congress' attention shifts to the more pressing issue: a total ban of asbestos

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s fourth annual Asbestos Awareness Day Conference was met with overwhelming response this year. Registration has long been closed because the conference filled quickly, but the group is already advertising next year’s event. This year’s conference will officially begin in Detroit tomorrow, with a small reception the tonight. The conference runs through the 30th, concluding with a memorial and remembrance brunch.

The conference’s mission statement reads, “This international conference will provide education and outreach to affected families, employers, employees and scientists throughout the world as part of the ADAO's continuing efforts to educate the public about the dangers of asbestos, ban its use and encourage research efforts to improve treatment options. Prominent physicians, scientists, safety and health directors professionals and persons interested in asbestos will present current and up-to-date information regarding the status of asbestos in the United States, Canada and worldwide.”

The conference is held in preparation for National Asbestos Awareness day: April 1. The ADAO is selling awareness wristbands to educate the public that asbestos is still not banned.

To learn more about the conference visit the ADAO website, where you can also sign a petition and learn how to contact Congress about banning asbestos.

A mesothelioma diagnosis can be overwhelming. Because the disease can be fast-acting, there is often a lot to keep straight. In the midst of treatment and therapy, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Proper diet, in particular, can help slow the disease’s progression. MesoRC recommends that you consult your doctor for personalized advice, but we have gathered some general dieting guidelines you may want to consider.

- Protein is a vital dietary component. In general, proteins provide structure, help transport nutrients, and are responsible for repair within our bodies. Lean chicken and turkey are great sources of helpful protein.

- Try to keep protein in your diet and reduce (but not eliminate!) your intake of carbohydrates. Carbs provide our bodies with energy, but do not take an active role in repairing tissue. Try to get most of your carbs from fiber-rich vegetables or fruit.

- Stay hydrated. Drink a lot of water, especially during treatment periods, to flush out toxins from the body.

- If you experience a loss of appetite, try to eat foods high in calories. This way, you are providing your body without engery, without having to eat a large meal. Butter, cheese, honey, and sugars are very high in calories.

- Sometimes, solid foods can be difficult to ingest. Try soft, blended drinks like fruit smoothies instead.

For more guidelines on diet and for other mesothelioma advice, please visit this MesoRC page, or read this entry by our social worker.

A fire destroyed several WWII-era buildings in Arkansas this past January, and recently, the Federal Emergency Management Association has declined to grant the area 'disaster status.'  As a result, the Chafee Crossing residents have been denied federal funds to clean up the debris.  The cleanup, including asbestos abatement, is estimated to cost upwards of $4.6 million.  If the town government is forced to absorb the costs, the local economy is predicted to be handcuffed for several years. 

The Environmental Protection Agency denied the town funds because asbestos tests did not show a significant level of pollution.  However, tests performed by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality found asbestos contamination in some areas to be much higher than EPA estimates, qualifying the area for federal subsidization.  Because of the buildings' age, it is estimated that every structure contained at least some asbestos.

The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Commission has indicated that the EPA plans to return in 30 days for further testing, though experts say an appeal of the ruling is unlikely because of the complicated terms for qualifying for the federal funds. At the moment however, the asbestos remains highly concentrated in some areas and cleanup efforts are not being addressed because of a tangled web of bureaucratic mandates.

One mayor is expected to take a major step in increasing asbestos awareness.

This Friday, Mayor Bobby Bright of Alabama will sign a proclamation declaring April 1 Asbestos Awareness Day in Montgomery.  The proclamation enforces the senate's recent decision to name the same day National Asbestos Awareness Day, adding local credence to the nationwide resolution.  April 1-7 has been deemed National Asbestos Awareness Week.

The Environmental Working Group reports that about 10,000 Americans die annually from asbestos-related disease, so Bright's decision reflects a significant milestone in increasing local awareness.  The awareness day seeks to educate the public on the dangers of asbestos exposure and the diseases it causes, such as lethal mesothelioma.  Ideally, Bright's action will inspire other authorities to follow suit in promoting localized asbestos education.