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New Test for Cancer Diagnoses Shows Promise

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Currently, tests to determine if there are cancer cells in a person take at least a week before getting results, but a new test for cancer diagnoses shows promise with results seen in ten minutes.

What is this test?

This test is based on a discovery by researchers at the University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN). What they discovered is a one-of-a-kind DNA signature that seems to be common to all types of cancer. They found this unique DNA in intense clusters of methyl groups in certain locations.

One of the researchers at AIBN, Professor Matt Trau, explained, “Virtually every piece of cancerous DNA we examined had this highly predictable pattern. It seems to be a general feature for all cancer. It’s a startling discovery.” This discovery was followed by another showing that when these methyl clusters are inserted into a solution, the cancer DNA pieces fold into 3-dimensional nanostructures and, at that point, can stick to gold.

Once researchers found this, they created a test using gold nanoparticles that change color if 3D nanostructures of cancer DNA are present. “This happens in one drop of fluid. You can detect it by eye, it’s as simple as that,” revealed Professor Trau. This is basically the same technology as using strip indicators to test for pregnancy.

Cancer diagnoses benefits found so far:

• Works on all types of cancers tested to date
• Simple – no complicated and expensive lab equipment needed
• Fast – results in 10 minutes
• Portable – eventually could test via mobile phone
• Accuracy – as high as 90% in some cancers

Is there a downside?

This test is new. It is not perfect. Will it give too many false positive diagnoses? Does it truly identify all types of cancer – or were researchers just fortunate in which ones were tested? Only time will tell, but the future appears to be very promising.

What is the future?

This technology was tested on 200 samples using cells from various types of cancers as well as healthy cells, but a great deal more testing is needed before this is generally accepted and available.

The simplicity and affordability of this test could mean life or death for many. Researchers tested their discovery on multiple types of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma – all with good results. Hopefully it will soon be tested on asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma as a quick diagnosis could accelerate treatment.

Dr. Abu Sina, an AIBN researcher, said, ”It works for tissue derived genomic DNA and blood derived circulating free DNA. This new discovery could be a game-changer in the field of point of care cancer diagnostics.” That is the hope for all and a research worth watching.

Mesothelioma Awareness Day and ADAO, the Group that Started it All

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The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, ADAO, was the group that started it all. It began in 2004 when two people, Doug Larkin and Linda Reinstein, who had loved ones suffering from mesothelioma saw a need and worked to find a way to stop this deadly disease. They found it through the ADAO as they began spreading the message about asbestos and mesothelioma.

Today is Mesothelioma Awareness Day, started by ADAO, and a perfect time to look at this amazing organization that makes fighting for past, current, and future victims of asbestos its goal.

The journey

Caring for, and watching their family members die, put the founders in contact with others going through the same painful journey – a journey that could be prevented for the generations to come if the mineral at the heart of it all could be banned. Fourteen years later, it is still not banned in the United States, but is in many parts of the world.

This group started slowly but gathered momentum as other victims and their family members learned of its existence. Today, thanks to people from all walks of life: patients, caregivers, and a host of donors and volunteers, the ADAO boasts a network of over 50,000 people who share in this quest to eradicate mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases from the world.

More than a ban

While the ADAO does strive for a ban, their mission goes beyond that with three initiatives: education, advocacy, and community.

Education

The ADAO has gathered a built an extensive library that is shared throughout the globe, along with a website brimming with information about asbestos and what you can do. There are speakers at conferences and events around the world presenting opportunities to interact and share information with others on similar missions. Each year, the ADAO hosts its own conference, the International Asbestos Awareness Conference where the latest information on the status of prevention and treatments is shared. In 2019, the conference will be in Washington, D.C. on April 5-7.

Advocacy

Since 2004, the ADAO has presented 13 staff briefings for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. They’ve created and sponsored a bill, the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, that is supported by both the House and the Senate. This bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finally – and permanently – remove the possibility of all human or environmental asbestos exposure.

Community

Caring for someone suffering from mesothelioma is an isolating experience. Linda Reinstein experienced that as she cared for her husband and knew it was an important part of the ADAO mission to support those with the disease and those caring for them. There are groups throughout social media to provide contacts and support without leaving home, there are campaigns, like “Share Your Story” and “6 Word Quotes” that educate about the dangers of asbestos and unite those living with the aftermath of exposure.

The fight continues

Until asbestos is banned throughout the world and there is no one suffering any longer from this disease, the ADAO will continue to fight to educate, support, and bring the issues of exposure to those in government who can make a difference.

You can sign a petition to the EPA for a final ban on asbestos, follow the ADAO on Facebook and Twitter, and get their eNewsletter – all ways to stay informed.

On September 26th We Remember Asbestos Victims and Push Forward for a Ban

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The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) takes asbestos exposure seriously as they have heard the stories of thousands who have died, and so each year on September 26th they remember asbestos victims and push forward for a ban on this deadly mineral.

While many countries around the world have banned the use and import of asbestos, it is still legal in the United States. It is proven to be a cancer-causing substance for those exposed as there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma Awareness Day

This year the ADAO has moved from a Mesothelioma Awareness Day on September 26th to proclaiming September a Mesothelioma Awareness Month to increase the reach to people that can be educated to the threat of asbestos use and the need for caution when working with any material that may contain asbestos.

How can we remember asbestos victims and push forward for a ban?

• Right now you can sign a petition to ban asbestos. By clicking this link, you’ll be directed to a page where you can sign. The more legislators who see the interest of citizens for a ban, the more they can push the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase the current rules, recognize the dangers, and get to the point of an outright ban.

• Join the chat on Twitter September 26th, from 12-1 PM ET. Go to #ENDMeso – for that hour, you’ll find questions about asbestos awareness as well as comments from people personally affected by asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, a deadly disease directly connected to exposure. The purpose is to create a global conversation between experts, victims, advocates, and anyone concerned about the dangers and the long delay in stopping the use of asbestos in the US.

• Light a candle on September 26th for the Mesothelioma Warriors lost to the disease and those who continue to fight for their lives.

• Participate in the 9th Annual Miles for Meso 5K Race and 3K Walk/Fun-Run. Last year $30,000 was raised to help fund awareness and education efforts. The race in in Alton, Illinois, but is available to anyone through the ADAO’s Virtual Team where you can join in from the front of your computer.

The urgency of a ban

Mesothelioma is a disease that often takes decades to appear after exposure. It currently has no cure. Because of the long lag between exposure and diagnosis, people exposed today may not develop the disease until 2050! This cycle needs to stop now and asbestos must be banned to stop it.

In addition to the steps you can take outlined above, you can donate to the ADAO as a partner in the fight for a ban. You can directly contact the EPA and your legislators. You can be an advocate for the health of many by adding your voice to stop the import and use of asbestos now.

Asbestos Found in Playskool Crayons

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When thinking of asbestos exposure, building materials may come to mind first, but now tests show asbestos found in Playskool crayons sold at Dollar Tree.

It appeared that the asbestos found in many brands of crayon in 2015 had been remedied, but this brand still tests positive. Kara Cook-Schultz, toxics director at U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), revealed, “The good news is that when we were testing three years ago, all sorts of brands came back with asbestos. Now it’s just this one.”

Though there were trace amounts found, there is no safe level of asbestos. Children tend to put crayons in their mouths and could breathe fibers transferred to the coloring surface. These fibers can cause breathing problems and even cancer – though these would be discovered years or decades in the future.

While Dollar Tree maintains that independent testing of all their products for children showed they met all legal and safety standards, Hasbro, owner of Playskool, said they will investigate the claim and will work alongside Leap Year that licenses the products.

While U.S. PIRG found the majority of products tested were free of toxins this year, there were some, in addition to the Playskool crayons, that parents and teachers should avoid as they prepare for back to school.

Children’s products to avoid:

Asbestos found in Playskool crayons is not the only asbestos exposure to children

• Blue three-ring binders made by Jot and sold at Dollar Tree tested positive for phthalates, a substance linked with asthma, obesity and lower-IQ scores, for instance.

• Dry erase markers made by Expo and The Board Dudes tested positive for carcinogenic BTEX chemicals, such as benzene, xylene, and toluene.

• Additionally, two types of children’s water bottles were previously recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for containing lead — Reduce Hydro Pro Furry Friends water bottle, sold at Costco and Amazon, and GSI Outdoors Children’s Water Bottles, sold at L.L. Bean. Despite the recall, a CBS New reporter was able to order the Hydro Pro Furry Friends product from Costco online.

The good news

By knowing this information, you can buy clean brands with confidence. In the case of crayons – Crayola, Rose Art, Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Crayons, Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and other brands were declared safe.

Failure to Ban Asbestos Remains a Global Problem

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As of 2018, the failure to ban asbestos remains a global problem that will plague the world for many decades to come. Though 66 countries have banned asbestos because of its proven health risk, there are still many that have not. In fact, half of the G20 countries still mine or use asbestos. The G20 countries comprise the 20 top countries contributing to the global economy. Almost two-thirds of the world population lives in these countries, producing four-fifths of the gross world products and three-quarters of global trade. G20 countries that have not banned asbestos include the United States and our North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico.

Asbestos regulations in the US, Canada, and Mexico

USA

Though there are some limitations, the United States has not banned the use of asbestos. In 1918 a report on diseases from asbestos exposure was published. Through the following decades additional research documented the impact on health. Yet, the 1960s through the 1970s saw widespread use of asbestos in everything from ships, to multiple construction applications, to brake linings, to any industry using high heat processes – even in baby powder.

Efforts to ban the mineral have been ongoing for many years. In 1970 the Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed outlining guidelines for use. In 1971, OSHA issued the first regulation for general industry. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) first recommended a ban on asbestos in the workplace in 1976. Other partial bans were put in place in the decades since, but many asbestos-containing products are still allowed in US markets. The 2016 revised Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) provided some hope that a ban could come, but only time will tell.

As a consequence of these prior – and current – exposures, 12,000-15,000 Americans continue to die each year due to mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Other deaths occur due to various cancers of the larynx, ovary, and complications from non-malignant asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos-caused diseases are preventable. Science has proven that all levels of any type of asbestos can be deadly. A strategy to prevent further exposures through a complete ban on all manufacture, import, and use of asbestos has been proven effective. There is no logical reason to delay a ban.

CANADA

The Canadian government has promised a comprehensive ban on the mineral this year. Two health agencies, Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, sponsored the Prohibition of Asbestos and Asbestos Products Regulations that would prohibit the import, use, and sale of asbestos and products containing it. However, there are anti-asbestos champions that say these regulations would have too many exemptions and would not cover asbestos-containing products produced and installed before the regulations take effect.

Canada had one of the largest asbestos mines in the world from the 1870s until its closure in 2011. Throughout the decades, government agencies supported this highly profitable industry despite hard evidence of the health risks. Gabriel Miller, vice-president of public issues for the Canadian Cancer Society, explained the change in direction, “What a ban says is: We admit, all asbestos causes deadly cancers, and it comes in no safe form. And ending the denial and the delay that’s defined our approach to asbestos in Canada is the first step to healing the scars of this substance.”

MEXICO

Mexican companies use asbestos in many products – roofing, boilers, pipes, brakes, and wires are a few of the products produced by over 2,000 Mexican companies. Mexico, along with China and India, leads the asbestos market for developing countries. The material is cheap and versatile, and therefore appealing to these countries in spite of the proven health hazards. Because of this growing market, experts predict deaths from asbestos may reach ten million worldwide by 2030 and thousands of those will come from Mexico.

The Mexican Social Security Institute oversees public health under the federal Secretariat of Health. A physician and researcher with the institute, Dr. Guadalupe Aguilar Madrid, asserts the weak worker protection laws permitted these dangerous conditions to continue. “The epidemic can grow like it grew in the countries that started to work with asbestos after the Second World War.” She predicts the death toll from asbestos-related diseases will rise from 1,500 currently to approximately 5,000 annually and will continue to rise without a total ban of asbestos. While any asbestos-caused cancer can be deadly, that is especially so with mesothelioma. Yet, health experts estimate only 29% of mesothelioma deaths are reported.

Aguilar points to an asbestos trade association, the Instituto Mexicano de Fibro Industrias (IMFI) as the lead in opposing restrictions or a ban on asbestos. The founder and president of this group, Luis Cejudo Alva, proclaimed, “Why does this lady [Aguilar] say that the dust that comes from the asbestos sheets kills people? It is only dust . . . These sheets are an answer for people’s needs.” The IMFI and the Mexican government are in close agreement, meaning an asbestos ban in Mexico is not seen for the foreseeable future. Despite all the scientific proof of the deadly consequences of asbestos exposure, Mexico works hand-in-hand with Russia to not only keep asbestos in their respective countries, but to encourage other countries to continue its use as well. To disguise the continued use of asbestos, the word “asbestos” is no longer used. It is now the “fibre industry” making “fibre-cement” products, but this fibre industry will kill Mexican citizens for many decades to come.

North America’s failure to ban asbestos

While the three North American countries could have been world leaders in the abolishment of asbestos, they are instead responsible for the painful deaths of thousands of their citizens and citizens throughout the world who received imported asbestos products or exported them to North America.

Asbestos-related diseases are totally preventable, but with the long delay between exposure and diagnosis, it is imperative to ban these products immediately. They are embedded in the fabric of our lives and it will take a concentrated effort to remove those already installed and stop – completely – any further mining or use. That day seems very distant, but it is important that we citizens speak up to our governments and let them know we understand the dangers from their failure to ban asbestos.

In the US, contact your congressional representatives and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and let responsible parties know a ban is necessary. Clean up, North America.