On Thursday, July 25th, an appellate court upheld a bankruptcy court&#8217;s ruling from last year that denied Johnson &amp; Johnson&#8217;s effort to use a subsidiary, LTL Management, to declare bankruptcy to settle cancer claims related to its talc-based baby powder.&nbsp;



In its judgment, the appellate court rejected J&amp;J’s argument that the bankruptcy was necessary due to cash-flow issues. The court further stated that the potential for future insolvency does not justify the drug company’s filing for Chapter 11.



J&amp;J’s latest bankruptcy is one of many attempts to rid itself of its financial obligations to resolve over 50,000 lawsuits claiming that the use of its popular talc baby powder led to <a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/does-talcum-powder-cause-cancer/">claimants developing cancer</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-claimants-voting-deadline">Claimants Voting Deadline</h2>



The public awaits the second decision regarding Johnson &amp; Johnson’s new <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-05-02/johnson-johnson-will-pay-6-5-billion-to-settle-talc-ovarian-cancer-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">“Plan of Reorganization”</a> which gave claimants until 4 p.m., July 25th to vote. The new plan will settle more than 50,000 lawsuits alleging that the use of J&amp;J’s widely-used talc baby powder led to claimants developing ovarian cancer. J&amp;J’s subsidiary LLT Management’s blanket settlement would pay ovarian cancer claimants around <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/johnson-johnson-proposes-to-pay-65b-to-settle-talc-ovarian-cancer-lawsuits-in-us/ar-AA1nZ7gc?ocid=BingNewsSerp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$6.48 billion over 25 years</a> to resolve 99.75% of its U.S.-based talc lawsuits.



The company solicits plaintiffs to approve the $6.5 billion settlement to cover all current and future ovarian cancer claims, to be filed in an unspecified federal court in Texas. Under the bankruptcy code, the plan would require a 75% supermajority of claimants to be considered for approval by the court.



J &amp; J maintains this is a win-win for claimants in talc lawsuits since most cases would take decades to litigate in court and likely end in no compensation for plaintiffs Ovarian cancer claimants were given over three months to vote for or against J&amp;J’s plan.&nbsp;



Not everyone believes this blanket settlement is in the best interest of claimants or their families.&nbsp;



In late June, a few of the <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240620075804/en/More-than-60-Law-Firms-Oppose-JJ-Prepack-Bankruptcy-Scheme/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">nation’s large</a>st law firms recognized for their successful representation of individuals harmed by dangerous products announced their unified opposition to J&amp;J’s prepackaged bankruptcy plan to address claims brought by ovarian cancer victims. J&amp;J was denied two previous bankruptcy filings with a market value of more than $350 billion. Both were denied by federal courts in New Jersey where J&amp;J is headquartered.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-law-firms-speak-out-against-j-amp-j-blanket-settlement">Law Firms Speak out Against J&amp;J Blanket Settlement</h2>



A group of law firms representing claimants in these legal battles say the $6.48 billion settlement is the latest legal maneuver by J&amp;J to avoid owning up to the countless victims injured by the product.



&#8220;Despite the hoped-for chilling effect of J&amp;J’s outrageous and boundless bullying tactics – attacking courts, juries, lawyers, the press, and even cancer victims – the number of lawyers willing to courageously stand up to J&amp;J on behalf of cancer victims is inspiring,” says Andy Birchfield of the Beasley Allen Law Firm. “We must make a stand and we must not flinch or back down.”



Attorneys in opposition believe the plan represents a dangerous precedent that could allow other large, financially solvent corporations to evade mass tort litigation.



Cases not covered under this plan include personal injury lawsuits tied to claims that J&amp;J’s cosmetic talc products caused the aggressive cancer known as <a href="https://mesowatch.com/mesothelioma/">mesothelioma</a>. The cancer usually forms around the lungs and is associated with <a href="https://mesowatch.com/exposure/">asbestos exposure</a>. In a press release, J&amp;J claims it has <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240501647970/en/Johnson-Johnson-Announces-Plan-by-its-Subsidiary-LLT-Management-LLC-to-Resolve-All-Current-and-Future-Ovarian-Cancer-Talc-Claims-Through-a-Consensual-%E2%80%9CPrepackaged%E2%80%9D-Reorganization" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">already resolved</a> 95% of mesothelioma lawsuits filed and plans to address the remaining claims outside of its new reorganization plan.

Court Upholds Denial of Johnson & Johnson’s Bankruptcy Plan 

A bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed legislation on Capitol Hill Tuesday to end the “Texas Two-Step,” a bankruptcy maneuver that Johnson &amp; Johnson and Georgia Pacific have been using to shield themselves from asbestos liability.&nbsp;



The introduction of the Ending Corporate Bankruptcy Abuse Act (ECBA) comes just a few days before the July 26 deadline for a group of tens of thousands of claimants who say they got <a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/talcum-powder-and-ovarian-cancer/">ovarian cancer from using Johnson &amp; Johnson talcum powder</a> to vote on whether to accept a proposed $6.48 billion settlement.



Johnson &amp; Johnson used the Texas Two-Step to transfer its talc liability to a Lone Star State subsidiary called LLT Management. LLT then filed for bankruptcy in Texas to delay lawsuits filed against J&amp;J.&nbsp;



After two failed attempts to use the Texas Two-Step, LLT submitted a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/01/johnson-johnson-will-pay-6point5-billion-to-resolve-nearly-all-talc-ovarian-cancer-lawsuits-in-us.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">new bankruptcy plan</a> earlier this year to pay nearly all the remaining U.S.-based J&amp;J talc claimants $6.48 billion over 25 years. Those claimants could potentially get a lot more than that if they vote against the settlement and hold out for their day in court. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-ebca-act-would-work">How the EBCA Act Would Work</h2>



Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) Representatives Emilia Sykes (D-OH) and Lance Gooden (R-TX) introduced the ECBA Act. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), co-sponsored the legislation.



“The Texas Two-Step has mired tens of thousands of injured Americans in protracted proceedings, while the mega-corporations that harmed them continue making money and avoiding penalties,” Whitehouse stated in a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-hawley-sykes-gooden-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-deter-texas-two-step-bankruptcy-trick/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">press release</a>. 



If passed and signed into law, the ECBA Act of 2024 would instruct courts to presume a corporation filed for bankruptcy in bad faith if it appears to be a Texas Two-Step.



The legislation also would ban stays of litigation against a debtor’s non-bankrupt affiliates if a debtor engaged in a Texas Two-Step bankruptcy within the previous four years.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-georgia-pacific-s-role-in-establishing-the-texas-two-step">Georgia-Pacific’s Role in Establishing the Texas Two-Step</h2>



Although the summary for the bill only mentions Johnson &amp; Johnson by name, <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/scotus-is-helping-corporations-dodge-consumer-liability/ar-BB1ngOkC?ocid=BingNewsVerp">Georgia-Pacific</a> was the first corporation to use the Texas Two-Step in 2017.&nbsp;



The Koch Industries subsidiary was facing tens of thousands of <a href="https://mesowatch.com/lawyers/lawsuits/">lawsuits</a> from people who were <a href="https://mesowatch.com/exposure/occupational/drywall-installers/">exposed to asbestos in its drywall products</a> during the 1960s and 1970s and later developed cancers such as mesothelioma. The Texas Two-Step allowed Georgia-Pacific to delay movement on those lawsuits. 



Earlier this year, the Supreme Court declined to review the Georgia-Pacific case and allowed a lower-court ruling in the corporation&#8217;s favor to stand.&nbsp;

Lawmakers Aim to Halt J&J’s Texas Two-Step Tactics

Johnson &amp; Johnson has proposed a <a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/jj-proposes-505m-settlement-bankrupt-talc-mines" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">$505 million settlement </a>with two bankrupt mining companies that supplied J&amp;J with asbestos-contaminated talc for its talcum powder products. 



Part of the settlement amount would go toward a settlement trust for miners who worked for Imerys Talc America and Cyprus Mines Corporation and contracted asbestos-related diseases <a href="https://mesowatch.com/mesothelioma/">such as mesothelioma</a>, an aggressive form of cancer. 



According to the settlement agreement proposed last week, J&amp;J would make an initial payment of $225 million. The remaining balance of $228 million would be due on Dec. 31, 2025. 



The dispute between J&amp;J and the mining companies began in 2019 when Imerys filed for bankruptcy to evade talc liability. Cyprus filed for bankruptcy in 2021. 



Many cancer victims who sued J&amp;J named its talc suppliers as co-defendants. Imerys and Cyprus argued that indemnification agreements with J&amp;J protected them from liability claims from those who became ill after using the pharma company’s <a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/talcum-powders-that-contain-asbestos/">talcum powder products</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-voting-deadline-nears-on-another-proposed-j-amp-j-settlement">Voting Deadline Nears on Another Proposed J&amp;J Settlement</h2>



Meanwhile, J&amp;J is hoping to settle its ovarian cancer liability through bankruptcy. More than 61,000 claimants who contracted the disease after prolonged use of the company’s baby powder or had an immediate family member die from ovarian cancer have until July 26 to vote on a reorganization plan that would include a $6.48 billion payout to them.



If the plan is approved, each claimant would receive between $50,000 and $150,000. 



In 2021, J&amp;J created the LLT Management subsidiary, which assumed the company’s talc liability. In a Texas two-step maneuver, the subsidiary then filed for bankruptcy in the Lone Star State. That attempt and a subsequent one failed. 



After the $6.48 million settlement was proposed, lawyers for some talc claimants who believed the agreement to be inadequate tried to block J&amp;J from filing for bankruptcy a third time in Texas or any other jurisdiction outside New Jersey. However, in June a federal judge <a href="https://mesowatch.com/judge-dismisses-bid-to-block-jjs-6-48b-talc-settlement/">rejected </a>the attorneys’ request.&nbsp;

J&J Proposes $505 Million Settlement With Talc Suppliers

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MESOWATCH

Find out about the latest mesothelioma advocacy news and stay informed about important updates in research, treatment, and legal rights.

Advocacy

Medical and scientific experts are among the 17 new petitioners to join the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s push for judicial review of the EPA’s recent chrysolite asbestos ban. In a <a href="https://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/newsroom/blogs/release-asbestos-experts-public-health-organizations-and-firefighters-join-the-asbestos-disease-awareness-organization-in-litigation-over-epas-chrysotile-asbestos-final-rule/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">press release</a>, Linda Reinstein, co-founder and President of ADAO, stated that although the ban is a significant step toward shielding Americans from exposure to the deadly material, “it falls short of providing the comprehensive protections we deserve.”The new petitioners include 12 experts who have devoted their careers to researching the health effects of asbestos and treating patients with asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma. The experts are:<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Henry A. Anderson, MD </li>



<li>Brad Black, MD </li>



<li>Barry Castleman, ScD </li>



<li>Raja Flores, MD </li>



<li>Arthur Frank, MD, PhD </li>



<li>Phil Landrigan, MD, MSc</li>



<li>Richard Lemen, PhD, MSPH</li>



<li>Steven Markowitz, MD, DrPH</li>



<li>Jacqueline Moline, MD, MSc </li>



<li>Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH </li>



<li>Christine Oliver, MD, MPH, MSc</li>



<li>Andrea Wolf, MD, MPH</li>
</ul>The other new petitioners include the American Public Health Association and Collegium Ramazzini, which have promoted public policy based on the best available science on <a href="https://mesowatch.com/asbestos/">asbestos’s harmful properties</a>.The rest are the FealGood Foundation, a tireless advocate for emergency responders, and the Vandenberg Professional Firefighters and Fort Myer Professional Firefighters. Both emergency responders and firefighters are at risk for <a href="https://mesowatch.com/exposure/">asbestos exposure</a>. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-details-of-the-epa-asbestos-ban">Details of the EPA Asbestos Ban</h2>The EPA announced on March 18 that it would <a href="https://mesowatch.com/historic-victory-epa-seals-the-fate-of-asbestos-in-america/">start banning chrysolite</a>, the final known type of asbestos still used in the United States. Chrysotile was imported into the U.S. as recently as 2022 to produce diaphragms for making sodium hydroxide and chlorine, commonly used to disinfect wastewater and drinking water.Although the EPA action immediately banned the import of asbestos for use in the chlorine industry, it allowed six facilities to complete the switch to non-chrysolite diaphragms within five years. The agency gave a seventh plant eight years to transition, while another facility is allowed up to 12 years to make the switch. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adao-unions-and-others-want-stricter-asbestos-measures">ADAO, Unions, and Others Want Stricter Asbestos Measures</h2>In April, the ADAO and the United Steelworkers asked the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to review the EPA ban because they say it doesn’t protect workers handling <a href="https://mesowatch.com/epas-asbestos-ban-not-enough-to-end-cancer-for-workers/">existing chrysolite gaskets</a> in refineries, chemical plants, and other facilities. The ban also doesn’t address exposure to legacy asbestos such as crocidolite (riebeckite), amosite (cummingtonite-grunerite), anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite, plus richterite and winchite-asbestos. Tremolite and anthophyllite have been found in <a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/talc-asbestos/">talcum powder consumer products</a>.In addition, chrysolite imported into the USA decades ago still exists in materials used to construct buildings from the 1930s through the 1970s, some of which are still standing today. Asbestos safety advocates aren’t the only ones who want a review of the EPA ban. The American Chemistry Council and its Georgia, Ohio, and Texas affiliates filed petitions to weaken the EPA’s rule. Last month, a judicial panel consolidated all the petitions and assigned them to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana.

ADAO Gains Support in Fight for Broader EPA Asbestos Ban

New York-based firm Belluck &#038; Fox LLP is broadening its horizons by <a href="https://www.belluckfox.com/news-release-belluck-fox-llp-expands-to-new-england-with-boston-office/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">opening a Boston office,</a> announced managing partner Joseph Belluck. This move marks the firm&#8217;s first venture outside of New York and New Jersey, driven by the surge in clients seeking legal assistance for asbestos-related cases in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-mesothelioma-epidemic-in-new-england">Addressing Mesothelioma Epidemic in New England</h2><a href="https://www.belluckfox.com/attorneys/joseph-belluck/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Belluck </a>highlighted the alarming rates of mesothelioma in the region, particularly in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, where legal services are scarce. The decision to establish a presence in Boston aims to fill this void, offering unparalleled service and expertise to clients in need.As the firm&#8217;s lead in Boston, Belluck brings extensive experience and a commitment to serving asbestos victims. The new office, situated in Back Bay, will provide a vital lifeline for individuals seeking justice amidst the devastating impacts of asbestos exposure.While there are no immediate plans for further expansion, Belluck emphasized the firm&#8217;s readiness to explore new opportunities. With a team of 14 attorneys licensed across various states, including California, Florida, and Pennsylvania, Belluck &#038; Fox LLP remains agile in its mission to champion the rights of asbestos victims nationwide.Since its inception in 2002, Belluck &#038; Fox LLP has secured over $1 billion in settlements for asbestos and personal injury cases. Belluck, alongside co-founder Jordan Fox, has been at the forefront of groundbreaking legal victories, empowering victims and holding negligent corporations accountable.Reflecting on the firm&#8217;s achievements, Belluck underscored the profound impact of asbestos-related litigation on victims and their families. From securing multimillion-dollar settlements to advocating for stricter regulations, Belluck &#038; Fox LLP remains dedicated to seeking justice for those affected by corporate negligence.<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-vision-for-the-future">A Vision for the Future</h2>As Belluck assumes leadership in Boston, he remains steadfast in his commitment to upholding the firm&#8217;s legacy of excellence. With a track record of notable victories, including a $10 million settlement for a Massachusetts hospital worker and multiple successful verdicts in New York, Belluck &#038; Fox LLP continues to set the standard for legal advocacy in asbestos litigation.

Belluck & Fox LLP Expands to Boston to Tackle Asbestos Cases in New England

<a href="https://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/newsroom/blogs/linda-reinstein/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Linda Reinstein</a> lost her husband, Alan, in 2006 due to a valiant fight against mesothelioma. With their daughter and Linda by his side, Alan succumbed to the complications of his diagnosis, which was medically connected to elongated exposure to asbestos.<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
&#8220;For each life lost, a shattered family is left behind,&#8221;
</blockquote>Reinstein told Mesowatch in an exclusive interview.<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
&#8220;Mesothelioma stole my best friend, and I desperately want him back. Hundreds of thousands of other Americans feel the same way. Asbestos-caused illnesses are entirely preventable, and Alan, and the 40,000 other Americans who die each year from asbestos, did not need to die.&#8221;
</blockquote>Sometime before Alan&#8217;s passing, Linda co-founded the <a href="https://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO)</a> as an avenue for her to direct her anger and passion for her husband. <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
&#8220;We were a typical American family – trusting that our government would protect our air, water, and soil from toxins – but that’s false,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Fueled by my intense grief and anger about Alan’s mesothelioma diagnosis and that asbestos had not been banned in the USA – I knew I had to turn my anger into action – so I co-founded ADAO.&#8221;
</blockquote>Presently, 2020 is ending after an extraordinary period of adaptation that the novel COVID-19 virus pandemic caused. To make this year even more challenging, the U.S. Congress votes to indefinitely suspend debate and actions on a bill that would have banned asbestos throughout the entire country — a goal Reinstein has set her eyes on accomplishing since the death of Alan.H.R. 1603, named the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN) in honor of her husband, was killed by <a href="https://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/media?page=87" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">partisan squabbles among the Democratic and Republican members of Congress</a>.<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
&#8220;Everyone should be able to support a ban on this known carcinogen, which has no place in our consumer products or processes. More than 40,000 Americans die every year from <a href="https://mesowatch.com/exposure/">asbestos exposure</a>, but Republicans are willing to look the other way,
</blockquote>Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) said in a statement responding to the <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/519234-house-democrats-blame-gop-as-asbestos-ban-stalls" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">committee&#8217;s action to indefinitely postpone the vote on H.R. 1603.</a> In November of 2019, a bipartisan coalition of members on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce mediated their differences to draft and amend the landmark bill. H.R. 1603 advanced out of the committee with 47 votes in favor versus one lone vote in opposition to its passage.In an <a href="https://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/newsroom/blogs/adao-presidents-statement-on-the-u-s-house-of-representatives-decision-to-remove-the-alan-reinstein-ban-asbestos-now-act-arban-from-the-suspension-calendar-without-vote/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">October 2 statement</a>, Reinstein has urged Congress to revisit negotiations on H.R. 1603 due to the public health necessity to ban asbestos once and for all. Since the bipartisan consensus in Congress agrees that a ban on asbestos and a study on legacy asbestos is warranted, she hopes for responsible action to be taken.<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
&#8220;I believe in the legislative process and know that the Congress members who have worked hard on this bill for nearly two years will continue to advocate for our bill,&#8221; Reinstein said at the end of our interview. &#8220;Hundreds of thousands of families who have been affected by asbestos-related illnesses are waiting for action. All Americans remain in danger of asbestos exposure.&#8221;
</blockquote>She says her resolve is stronger than ever, too.<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
&#8220;Despite the delay, we are the closest we’ve ever been to passing a ban bill, and ARBAN is the most comprehensive bill put before Congress in 30 years,&#8221; she concluded.
</blockquote>

Advocate Says The Fight To Ban Asbestos In The United States Isn’t Over

The Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute (ADDRI) on 3rd April announced their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2ZlwDjMISs" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Annual ‘Meso March in May’</a> to mark Global Asbestos Awareness Week. The march will be organized to raise consciousness about the dangers of asbestos and raise funds to support the work of the ADRI.Australia is one of the countries which has the highest occurrence of malignant mesothelioma per unit of population. Each year at least more than 700 new cases are diagnosed every year as a result of the large-scale use of asbestos in various ranges of products. If interrupted, these asbestos-made products release asbestos fibers into the air. If a person inhales this air, it can lead to malignant mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, larynx cancer, lung cancer, benign pleural disease, and asbestosis.On 5th May, Sunday, Sandie Foreman, a 60-year-old victim of mesothelioma will be leading the supporters in Meso March in May of ADRI. It will be a circuit walk of 4.5 kilometers around Concord.Sandie hadn’t worked with any products with asbestos-containing material. She was exposed to asbestos fibers unknowingly at her workplace. In 2016, her life took a turn forever when she got diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma when an abnormal X-ray report showed a small lesion on her left lung.She said that she didn&#8217;t have any respiratory symptoms and exercise was part of her routine. She also added that she lived a somewhat healthy lifestyle and no one in her family had a history of lung cancer or any other type of cancer. She hopes that in Meso March in May, people will join her in marching for a cure. It will build greater awareness among the community about the dangers of asbestos.Director of ADRI, Professor Kan Takahashi said that in 2003 asbestos was banned across Australia. However, the statistic still shows that Australia has the world&#8217;s highest rate of mesothelioma demise per capita. <a href="http://adri.org.au/mesomarch/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">REGISTER HERE FOR ‘MESO MARCH IN MAY’:</a>

ADRI’s ‘Meso March in May’ to Support Mesothelioma Patients

The institution has warned that workers are affected due to the exposure of them not being aware of it. Factories and businesses where workers are exposed directly to asbestos are being urged to take precautionary measures to prevent their employees from getting affected due to it.A study conducted by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health found that more than 5000 deaths are being reported annually due to constant exposure to the asbestos material. As you know, it initiates cancer.Though the material was banned in the United Kingdom for more than 20 years, factories and other firms are still dealing with it on a regular basis, putting their workers at risk and harm. As of today, more than 100 companies are still using asbestos in their premises.They are also non-compliant with the regulations of the asbestos material. According to a report released in the year 1999, the material is present in more than 500, 000 buildings in and around the United Kingdom, which is alarming.The chief executive of Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Bev Messinger, will be addressing a conference in Washington DC on International Asbestos Awareness, during the month of April.Bev has said that “Though the dangerous material asbestos has been banned for more than 20 years as of now, it is still being used and handled by workers of all ages. Thus causing dangers to not only them but also others around them, which is highly unacceptable.”<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2019/03/31/asbestos-still-killing-5000-britons-year-20-years-ban/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">He also added that</a> “You can find courts fining offenders on a regular basis, which is a good thing, but those dealing with asbestos are walking scot-free without warnings or fines.” Human life is more valuable than the reputation of a commercial firm or plant.”



“The financial losses cannot be put ahead of lives when they are affected badly and eventually have to die due to mesothelioma.”
</blockquote>

Asbestos Still Kills As It Takes 30 Years For Mesothelioma to Develop

Americans hear the word &#8220;asbestos&#8221; and tend to think, &#8220;Oh, we don’t use that stuff anymore. Isn’t it illegal? I thought we got rid of it years ago!&#8221;Well, no. Though over fifty countries around the world have officially banned asbestos, the United States is not one of them. Despite evidence that no amount of exposure to asbestos is safe, industry leaders and advocates keep thwarting a ban that would help protect American citizens from <a href="https://mesowatch.com/exposure/">this deadly known carcinogen</a>.Asbestos <a href="https://mesowatch.com/15000-asbestos-deaths-per-year-in-the-united-states/">still kills up to 15,000</a> Americans every year.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Attempts at a Ban</h2>It’s not like groups haven’t tried to do something about it. The Environmental Protection Agency <a href="https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/us-federal-bans-asbestos" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">attempted to ban asbestos</a> in the 1990s, but the industry fought them in court and won based on arguments that a total ban was too costly and that alternative materials were no more safe or effective.The federal court ruled that a complete and total ban was not the least burdensome way to protect the public’s health. Unfortunately, this decision was not appealed and has created terrible precedent for a future ban of asbestos (or any other toxic material for that matter).What about legislation? Members of Congress have tried more than once to introduce a new law that would act as a ban on asbestos, but somehow the United States still lags behind most of the developed world in achieving this goal.The first time that senators introduced a bill of this sort in 2002, asbestos industry lobbyists and their Congressional cohorts blocked it. In 2007, a bill called the “Ban Asbestos in America Act” was gutted almost entirely before failing to even make it to the President’s desk for consideration.<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Current Status of Asbestos in the U.S.</h3>Of course, there are some federal regulations on asbestos, but they only ban a limited number of asbestos-containing products. The list of products still legal actually remains much longer. And the import of asbestos is also still legal too. Purportedly hundreds of thousands of pounds of it enter the US every year according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in Washington.<h4 class="wp-block-heading">How Other Countries Handle Asbestos</h4>Other notable countries who have yet to ban asbestos include Russia, India, China, and Brazil. Canada, formerly one of the biggest sources of asbestos to reach the US, recently announced a complete ban that it hopes to have fully implemented by 2018.Iceland was the first country to ban all types of asbestos in 1983. The entirety of the European Union adopted procedures to ban its use in 1999. And even several developing countries in Africa have been sensible enough to ban this hazardous material.It seems that a still-thriving trade in asbestos continues to take priority over public health for the United States. Confirming this supposition, Alex Formuzis of the EWG notes, “The fact that more than 50 nations have banned asbestos and the United States has not shows just how powerful the asbestos industry has been over the years.”<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Why a U.S. Ban is Important</h4>The failure of the US to ban asbestos and its continued import business not only puts the safety of the American public at risk, but many believe it sends a message to other nations around the world that it’s okay to continue to use and trade in asbestos.The inaction of the United States is shocking to both its citizens and outsiders.<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“It is rather unbelievable, that the country which has imported the most asbestos in the world, a country which possesses all the scientific knowledge about the hazards and human tragedy caused by asbestos, has not put an end to its use.”
</blockquote>Marc Hindry of the French National Association of Asbestos Victims based in Paris remarks,

Why Hasn’t the United States Banned Asbestos?

Mesothelioma Awareness Day was established by Meso Foundation volunteers in 2004. Since then it has been the driving force behind the movement to bring more attention and funding to this aggressive, speedy and dangerous cancer.In the last twelve years, through various activities on Mesothelioma Awareness Day, including the wearing of blue, sharing stories of Mesothelioma, and interaction with the Today Show, the Meso Foundation and its volunteers have been able to obtain proclamations by both the Senate and House, raised roughly a million dollars, received local government proclamations, and gained a great deal of media coverage for their stories, events, and activities.So, the Meso Foundation offers plenty of ways to participate in Mesothelioma Awareness Day this coming September 26, 2016. Everyone in the nation is encouraged to wear blue, especially the blue Mesothelioma Awareness shirts sold by the Meso Foundation. Share your story of Mesothelioma across social media and other online communities to bring awareness to the rest of the world. The Meso Foundation is open to hear everyone’s story on their page. Everyone is also encouraged to watch or attend the Today Show, where many will be interviewed for their stories on mesothelioma, OR also share your story with local media to bring Mesothelioma Awareness Day to the front of the line.<h2 class="wp-block-heading">LOOKING BACK AT 2015</h2>Meso Foundation volunteers gathered at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City to raise awareness at the Today Show on Mesothelioma Awareness Day last year. The Today Show interviewed Erica Iacono, Meso Foundation board member, for more detailed mesothelioma information. The Meso Foundation also hosted its New York Regional Conference on Malignant Mesothelioma at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where local and regional area experts gathered to discuss a variety of topics related to mesotheliomaFor increased awareness, last year all of those affected by this cancer, both patients and their families, friends and neighbors, were asked by the foundation to wear blue. In the same way that pink portrays awareness for breast cancer around the world, blue is intended to do the same thing for mesothelioma victims.On September 26 every year, people around the world come together to celebrate Mesothelioma Awareness Day, raising awareness about a disease that leaves tragedy in its path. An aggressive asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma kills an average of 3,000 people every year. From medical breakthroughs and in-depth exposés on treatments for asbestos victims, survivors are now living longer than ever before. We must now all come together to celebrate the advancements, remember the lost and continue to work toward finding a cure.It is never easy dealing with mesothelioma, our researchers, physicians, caregivers and survivors deserve a great deal of appreciation for their dedication to making in mesothelioma and banning asbestos. On Mesothelioma Awareness Day everyone across the country is able to take care of an amazing level of respect and awareness for all of these individuals.<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Additional Groups: Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization</h3>Mesothelioma Awareness Day is more than a single day, and for the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) it’s every day. Asbestos victims endure unfathomable pain, suffering and anger as they fight preventable diseases. ADAO has worked continuously with the undeniable power of social media and their Raise Your Voice/#ENDMeso campaign circling the globe. Working to elevate feelings of hope, unity and community, ADAO urges asbestos victims to share their stories, and support legislation that will put an end to the asbestos in our environment and support a cure for asbestos-related diseases.<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Mesothelioma Center</h4>For years now the Mesothelioma Center has been working on medical advancements in treatment of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Multimodal approach and numerous surgical techniques used by mesothelioma specialists lead to longer life expectancy. With many of the advertisements regarding the occurrence and treatment of mesothelioma hope for positive treatment is not always clear. But there is great potential for asbestos victims to receive financial assistance from employer <a href="https://mesowatch.com/lawyers/compensation/trust-funds/">trust funds</a>, along with increased awareness for both themselves and their families. Mesothelioma Awareness Day allows the entire nation to raise awareness and support scientific progression such as clinical trials and early detection.