John Casey has won an asbestos lawsuit against Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc and FDCC California, Inc, in San Francisco. Following his mesothelioma diagnosis, Casey accused these two corporations of neither warning him, nor protecting him, from mesothelioma’s cause, toxic chemical asbestos.

Casey was employed as a plumber for forty years, during which he worked with and around asbestos containing components. Asbestos fibers, if inhaled, can begin a cancerous growth process of malignant tumors, spreading though lining of lungs and other abdominal cavities, this is called mesothelioma cancer.

Mesothelioma is characterized by a long latency period—typically between twenty and fifty years. During this time patients usually have no idea they have the disease.  Symptoms demonstrate during the last and most aggressive stage of mesothelioma. Symptoms mimic those of bronchitis or pneumonia, making mesothelioma difficult to diagnose. About three thousand Americans suffer with mesothelioma each year, making it a rare cancer and adding to the chance of it being missed by medical professionals. Once a proper diagnosis is made, patients average a life expectancy of just eighteen months.

Although asbestos is considered a type 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization, it is still used around the world for building and production purposes. While countries such as the US, UK and Australia have regulated asbestos use, many developing countries are using the toxic material with little or no safety precautions. It is these countries that are also less likely to have medical facilities able to diagnose or treat mesothelioma and other asbestos related illnesses.

Mesothelioma treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Surgeries are often performed in an effort to remove affected tissue, alleviate pain and aid patient breathing. There is no cure for mesothelioma.

In March, a jury awarded Casey $5 million in loss of consortium, $15 million in non-economic damages, and $1,273,421 for economic damages after finding Kaiser guilty of negligence. Certain building materials Casey used during his employment, provided by Kaiser, contained asbestos and considered defective.

Earlier this month, Kaiser was additionally found guilty of oppression or malice in their treatment and negligence of Casey during his employment. Kaiser was fined $20 million for punitive damages.

Dominion Virginia Power (DOM) company’s power plant in Surry, Virginia, suffered a power outage during a recent tornado on April 16. Although the power was switched immediately over to a generator, details of the power plant unfolded as outage consequences were addressed.

Due to the outage, one of the reactors required refueling. According to DOM’s spokesman, Rick Zuercher, the refueling process can take up to a month in time and necessitate nearly one hundred different contractors working on multiple aspects of the project. It was one of these many contractors that reported an asbestos threat at the power plant.

State Department of Labor and Industry responded to the report and began an investigation. Not much is being shared publicly, however. Department spokeswoman Jennifer Wester said, “We’re looking into it, yes,” but declined to make any further comments on the matter.

Asbestos would be expected in a power plant—one of the structures known to use the material for its fire resistant and insulating qualities. Relatively safe when contained in an intact component, asbestos poses a threat when its fibers or dust particles become airborne. Asbestos exposure can occur after wear and tear breaks down the containing materials or some disaster or demolition suddenly tears open the containing material.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines regulations for use and removal of asbestos in its Clean Air Act. These regulations did not come into play, however, until the nineteen-eighties. Asbestos was used heavily in the US before its health threats were discovered. Close to a century of asbestos use in the US has now brought countless cases of exposure, which can easily go unchecked and unnoticed for years. .

Asbestos is known to cause severe respiratory illnesses. Among these is rare cancer mesothelioma—a system of irregularly patterned malignant tumors which grow through lung lining and lining of other abdominal cavities. Mesothelioma development begins after asbestos fibers are inhaled into the lungs. Characterized by a long latency period typically between twenty and fifty years, mesothelioma goes undetected for decades. Diagnosis is difficult as symptoms do not demonstrate until the disease has reached its final and most aggressive stage. Life expectancy following diagnosis averages eighteen months. There are mesothelioma treatments available, but no known cure.

DOM’s Surry power plant has a potential health and safety threat on their hands. Depending on the level of exposure, employees, contractors and area locals could be put at risk for mesothelioma or other respiratory diseases.  Zuercher said a “team of experts” has tested the facility and consider asbestos levels to be well within safe brackets outlined by Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.

A defunct California firm has left a building abandoned and unmanaged in Augusta, Maine. Once an apartment building, the three-story structure is now covered in graffiti and home to vagrants, squatters and criminals. Locals and neighboring residents have complained to authorities of drug dealers and thieves living in the building.

City Manager William Bridgeo was hoping this problem would be one that just fades away. However, the escalated situation now requires attention from authorities. Not only are current residents and their questionable activities causing concern, but Fire Chief Roger Audette is wary of the building’s fire hazard potential and the effects such a disaster could have on other closely set homes and buildings.

Bridgeo said, “This is one of those unfortunate situations, in my mind, where I fear Mr. Murphy and his law will kick in, and something tragic will occur if we do nothing. And there’s really no other responsible party we can go after.”

Through legal process the city of Augusta was able to claim responsibility for the property. The only option, though, seems to be demolition. “I have to tell you,” Bridgeo concluded, “I can’t see any other options open to us that responsibly address the concerns that police, fire, code enforcement and I have.”

Now demolition plans have brought up a whole new area of concern. Asbestos shingles cover the exterior of the apartments building, and must be safely removed before demolition begins. Interior components may also contain the toxic chemical, postponing project completion dates and raising costs.

Bob LABreck, city facilities and systems manager, is watching expenses of this new responsibility go up and up. “It’s a mess,” he said. “It’s covered in asbestos, and there is literally eight to ten inches of debris on the floor, on every floor. You name it, it’s in there. It’s a tired building.”

Asbestos fibers are known to cause several respiratory illnesses included rare cancer mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is characterized by a long latency period and a short life expectancy following diagnosis. Diagnosis is often difficult as many mesothelioma patients have no idea they were ever exposed to asbestos, and when symptoms do demonstrate they mimic those of pneumonia and bronchitis. There are mesothelioma treatments available, but no cure.

LaBreck estimates asbestos abatement at the property will double the amount spent on demolition alone. However, Mayor David Rollins takes on the project thinking of public safety and benefits to the community. “As much as we don’t like the number in front of us, the potential disaster is a much greater number,” he said.