According to recent reports, the Labor Department is racing to complete and implement a new rule that was opposed by President-elect Barack Obama regarding benzene emissions. The new rule would supposedly make it harder for the government to regulate toxic substances to which employees are exposed to while on the job.

The rule is reportedly being strongly supported by business groups and states that in assessing how risky certain substances are to the workplace, federal agencies should gather and analyze evidence of the employees’ exposure during their working lives. In many cases, the proposal would add a step to the process of developing higher standards in regards to protecting the health of workers.

Benzene Rule Details

Public health officials worry that the rule will only delay much needed protections for workers across the country, which could ultimately result in more deaths and illnesses.  The Labor Department proposal is reportedly one of 20 highly debatable rules that the Bush Administration is trying to pass during his last weeks in office. The other rules cover a wide array of topics from abortion, to auto safety and the environment.
The one regarding benzene emissions at workplaces across the country is of importance due to the harm that benzene can cause to anyone exposed over an extended duration of time. Benzene is a toxic chemical that has been linked to leukemia and other cancers. It is typically used in gasoline, dyes, synthetic rubbers, and cigarettes. If this rule is passed and workers across the country aren’t protected from benzene and other toxic chemicals, more and more people could die and become ill from diseases linked to these substances.

According to reports, the family of a deceased refinery worker recently filed a lawsuit against the worker’s former employer, Texaco. Although 14 other corporations have been named in the lawsuit, Texaco is serving as the primary defendant. The refinery worker’s life was taken at an early age due to cancer and the family claims that the cancer was wrongfully caused.

Lawsuit Details

The lawsuit was filed by plaintiffs Kelly Dial and Wesley Maida, who are the children of the deceased worker, Samuel Maida Jr. According to the suit, Samuel worked for Texaco at its Port Arthur facility for several years before the 1970’s when the risks of benzene were discovered.

Samuel was allegedly exposed to benzene, a known carcinogen, during his time at Texaco but was not warned of the risks or protected in any way. As a result, his health was jeopardized and his life was taken at any early age. The company reportedly failed to warn any of their workers of the dangers of benzene and the suit states that they were negligent and should have been aware that their products were dangerous and contained benzene.

Man Suffers from Leukemia

As a result of the benzene exposure, Samuel spent the last months of his life suffering from leukemia before it suddenly took his life. Among the other defendants named in the suit are Chevron, Dow Chemical, and PPG Industries.

Samuel’s family claims that he suffered extreme mental anguish and physical impairment before his life was taken. His family also reportedly had to pay thousands in medical expenses, suffered from loss of companionship and lost wages due to their sudden loss.

“Such Defendants have not only demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice human beings such as Samuel Maida Jr., but they have inexcusably neglected to utilize available technology and methods and neglected to develop new technology and methods to control such hazards,” claims the suit.

A teenage girl from Syracuse, New York recently lost her long battle with leukemia at the age of 15. The girl reportedly served as an inspiration to central New Yorkers who joined together to help save her life. Several members of the community joined together and donated bone marrow in attempt to prolong the girls life; however, her illness had progressed to an untreatable state and her life was taken late last week.

Leukemia Proves to be Untreatable

Eunique Darby was only a freshman at Corcoran High School when she was hospitalized for her illness. She was reportedly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was nine years old and has been treated for the cancer ever since.

While recovering from a bone marrow transplant she received at the Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York, she suddenly died. Darby’s donor match was discovered in August after doctors had to restart their search in May when problems were found with the first donor.

During her search for the right match, drivers were held to encourage the community, particularly those of African-American decent to join the Bone Marrow Donor Registry. The response was phenomenal; though despite the effort, Darby’s life was taken at a young age due to this fatal illness.

Leukemia Details

Leukemia is a form of cancer that doctors and researchers continue to study and find better treatments for. In some cases, the illness is hereditary; however, in others leukemia develops due to exposure to benzene or radiation. Treatments are available for this type of cancer, though depending upon the time of diagnosis and the body’s response to treatments and therapies, the cancer can at times be fatal.

Recent reports claim that researchers may have found a simple enzyme that could treat childhood leukemia. The discovery was made by U.S. researchers and announced worldwide earlier this week. According to the researchers, the finding could also form the basis for a new class of cancer medications. The blocking enzyme reportedly could keep an abnormal protein known as Dot1 from turning on genetic switches in babies.

These genetic switches are responsible for causing the fatal form of cancer known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

“The way that this protein causes harm is by recruiting this enzyme and turning on genes that shouldn’t be turned on,” explains Dr. Scott Armstrong of Children’s Hospital Boston, a well-known researcher whose work appears in the journal Cancer Cell.

Researcher Weighs in on New Leukemia Finding

According to Armstrong, the finding could lead to a potential new form of therapy for children, which is very hopeful. Since the enzyme could help treat ALL, researchers also believe the same could be true for other forms of cancer.

“If you turn the enzyme off, which we’ve done, the genes that shouldn’t be on are turned off,” says Armstrong.

The new findings were revealed after Armstrong and his colleagues conducted several studies on mice with this particular form of ALL. They reportedly found that the abnormal protein, known as MML-AF4, is required in conjunction with the enzyme Dot1 to make any significant changes in the cell.

A study of cell samples conducted on children with this type of leukemia reportedly suggested that these same changes could take place in human beings as well. Armstrong states that the need for this kind of treatment is especially important with this type of ALL, which only makes up 5 percent of ALL cases. However, 70 percent of these cases affect infants.

It was announced last Tuesday that ExxonMobil Corp. would be going to court in a billion-dollar lawsuit against them. The company reportedly chose its bottom line over the well-being and safety of the Maryland community and as a result, may have to pay a hefty price.

Faulty equipment from Exxon’s site allowed for a leak from a damaged fuel line in 2006 for more than a month. As a result, 25,000 gallons of contaminated wells, including deadly toxins like benzene, were emitted putting hundreds of locals at risk.

Exxon Under Fire for Benzene Exposure

“Exxon was on notice it had problems with the line leak detector … and they did nothing. It’s not like they didn’t have the economic wherewithal to do something,” Stephen L. Snyder Snyder told jurors in his opening statement in Baltimore County Circuit Court. “This was a corporation that knowingly or deliberately left in an unreliable piece of equipment.”

According to reports, an estimated 150 observers, many of them plaintiffs, packed the Jacksonville courthouse nearly an hour before the trail began. Snyder stands to represent them all and has supposedly asked all of them not to speak to reporters regarding the trial.

Company Accused of Breaking the Law

The documents which Snyder as presented to the jury thus far reportedly detail how Exxon knowingly went against the law and the good of the people, acting with negligence. As early as 1998, Exxon officials reportedly knew that the line leak detectors were outdated which could make for potential problems, though they failed to do anything.

Even though a majority of children living with leukemia and other fatal forms of cancers are typically treated successfully these days, 30 to 40 percent are suffering long-term damage. According to the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation, children who have successful gone through cancer treatments often suffer neurocognitive problems.

Dr. Wendi Hirsch, the child psychologist at the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children has done extensive research with colleagues at the hospital on the subject of leukemia and children. Hirsch says the impact of chemotherapy and radiation on the cognitive abilities of children can be harsher and take longer to get over in comparison to adults. However, she also says that this has only been realized in the past few years and therefore more research could bring about the fast development of stronger treatments.

“Unfortunately, the advance in chemotherapy agents is killing some of the good brain cells as well as those they’re trying to kill,” explains Dr. Hirsch.

Foundation to Help Fund Research

Dr. Hirsch is also working with a foundation that is bringing one of the nation’s most reputable researchers, Dr. Danny Armstrong, together in conjunction with the NFL Charities to help increase awareness of these types of problems.

Dr. Armstrong is the professor of pediatrics and psychology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and directs the Mailman Center for Child Development. He is also currently working with the national Cancer Institute’s Children’s Oncology Group on a study of neurocognitive outcomes in children receiving treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia.

In addition to leading a discussion and hosting a dinner in honor of leukemia research this week, Armstrong will also be meeting with the Hawaii Medical Service Association. They will reportedly been discussing the need for early testing for children and the need for neurocognitive therapy for children who receive chemotherapy.

A recent study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) analyzed the effects of benzene exposure at Hanford in Washington as well as at other nuclear sites. Researchers reportedly found that nuclear defense site workers who are exposed to low levels of radiation have an increased risk of dying from leukemia later on in life.

The study took a detailed look at the doses of radiation that the average worker at a nuclear site might be exposed over a lifetime of work. According to the NIOSH previous studies have looked at the link between exposure and leukemia and found a relationship between the fatal cancer and high levels of radiation exposure. In the U.S., 71 out of 10,000 men are expected to die from leukemia. For workers exposed to three rem of radiation in their places of work, the risk of dying from leukemia increased to 77 men out of 10,000.

“We emphasize that if workers are exposed to three rem the risk is very low,” explains Mary Schubauer-Berigan, a NIOSH epidemiologist.

Details of Leukemia Research

Researchers looked at workers who are exposed to more than one rem of radiation. These exposed workers chances of dying from leukemia were then compared to workers exposed to less than one rem. The Department of Energy limits supposedly limits radiation exposure to 5 rem per year; however, during practice tests radiation exposure is controlled to less than 0.5 rem per year.

The study looked specifically at five federal sites: Hanford, Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.

Students throughout the Hudson Valley in the state of New York, helped raise a reported $5.8 million at the 14^th-annual Pasta for Pennies program. The annual program was put on by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and the amount raised this year to support leukemia research is said to have broken records.

More than 13,100 students in 17 local elementary, middle and high schools did their part to raise $37,094, which will go towards leukemia research. The money raised by these pro-active students will also help provide critical services to cancer patients and the families of those living and suffering from leukemia. During a three-week time period, students filled collection jars with pocket change, with the classroom who was able to raise the most eligible for an Olive Garden pasta party.

“We are so proud of the enthusiasm and support these students passionately bring to the Olive Garden Pasta for Pennies program each year,” Dave Pickens, company president told reporters. “Their generous efforts continue to make a significant impact in their communities and a difference in the lives of families throughout the nation.”

Among the schools involved were:

• Minisink Valley Intermediate School in Middletown with $4,991.75
• Valley Central Middle School in Montgomery with $4,724.29
• Valley Central Middle School in Montgomery with $4,724

Loose Change for a Good Cause

Since its beginning, Olive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies has raised more than $42 million for LLS and has made a huge impact in fighting preleukemia, also known as MDS, and leukemia, both fatal forms of cancer. LLS is headquartered in White Plains, New York, and is considered to be the world’s largest voluntary health organization. The organization is committed to funding research for leukemia and since its development in 1949, has invested more than $600 million for leukemia research specifically.

“The money raised by our students, parents, teachers and school administrators throughOlive Garden’s Pasta for Pennies will help us continue to make advances in the search for cures and provide hope and support to patients and their families,” explains Barbara Gallagher, campaign manager of the LLS Westchester/Hudson Valley Chapter. “We are inspired by the outpouring of compassion and commitment to our mission and thank all student participants and Olive Garden for another great campaign.”

Finding a Cure

Leukemia, along with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are all fatal forms of cancer that originate within the bone marrow or, in some cases, the lymphatic tissues. The illnesses are considered to all be related due to the fact that they all involve the uncontrolled growth of blood cells. When the erratic production of blood cells interferes with the body’s production of healthy blood cells, health complications arise. Although a cure for leukemia and these other types of cancers has not yet been found, organizations like the LLS, with the help of doctors and researchers, are doing their part to contribute to leukemia research and rid the world of these life-threatening diseases.

If you or someone you know is living with leukemia or a related-illness, please contact us today to speak with one of our trustworthy and experienced attorney’s who will ensure that you and your loved ones are getting the legal support and guidance you deserve.

A London Telegraph article recently reported that scientists have found that regular exposure to a cat or dog can reduce the risk of developing non-Hodgkins Lymphoma ( NHL ).  NHL is a  cancer that affects the lymphatic system, the process by which infection-fighting white blood cells are carried thoughout the body.

Researchers who did the study believe that the presence of the dogs or cats helps boost the immune system which in turn offers more protection against the cancer.  In Britain the disease affects about 10,000 people each year, most commonly in those who have a weak immune system.

More than 4,000 patients were analyzed by scientists at Stanford University and the University of California.  About half those patients had non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

The findings, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, shows that those who owned animals were almost 30 per cent less likely to develop the cancer than those without pets.

The longer they had kept pets, the greater their protection against the disease appeared to be, according to the study.

The greatest occurrence of NHL is in adults, with those over 50 more at risk.  Symptoms can include a swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin, a fever, especially at night, and weight loss and tiredness.  From the lymph nodes the cancer cells can spread through the bloodstream to any other part of the body including the brain, bowel, stomach and bones.

According to recent reports, a lymphoma treatment was recently developed by Biogen Idec that is showing promise of being effective in those who are suffering from leukemia. The combination therapy has been tested in late-stage human clinical trials and researchers are hopeful that this could be the breakthrough they’ve been waiting for.

The treatment involves Rituxan, a drug that was first approved by the FDA in 1997, combined with two chemotherapy medications. Testing showed that this combination therapy was much more effective in patients than chemotherapy alone.

Causes of Leukemia

Leukemia is an illness that afflicts thousands of people yearly in America and is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow. This form of cancer is typically caused by an irregular production of blood cells in the body.

Although leukemia can inflict children at a young age whose red and white blood cells reproduce sporadically, the illness is commonly caused by exposure to benzene as well. Benzene is a toxic chemical that can be found in gasoline, certain rubbers, and dyes.

Rituxan Details

Rituxan was originally approved as a treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma until it was realized that the medication could be useful as a treatment for lymphoma. The medication has also been approved to treat those living with rheumatoid arthritis.

Biogen Idec is based out of Cambridge, Massachusetts and is partnering with California-based Genetech to begin marketing the drug.