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Asbestosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in particles of asbestos (a group of minerals that take the form of tiny fibers). Symptoms include coughing, trouble breathing, and chest pain caused by scarring and permanent damage to lung tissue. Asbestosis increases the risk of lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma (cancer found in the lining of the lungs, chest, or abdomen).

New article warns Asians about striking increase in asbestos-related deaths

An alarming new article in Respirology issues a serious warning of massive rises in deaths from asbestos-related lung diseases in Asia. Dr Ken Takahashi, Acting Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Occupational Health, and his team put together important data on asbestos use in 47 Asian countries in this landmark article. Cyprus, Israel and Japan had the highest age-adjusted mortality rates in Asia.

10 Jun 2011

GAAW: ADAO to raise awareness about asbestos dangers

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, which combines education, advocacy, and community to provide a unified voice for asbestos victims, today announced Global Asbestos Awareness Week, "E X P O S E D - The Facts about Asbestos" April 1 - 7, 2011.

From Asthma + Lung UK 2 Apr 2011

ADAO applauds U.S. Senate for introduction of resolution recognizing National Asbestos Awareness Week

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, combining education, advocacy and community as the largest U.S. organization serving as the voice of asbestos victims, today applauds Senator Max Baucus and cosponsors for introducing a resolution that declares the first week of April as "National Asbestos Awareness Week" and seeks to "raise public awareness about the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure."

19 Feb 2011

Asbestos removal from schools poorly handled

Queensland government’s builder - QBuild’s handling of asbestos at a north Queensland school is inappropriate says a report. After a painter at the Mackay West State School identified asbestos in December 2009, the QBuild workers came in to decontaminate the area but they did not wear protective clothing and removed dust with a domestic vacuum cleaner.

16 Dec 2010

Asbestos awareness important to prevent related cancer: Experts

Experts from Perth speculate Western Australia is yet to see the peak of asbestos-induced cancer, with renovators still failing to take proper precautions. According to director of the National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases, Bruce Robinson, the next and third wave of mesothelioma patients would come out of those putting themselves and others at risk while taking on DIY home renovation projects.

22 Nov 2010

Asbestos problem in NSW needs government attention: Report

A report from the NSW Ombudsman says that the state government is failing to deal with the deadly issue of asbestos despite repeated warnings regarding “immense” amounts of the dangerous material still scattered across NSW.

17 Nov 2010

Asbestos found in Queensland schools

Asbestos, known to be the cause of malignant mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer for which there currently is no cure, is still found in the playground of Tewantin State School in Tewantin, Queensland, Australia. Since the beginning of 2009 asbestos has been reported numerous times at the school. Repeated exposures to the toxic material over 20 to 50 years may lead to this cancer.

24 Sep 2010

Getting rid of asbestos in Australia

Asbestos that is linked to lung cancer called mesothelioma, is still present in more than one million Australian homes, offices and schools according to reports. And the problem is “compounded by poor community awareness and a disjointed approach from the three levels of government.”

28 Jun 2010

National Asbestos Awareness Week to raise awareness about prevalence of asbestos-related diseases

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, the leading organization serving as the voice of asbestos victims, today applauds Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN - 09) and cosponsors for introducing a resolution that declares the first week of April as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” and seeks to “raise public awareness about the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure.”

9 Mar 2010

Signaling molecules may link certain actions of B cells to solid tumor growth: Study

Cancer researchers studying the immune system have identified a previously unrecognized set of targets and biomarkers to battle solid tumors.

25 Feb 2010

New health initiative focuses on environmentally-associated cancers

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, in cooperation with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), will launch a targeted health initiative in January 2010 focused on environmentally-associated cancers.

22 Oct 2009

EPA declares first-ever public health emergency in Montana

The Environmental Protection Agency yesterday declared its first-ever "public health emergency," asbestos contamination near Libby and Troy, Mont., northwestern mining towns, the Associated Press reports.

18 Jun 2009

New tool in the radiography approach will assist in earlier detection of asbestos-related diseases

Michael Harbut, M.D., MPH, co-director of the National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers (NCVAC) at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, MI, and chief of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine Wayne State University, announced the use of a new technology to aid in the diagnosis of asbestos-related lung disease.

30 Mar 2009

Researchers look at processes asbestos fibers use to trigger cancer in human cells

Ohio State University scientists believe they are the first in the world to study the molecular underpinnings of cancer by probing individual bonds between an asbestos fiber and human cells.

18 Dec 2008

New support for mesothelioma sufferers in Australia

The Asbestos Research Group, offering hope to sufferers of asbestos-related diseases, was launched at The Wesley Research Institute today.

11 Jun 2008

Combination drug treatment helps beat mesothelioma

People with mesothelioma - a form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure - have a higher survival rate when treated with a combination of two cancer drugs, a large multicenter study finds.

12 Feb 2007

Asbestos: the iron grip of latency

It happens every day somewhere in Europe: a building from the 1950s is demolished. A few children on their way back from school watch the giant bulldozer at work. The engine has already attacked the ground floor - apparently nobody has noticed the asbestos pads…

10 Jan 2006

Divalent metal transporter-1 decreases metal-related injury in the lung

Multi-vitamin products, nutritional supplements and parents tout the need for such mineral elements as calcium, zinc, phosphorus, iron and others.

4 Oct 2005

New statement published on nonmalignant diseases related to asbestos exposure

In its first official statement since 1986 on the topic, the American Thoracic Society (ATS) has published a document entitled “Diagnosis and Initial Management of Nonmalignant Diseases Related to Asbestos.”

4 Oct 2004

Michigan opens new center to treat exposure to Vermiculite, Taconite, Asbestos

In response to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) identification of major sources of public asbestos exposure in Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM) affiliated with Wayne State University (WSU) have joined forces to establish The National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers.

5 Apr 2004