Tag Archives: California

Outdoor Recreation Could Pose Mesothelioma Risk in California

Outdoor enthusiasts are being warned to steer clear of the trails around abandoned gold mines in California’s Sierra Nevada foothills, or risk mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases. A study by The Sierra Fund (TSF) says mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders in these areas could be in danger of serious health hazards including mesothelioma because of high levels of toxic minerals in the soil around the old mines.  The study, called The Gold Country Recreational Trails and Abandoned Mines Assessment, found many of these public lands to be contaminated with lead, arsenic and asbestos. According to Elizabeth Martin, CEO of The Sierra Fund, “More than 100 years after the end of the Gold Rush era, the environmental, cultural and health impacts of that … Continue reading Outdoor Recreation Could Pose Mesothelioma Risk in California »

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Risk for California Teens

Three California executives responsible for helping at-risk teenagers gain job skills have been charged with putting those teens at risk for asbestos related diseases including mesothelioma cancer. The executives ran a now-closed non-profit agency in Merced called Firm Build.  According to the Merced County District Attorney’s Office, between 2005 and 2006, a group of teens being trained in construction by Firm Build were sent to remove asbestos from old buildings without adequate protection.  The Silicon Valley Mercury News reports that the teens had to remove the asbestos-containing products using only paper face masks and hard hats. The mineral asbestos, still prevalent as an insulator and building product in thousands of older structures, is known to cause mesothelioma, as well as asbestosis, lung … Continue reading Mesothelioma and Asbestos Risk for California Teens »