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Fungus-Derived Compounds Show Promise Against Mesothelioma

Amy Edel — Fri, 29 May 2026 02:47:26 +0000

Researchers in Japan have identified new chemical compounds derived from a fungus that showed the ability to kill mesothelioma cells in laboratory testing. The findings, published this month in the Journal of Antibiotics, are early-stage but add to a growing body of research exploring natural sources for new mesothelioma treatments.

The compounds, named paramyfurans A and B and paramylactone, were extracted from a fungal strain called Paramyrothecium sp. BF-1049. None have been tested in animals or humans. They’re not treatments. But the laboratory results were notable enough to warrant attention from the mesothelioma research community.

Key Facts

The 3 novel compounds were isolated from a fungal strain and tested against 3 mesothelioma cell lines in a laboratory setting.
All 3 compounds showed cytotoxic activity, meaning they killed or inhibited mesothelioma cells, at very low concentrations (ranging from 0.68 to 19.86 micromolar), indicating they’re potent even in tiny amounts. Micromolar amounts are about one part in a million, like a single red M&M mixed into a million blue ones.
The compounds were tested against different lab-grown mesothelioma cells (NCI-H2452, NCI-H2052 and Y-MESO-27 cell lines) to see if the compounds work broadly or only on a specific cell type.
The research hasn’t advanced to animal or human trials yet.
This research doesn’t change current mesothelioma treatment options, but it represents a meaningful early step in identifying new drug candidates.

We asked Dr. Jeffrey Velotta, thoracic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center and mesothelioma expert, about his take on the study. He told us, “I think it’s great to harbor biological organic compounds from fungus to treat mesothelioma cell lines. This looks promising. However, before we get too excited, we’ll have to see how this compound does in animal models to see if it works in vivo, and not just in vitro.”

For patients, the most important context is this: Laboratory cell line results are the first step in a long process. Most compounds that show activity in a lab dish never become treatments. But researchers need that first step, and this study clears it.

Why Mesothelioma Researchers Are Interested in Fungi

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that’s resistant to many standard treatments, so experts are actively seeking effective options. Researchers continue to screen fungal strains and other natural organisms because their chemistry can be complex and novel in ways that synthetic approaches don’t always replicate.

Natural products, compounds derived from plants, fungi and marine organisms have a long history in cancer drug development. Several chemotherapy drugs currently in use, including some used to treat mesothelioma, trace their origins to natural sources.

Paramyrothecium sp. BF-1049 hadn’t previously been identified as a source of anti-mesothelioma compounds. The study expands the known range of fungal metabolites with potential anticancer activity.

What the Researchers Found

The researchers isolated each of the 3 compounds from the broth of the fungi using standard techniques. The structures of each of the compounds were confirmed using NMR spectroscopy.

Each of the compounds was tested against 3 different lines of mesothelioma cells grown in the laboratory. The potency of each compound was determined through the concentration of the compound that killed half of the cancer cells grown in a dish, known as its IC50 value.

Lower IC50 values indicate a compound was more potent than compounds with higher IC50 values. The potency of each of the 3 compounds was found to be between 0.68 and 19.86 micromolar. This result is comparable to or better than the bioactive compound abscisic acid (a naturally occurring plant hormone), which was tested as a control or benchmark for these experiments.

What These Compounds Are

Paramyfurans A and B are compounds with a specific chemical structure that belong to a family of compounds (2-benzylfuran derivatives) of particular interest to scientists because they’ve previously been observed to have biological activity in other research. This means they can interact with living systems, for example, affecting cells or biochemical processes in a way that could be useful for medical applications or understanding how nature works.

Paramylactone is another type of compound found naturally in certain plants and fungi. It’s part of a group (dihydrocoumarins) that’s often explored for its potential health benefits. Additionally, paramylactone consists of 2 slightly different versions. While they have the same chemical makeup and are shaped almost identically, they’re mirror images of each other, just like your left hand is a mirror image of your right hand, but you can’t perfectly stack one on top of the other.

These unique mirror-image forms are called enantiomers. Even though they seem so similar, living systems (like our bodies) can often tell the difference between these mirror images. One form might be active and helpful, while the other could be inactive or even have different or harmful effects. Because of this, researchers carefully separated these 2 enantiomers and tested each one individually to understand their specific actions.

What Patients Should Know

The study’s findings don’t affect treatment decisions today. No clinical trials are underway for these compounds. They’re not available outside a research laboratory.

What the study does do is expand the list of potential drug candidates that researchers can study further. Dr. Velotta noted,“The more biological organic compounds that we can find that have “anti-cancer” activity, that is a great thing!”

The next steps would typically include testing in animal models and then include early-phase human trials if results remain promising. That process takes years.

Patients interested in emerging treatment research can ask their mesothelioma specialist about clinical trials that may be enrolling. A mesothelioma specialist or Patient Advocate can help identify options that are currently available and may be a fit.

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Advocates Hail Industry’s Drop of Key Asbestos Ban Challenge

Amy Edel — Tue, 26 May 2026 03:24:21 +0000

The American Chemistry Council and allied industry groups have withdrawn a major part of their legal challenge against a landmark federal asbestos ban. In a filing with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the industry told the court it won’t argue that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s asbestos risk evaluation overestimates risk. The groups also said they don’t plan to present oral arguments on that issue when the Fifth Circuit hears the case on June 1.

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization called the move a significant milestone. Manufacturer and distributor of chemical products and ammunition Olin Corporation withdrew a similar petition challenging the EPA’s chrysotile asbestos ban earlier in May.

Linda Reinstein, president and co-founder of ADAO, spoke with us about these withdrawals and indicated this signals an important shift. She shared, “When the American Chemistry Council stops arguing that asbestos science is wrong, that’s not a small thing. It means the evidence is too strong to fight.”

We also spoke with Dr. Shannon Fitzgerald, a toxicologist and pharmacist who consults on pharmaceutical and environmental science. She told us she doesn’t see the industry’s retreat on this point as surprising “with every major global health, medical and scientific authority unanimously agreeing that all forms of asbestos are highly toxic and carcinogenic, particularly to vulnerable populations.”

What’s Still at Stake at the Fifth Circuit

As Reinstein cautioned, “This is progress, but it isn’t victory. The rule is still under attack and 40,000 Americans will die from asbestos-related diseases this year.”

Dr. Fitzgerald added that the chemical industry’s attempt to frame the EPA’s approach as a “worst-case assumption” was really just a necessary safety baseline required to protect human health under real-world conditions. She noted it was therefore legally and scientifically prudent to withdraw.

The ACC and its allies still plan to argue in court that the EPA went too far in banning chrysotile asbestos at chemical plants. The June 1 oral argument before the Fifth Circuit remains a critical moment in the battle over the future of asbestos use in the U.S.

The Fifth Circuit is the same court that struck down the EPA’s 1989 asbestos ban, a decision that allowed asbestos use to continue in the U.S. for decades. ADAO attorney and former EPA senior official Robert Sussman says the withdrawal is meaningful, but warns the rule remains under attack and the legal fight isn’t over.

Advocates Continue the Fight for a Total Asbestos Ban

Chrysotile asbestos remains the only form of asbestos still in commercial use in the United States. The EPA’s chrysotile rule, finalized in March 2024, was the first federal ban on a form of asbestos in more than 30 years. It phased out 6 recognized uses of chrysotile and blocked the chlor-alkali industry from importing it, but ADAO has pointed to serious gaps.

The organization says the phase-out periods of up to 12 years for some producers and lack of protections for auto mechanics or industrial workers handling existing asbestos parts leaves people at risk of asbestos exposure.

“Dropping one argument doesn’t protect a single family,” Reinstein noted. “We won’t stop until there’s a full ban and every American is protected.”

ADAO continues to push for a complete federal ban on all 6 asbestos fiber types through the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, a bipartisan bill that aims to close the gaps the current rule leaves open. “The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act exists because partial rules leave people behind,” Reinstein said. “We need a complete ban on all 6 fiber types, not a phase-out with loopholes.”

Dr. Fitzgerald shared that the dual withdrawals from Olin Corporation and the ACC mark a significant shift. “With the industry coalition losing its biggest corporate member, Olin Corporation, and its strongest scientific argument within the same month, the pressure to drop the remainder of the lawsuit is surely weighing heavily. For those public health advocates and environmental groups in favor of eliminating chrysotile asbestos from the United States, these are hopeful times.”

Every step toward a stronger asbestos ban is personal for families dealing with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. With these major industry withdrawals in a single month, advocates say the momentum is real and they don’t plan to let it slow down. ADAO is also pursuing a separate lawsuit against the EPA over a missed deadline to address the public health threat of legacy asbestos in homes, schools and worksites across the country.

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$10.2M Talc Verdict Names Maker of Target, Walmart Store Brands

Amy Edel — Tue, 26 May 2026 01:08:07 +0000

A Minnesota couple has won $10.2 million after a jury found that decades of exposure to asbestos-contaminated talc products caused the husband’s mesothelioma diagnosis. The verdict is believed to be the second-highest mesothelioma-related personal injury award in Minnesota history.

The defendants manufactured talc products under some of the country’s most recognizable brand names. The jury found the following companies responsible: Vi-Jon LLC, maker of Walgreens, Walmart’s Equate and Target’s Up and Up products; Sanofi, maker of Gold Bond; Merck, maker of Dr. Scholl’s; Johnson & Johnson; and Perrigo Co. of Tennessee. All were found to have made their products in a “defective and unreasonably dangerous condition” and to have failed to warn consumers.

Doctors diagnosed Daniel Heyer with mesothelioma in late 2024, when he was 43 years old. He testified at trial but is now on oxygen and confined to a wheelchair. He and his wife Nicole have four daughters between the ages of 7 and 15.

Heyer’s attorneys say he inhaled asbestos fibers from contaminated baby powder, body powder and foot powder throughout his childhood and adulthood. Medical and scientific research flagging dangers tied to these products goes back to 1924. Evidence at trial showed Vi-Jon didn’t investigate or test its products for asbestos, even after receiving repeated warnings.

The Link Between Talc Products and Mesothelioma

Talc and asbestos are both naturally occurring minerals. When mining for talc, asbestos fibers can become mixed in, contaminating the finished talc product. People who used talc-based powders regularly could have experienced decades of asbestos exposure.

As Karen Selby, RN and Patient Advocate tells us: “Unfortunately, the talc mined to be put in these products came from the same mines that asbestos came from. And oftentimes, the companies were not doing their quality assurance properly, and a lot of the talc and products were contaminated with asbestos. If you’re using powder every day and getting small doses of talc that may be contaminated with asbestos, over time, that can be a health hazard.”

While most people think of occupational asbestos exposure, contaminated talc also causes mesothelioma Dr. Jacques Fontaine, director of the Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Center at Moffitt Cancer Center, tells us. He adds, “That mesothelioma may not just be in the lining around the lung. It may be peritoneal mesothelioma, it could be other forms of mesothelioma.” Because mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 60 years, people diagnosed today were often exposed decades ago.

“This family is going through pain almost no one can understand and that did not need to happen,” said Shaina Weissman, an attorney for the plaintiff. “The jury in this case recognized that and acted accordingly.”

What the Heyer Verdict Means for People Exposed to Asbestos-Contaminated Talc

The Heyer verdict is part of a broader shift in asbestos litigation. In 2025 alone, talc lawsuit filings surged 47%, and 40% of all mesothelioma filings now include a talc exposure claim. As KCIC’s latest annual report shows, the people driving that growth don’t fit the traditional profile of an asbestos plaintiff.

As Jose Becerra, mesothelioma lawyer and partner at Ferraro Law Firm, tells us: “Lately, we’re also seeing an influx of cases involving just regular people who have no traditional occupational exposure to asbestos, who are primarily exposed in their homes using cosmetic products that contain talc or talcum powder products. We now know that many of these products that contain talc as an ingredient, unfortunately, are contaminated with asbestos.”

Heyer’s attorneys say the verdict sent a clear message about corporate accountability. “This is an important statement in Minnesota against companies that take our neighbors’ health lightly,” said Chad Alexander, co-counsel for the Heyers.For people diagnosed with mesothelioma linked to talc exposure, verdicts like this shape what compensation looks like and put pressure on companies and insurers to settle claims fairly. Anyone who suspects a history of talc exposure, or has already been diagnosed, can connect with a Patient Advocate for free help understanding their options.

For people diagnosed with mesothelioma linked to talc exposure, verdicts like this shape what compensation looks like and put pressure on companies and insurers to settle claims fairly. Anyone who suspects a history of talc exposure, or has already been diagnosed, can connect with a Patient Advocate for free help learning more about their options for compensation for diagnosis-related expenses.

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Asbestos-Linked Lung Cancer Claims Hit a Record High

Travis Rodgers — Thu, 21 May 2026 13:53:48 +0000

Asbestos lung cancer lawsuit filings have hit their highest level ever recorded, according to KCIC’s newly released 2025 Asbestos Litigation Year in Review. The report states 1,714 lung cancer lawsuits were filed in 2025. That’s a 48% increase in lung cancer filings from 10 years ago when 1,156 lung cancer lawsuits were filed in the U.S., according to KCIC’s review of 2015.

Filings of asbestos lung cancer lawsuits have been increasing steadily year over year. While mesothelioma lawsuits dipped 16% from 2019 to 2021 during the pandemic, during that same period lung cancer cases actually increased 9% from 2019 to 2021. Lung cancer filings rose 10% from 1,364 in 2019 to 1,507 in 2020 and there was a slight dip of 1% from 1,507 in 2020 to 1,491 in 2021.

Lung cancer is the most common asbestos-related disease. But asbestos lawsuits related to lung cancer cases don’t always get the same media attention mesothelioma or ovarian cancer lawsuits do. That gap in coverage doesn’t reflect what’s happening in courtrooms across the country. But it could mean not all people diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancer are aware of their legal options. Compensation from lawsuits can help cover treatment and other diagnosis-related expenses.

Lung Cancer’s Share of Asbestos Claims Has Nearly Doubled

Lung cancer filings now make up 40% of all asbestos litigation nationally. That’s a striking shift from 2016, when lung cancer claims made up roughly 25% of total filings. While mesothelioma lawsuits still represent the majority of filings at 48%, asbestos lung cancer lawsuits are closing the gap.

Lung cancer filings have increased more than 55% since 2018, making the 2025 record the latest point in a multi-year climb. And overall, asbestos filings increased 5.8% from 2024 to 2025, according to KCIC.

The long latency period of asbestos-related lung cancer means that exposures from decades ago are still producing diagnoses today. Workers who encountered asbestos in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s are the population most likely to be filing claims now.

What’s Driving the Increase in Lung Cancer Claims

Asbestos fibers cause lung cancer, a fact medical science has understood for decades. Once inhaled, these microscopic fibers lodge in tissues in the body, triggering irritation, inflammation and cellular damage over time. That cellular damage can cause cancer to develop.

Lung cancer symptoms can take 15 to 30 years to develop after asbestos exposure. Some workers exposed decades ago are just now developing symptoms and receiving diagnoses. That long latency period helps explain why experts expect the lawsuit filing trend to continue.

Lung cancer was often associated with smoking in the public’s perception, which has made asbestos lung cancer lawsuits challenging. But experienced asbestos lawyers have successfully litigated these cases, presenting testimony from medical experts, scientific research connecting lung cancer to asbestos and evidence of plaintiffs’ exposure. Evidence used to prove exposure caused a plaintiff’s lung cancer includes: employment records, medical imaging, pathology reports and doctor statements.

Courts evaluate these claims under a substantial contributing factor standard. For patients with smoking histories, both smoking and asbestos exposure can be found to have contributed, and a claim can still proceed.

What People Diagnosed With Lung Cancer Should Know

People diagnosed with lung cancer who worked in construction, shipbuilding, manufacturing or other industries known for occupational asbestos exposure have secured compensation through lawsuits. Negotiated settlements and verdicts can provide financial assistance for families facing treatment costs, lost wages and other diagnosis-related expenses.

In addition to lawsuits, asbesgtos trust funds may be a compensation option as well. When companies responsible for exposure go through bankruptcy protection and set up trusts, money is set aside to pay current and future legal claims. People exposed to that company’s asbestos products and with a confirmed lung cancer diagnosis can file claims with the trust through their lawyer. Trust fund claims can be filed at the same time as lawsuits against solvent companies.

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Mesothelioma Lawsuit Filings Highest Since Prepandemic Levels

Travis Rodgers — Mon, 18 May 2026 14:09:42 +0000

Asbestos lawsuits climbed to 4,244 in 2025, the highest total since before pandemic-era court closures slowed filings nationwide. Mesothelioma cases crossed 2,000 for the first time in 6 years, according to KCIC’s 2025 Asbestos Litigation Year in Review. This closely watched industry report analyzes roughly 90% of all asbestos-related personal injury complaints filed in the United States.

The new data shows a litigation landscape that isn’t winding down. Filings have increased 3 consecutive years and now sit 15% higher than they were in 2022, erasing the slowdown that COVID-19 court closures caused in 2020 and 2021.

For people diagnosed with mesothelioma and their families, these numbers reflect something real: more claims, more legal activity and more pressure on companies and insurers to respond. Mesothelioma and lung cancer, the diseases at the center of this surge, can take 20 to 60 years to develop after asbestos exposure. That means the people filing today were exposed decades ago, frequently without knowing it. That long latency period helps explain why predictions that asbestos litigation would taper off haven’t come true.

Asbestos Filings Are Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Total asbestos lawsuit filings rose 5.8% in 2025, adding more than 200 lawsuits over the prior year. To put that in perspective, the 2025 total puts filings back in line with 2017 to 2019 levels, before the pandemic interrupted court operations across the country. The steady climb since 2022 reflects a litigation environment that has restabilized and shows no clear signs of slowing.

Some jurisdictions are changing faster than others. The top 4 jurisdictions for overall filings haven’t changed since 2019, but those familiar rankings don’t tell the whole story. While Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois continue to lead the country, New York and Philadelphia each saw significant jumps in 2025. Philadelphia filings rose 40% and New York filings climbed 25%.

The growth isn’t limited to those established venues, either. Richland County, South Carolina, entered the top 15 jurisdictions for the first time in 2025 after an 80% increase in filings. Middlesex County, New Jersey, also moved up, with a 41% rise tied largely to more mesothelioma lawsuits.

For patients diagnosed today, that trajectory matters. The legal infrastructure built around these cases is still growing, not shrinking.

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Are Dominating the Docket

The most important shift in the data isn’t just volume. It’s the type of cases. Lawsuits related to mesothelioma reached 2,035 in 2025, representing 48% of all asbestos filings. Lung cancer lawsuits made up another 40%. Together, serious cancer claims now account for 88% of all asbestos lawsuits filed in 2025. In 2016, that number was 74%.

This matters for anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer. More lawsuit filings means more legal activity, more settlements and more court decisions shaping what compensation looks like for families facing these diseases.

Talc Claims Are Reshaping Asbestos Litigation

Talc-only filings grew 47% in 2025 and are now a significant part of why overall asbestos filings have returned to pre-pandemic levels. The rise of talc-related mesothelioma filings is reshaping who gets diagnosed, who files and who gets named as a defendant.

People with concerns about asbestos exposure through talc, building materials or workplace contact can connect with a Patient Advocate for free help exploring their options and finding the right specialists. Advocates can help patients and families navigate next steps at no cost.

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Talc Suits Surge 47% With More Mesothelioma & Women Plaintiffs

Amy Edel — Wed, 13 May 2026 19:05:18 +0000

KCIC Consulting, which specializes in asbestos litigation, has released its annual report looking back at the 2025 lawsuit landscape in the U.S. Among some of the significant findings in this report is the 47% jump in a single year, which is the sharpest single-year increase in this category on record, for asbestos-contaminated talc lawsuit filings.

Overall asbestos lawsuit filings rose 6% nationally, and talc-only claims now account for 9% of these cases. Ovarian cancer lawsuits related to asbestos-contaminated baby powder and studies tying talc to this cancer have captured headlines over the last few years. But recent landmark mesothelioma talc lawsuits are helping raise awareness and perhaps inspiring more survivors to pursue compensation.

In 2025, 40% of all mesothelioma filings included a talc exposure claim. The share of mesothelioma lawsuits that involve talc has grown steadily and significantly over the years from just 16% in 2019.

The rise of talc-related mesothelioma lawsuits is also noticeably beginning to shift the typical demographics of who is filing these lawsuits. The typical person with mesothelioma and thus lawsuit plaintiff has traditionally been a man of roughly 76 years old. However, for talc-only mesothelioma lawsuits, plaintiffs are mostly women and tend to be younger.

A Shifting Plaintiff Profile: 57% of Talc-Only Plaintiffs Are Women

In 2025 KCIC found 57% of talc-only plaintiffs are women, compared to 18% of the overall asbestos plaintiff population. Historically mesothelioma lawsuits are rooted in occupational exposure in industries that generally hired more men than women. But talc in makeup and baby powder affects women consumers across the country and generations who were life-long users of talc-based products that could be contaminated with asbestos.

Mesothelioma has an exceptionally long latency period of 20 to 60 years, which means it takes many decades from when someone is exposed to asbestos to when their cancer develops. If occupational exposure happens when someone is 20 years old, for example, they may not experience mesothelioma symptoms until they’re 80 years old.

With talc, people were exposed as babies to talcum powder and may have begun wearing talc-based cosmetics as teenagers. They could be exposed again when they became parents and used talc baby powder on their own infants. Asbestos exposure from talc was happening in younger populations than with worksite exposure.

This is clear in the shifting age demographics among plaintiffs. Talc-only plaintiffs average 67 to 69 years old, compared to 76 for traditional asbestos plaintiffs.

How Talc Became Central to Mesothelioma Litigation

Talc deposits can be naturally contaminated with asbestos because these minerals develop close together in the earth. During the mining process, asbestos can be collected with the talc. These microscopic asbestos fibers can then be mixed into makeup and other personal hygiene products that include talc.

As awareness of this link has grown, so has litigation. The share of mesothelioma filings including a talc allegation has climbed steadily, from 16% in 2019 to 31% in 2023, 36% in 2024 and 40% in 2025.

Notably, talc-only cases are almost exclusively mesothelioma, making up 95.5% of that category. This distinguishes them from the broader asbestos filing population where lung cancer accounts for 40% of cases.

Not all manufacturers of cosmetic and personal care products containing talc are new to this litigation. But the numbers tell a clear story about how much it has grown. Talc claims are expanding the pool of defendants in asbestos lawsuits, broadening litigation that for decades was largely confined to industrial manufacturers.

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East Wing Debris Dump Leaves Asbestos Questions Unanswered

Travis Rodgers — Thu, 07 May 2026 13:48:59 +0000

Soil at a public golf course in Washington, D.C., has tested positive for lead, chromium and other toxic metals. The National Park Service released the data after the Trump administration dumped debris from the White House East Wing demolition at East Potomac Golf Links. The findings have intensified an ongoing legal fight over public safety and federal transparency. Among the most pressing concerns: asbestos testing on some of the debris samples was never completed.

Linda Reinstein, president and CEO of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, tells us, the untested samples aren’t a minor issue. She explains: “Three samples never got tested for asbestos. That isn’t a minor oversight, it’s a serious gap in a process that should have been airtight from the start. Legacy asbestos kills and incomplete testing doesn’t protect anyone.”

The East Wing, first built in 1902 and renovated extensively in the 1940s and 1950s, likely contained asbestos in its insulation, flooring and other materials. Builders widely used asbestos during that era before its health dangers were fully understood, making the lack of public notice about the dump especially concerning to public health advocates.

The dump has since sparked multiple lawsuits from preservationists and asbestos advocates who say the administration sidestepped federal environmental laws. So far, the government hasn’t released any records to support its claim that workers handled the project safely.

Jacobs Engineering Group, a Park Service consultant, prepared the interim report containing the data. The firm collected dozens of soil samples at the course and sent them to an independent lab for testing. All findings are now available on the Park Service’s website.

What the Contamination Data Shows

More than 24 soil samples collected between Oct. 28, 2025, and April 2, 2026, showed measurable levels of lead, chromium and other contaminants. None of the samples exceeded what the EPA considers a safe level of lead at industrial and commercial sites. But some samples exceeded limits that California regulators set, applying stricter standards than federal rules require.

Reinstein tells us the findings confirm what ADAO has argued since the dump began. “These test results confirm what we’ve been saying since October: the Trump administration dumped demolition debris on a public golf course without telling anyone and now we know that debris contains toxic metals. The public deserves answers.”

Many public health experts say no amount of lead exposure is safe. Joseph G. Allen, a professor of exposure assessment science at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, reviewed the interim report and warns that lead doesn’t stay where workers dump it. People track it indoors on their shoes, meaning golfers and visitors could carry contamination off the course without knowing it.

This is similar to how asbestos fibers can be spread as well. Asbestos fibers can stick to hair, clothing, shoes and skin. If present at the golf course as well, these toxic mineral fibers can potentially be brought inside the golf club and to people’s homes, putting their families at risk too.

How East Wing Debris Was Quietly Dumped at East Potomac Golf Links

Starting in October 2025, the Trump administration began dropping truckloads of dirt and debris from the East Wing demolition at East Potomac Golf Links without public notice. Workers deposited the debris, including mud, rebar, plaster and other demolition materials, between the 4th and 9th holes. The dump started the same month the demolition of the East Wing took place.

In December 2025, the administration moved to terminate a 50-year lease the nonprofit National Links Trust held to manage East Potomac and 2 other public courses in the capital. That move came as plans emerged for a major renovation of the 105-year-old course. President Trump says he wants to transform it into a championship course, which would likely end the existing mini-golf area and a nearby roadway popular with cyclists and runners.

The Interior Department claims the process followed all required standards. “The soil was tested multiple times and this project passed all standards set by law,” says Katie Martin, a spokeswoman for the department. “This thorough process was followed to ensure the transfer was safe for the public.” The Park Service also noted that workers collected a second batch of 14 samples on April 23 and those results aren’t available yet.

Asbestos Testing Gaps Raise Concerns

The interim report states lab tests found no asbestos in the initial soil samples. But the report also revealed that workers didn’t test 2 of the samples for asbestos at all. The lab also couldn’t test a third sample after its container broke during shipment.

That lack of transparency raises serious concerns because the East Wing, first built in 1902 and extensively renovated in the 1940s and 1950s, likely contained asbestos in its insulation, flooring and other construction materials. Builders widely used asbestos during that era because of its fire-resistant properties and low cost. Demolishing older structures without proper safeguards can lead to asbestos exposure, releasing microscopic carcinogenic fibers into the air.

Asbestos fibers cause mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer, as well as lung cancer and asbestosis. These diseases can take 20 to 60 years to develop after exposure, which means people who came into contact with demolition debris may not see health effects for decades.

ADAO Has Been Demanding Answers Since October

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization has pushed for transparency about asbestos handling during the East Wing demolition since October 2025. After months of unanswered Freedom of Information Act requests to multiple federal agencies, ADAO filed a lawsuit on January 7, 2026, naming the Executive Office of the President, OSHA, the EPA, the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service.

ADAO’s lawsuit sought records documenting whether workers found asbestos in the structure, how crews handled asbestos abatement and how workers disposed of demolition debris. A White House spokesperson previously claimed precautionary measures were taken before demolition began, stating that “any hazardous material abatement was completed in September.” The government hasn’t released any records to support that claim.

Reinstein says the lack of response has gone on too long. “We’ve asked the federal government for basic safety records since October 2025. They haven’t provided them. Meanwhile, families are golfing feet away from a dump site that contains lead and chromium. This isn’t a political issue, it’s a public health emergency.”

A Preservationist Lawsuit Challenges the Dumping

The nonprofit DC Preservation League and two local residents filed a separate lawsuit in February 2026 to block the administration’s moves at East Potomac. The lawsuit argues the administration bypassed environmental reviews that the National Environmental Policy Act requires. In a recent legal filing, lawyers for the group wrote that the administration “dumped a cocktail of contaminants.”

“We knew that the demolition of the East Wing and the changes to East Potomac were legally toxic; now we know they’re environmentally toxic as well,” explains Norm Eisen, executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, which represents the DC Preservation League with Democracy Forward and Lowell & Associates. The group also sought emergency relief after reports that construction and tree removal could begin as early as May 4, 2026. Federal District Court Judge Ana C. Reyes declined to issue a temporary restraining order at a status hearing that morning.

Judge Reyes did order the administration to notify the preservationist group if plans changed. “I do not want a situation where something has happened and then I’m being told by the government or a foundation or a bulldozing company that it’s too late to do anything about it,” she stated. The case continues as advocates wait for the second round of soil test results.

What This Means for the Public

East Potomac Golf Links, near the Jefferson Memorial, has offered some of the most accessible public golf in the country for generations, with weekday rates as low as $42 for 18 holes. A championship redesign would likely end that access for the everyday golfers and families who’ve relied on it for years. The dump site sits in the middle of that active public space, where people walk, children play and debris can cling to shoes and clothing.

What makes this situation especially serious is that asbestos exposure often goes unnoticed. There’s no smell, no immediate symptoms and no way to tell with the naked eye whether dangerous fibers are present in the air or soil. By the time an asbestos-related disease appears, decades may have passed since the original exposure, making it nearly impossible to trace back to a single source.

Anyone with concerns about asbestos exposure from demolition debris or older buildings can reach out to a Patient Advocate for free help connecting with specialists and navigating next steps. They can also help explain the risks and what to watch for in the years ahead.

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ADAO Files New Suit Over Missed Legacy Asbestos Deadline

Amy Edel — Fri, 01 May 2026 13:59:06 +0000

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization is taking the federal government to court over a missed legal deadline that leaves millions of Americans at risk. The nonprofit asbestos advocacy group filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Administrator Lee Zeldin. The lawsuit says the EPA missed a mandatory deadline to address the public health threat of legacy asbestos.

This filing marks another chapter in ADAO’s decades-long effort to hold the EPA accountable. It raises questions about federal oversight of legacy asbestos in homes, schools and worksites across the country.

We spoke with Linda Reinstein, president and CEO of ADAO, who told us: “Our laws are meant to protect people. When federal agencies fail to meet their legal obligations to protect public health, we have no choice but to hold them accountable. We do this for the families who have lost someone to asbestos-related disease.”

ADAO has previously filed lawsuits against federal agencies in recent years to compel federal action on asbestos exposure. The group filed in January 2026 to require transparency about asbestos handling during the White House East Wing demolition. And in 2024 ADAO filed suit to push the EPA to close gaps in its chrysotile final rule and another suit to prevent lobbying groups from preventing action.

What the EPA Was Required to Do

The Toxic Substances Control Act gave the EPA 1 year to propose a risk management rule if an unreasonable risk was found. The EPA’s finding was clear: Legacy asbestos poses an unreasonable risk to human health. That evaluation, completed in December 2024, gave the agency until December 2025 to propose a rule. The agency let that deadline pass.

ADAO gave the EPA formal notice of its intent to sue on February 13, 2026, as TSCA’s citizen suit provision requires. More than 60 days passed with no action from the agency. That satisfied the legal requirement to move forward with filing.

“The law requires the EPA to propose a risk management rule to protect public health,” Reinstein told us. “ADAO’s lawsuit seeks to ensure accountability and to compel the protections necessary to prevent exposure and save lives. Until the EPA fulfills its legal obligation, communities across the United States remain at risk.”

What ADAO Is Asking For

ADAO wants a court to step in and make the EPA do what the law already requires. ADAO also wants policymakers, public health leaders and advocates to support broader asbestos prevention efforts. Those efforts include strong and enforceable regulations addressing legacy asbestos and the passage of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, which would fully ban asbestos in the United States.

Reinstein shared, “The EPA’s findings confirmed what workers and families have long known: Legacy asbestos kills. It is not confined to the past. It remains in homes, schools and workplaces across the country, where disturbed materials can release dangerous fibers into the air.”

ADAO won a federal court challenge in 2019 after the EPA tried to exclude legacy asbestos from its initial risk evaluation entirely. When the EPA then delayed the follow-up evaluation, ADAO secured a court-ordered deadline for completing it. The EPA met that court-ordered deadline, completing the evaluation in December 2024, but then missed the separate deadline to act on its findings. Now ADAO is asking the court to make sure the agency follows through on what that evaluation requires.

What Is Legacy Asbestos and Who’s at Risk

Legacy asbestos refers to asbestos products in buildings across the U.S., usually installed at the height of asbestos use in the mid 20th Century. Common asbestos products in homes, schools and public buildings include insulation, floor tiles, roofing and pipes. While asbestos isn’t added to new builds, millions of older structures still contain them.

Routine activities like home renovation, building maintenance and demolition can release asbestos fibers. And construction workers, teachers and firefighters, for example, can unknowingly carry toxic asbestos fibers home on their clothing, hair or skin, putting their families at risk of asbestos exposure through secondary exposure.

Legacy asbestos causes cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer, as well as serious chronic conditions like asbestosis. Asbestos-related diseases often have long latency periods. Mesothelioma can take 20 to 60 years to develop from initial exposure. Symptoms also initially are hard to distinguish from more common conditions like pneumonia, making early diagnosis challenging. But awareness, screenings and early detection can significantly improve outcomes.

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A Closer Look at ADAO’s Previous Legal Actions

One month after the Biden administration finalized what became known as the chrysotile asbestos ban in March 2024, ADAO filed a petition in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The suit pressed the EPA to close remaining gaps identified in the final rule.

The first EPA ban on a form of asbestos in more than 30 years, it phased out 6 recognized uses of chrysotile and blocked the chlor-alkali industry from importing it. But ADAO noted serious gaps such as a phase-out period of up to 12 years for some producers, no protections for auto mechanics or industrial workers handling existing asbestos parts and no safeguards against asbestos pollution near chemical plants in Texas and Louisiana.

Also in April 2024, the American Chemistry Council filed petitions in multiple federal courts seeking to roll back those protections entirely. ADAO filed a motion to intervene in the American Chemistry Council litigation, directly opposing the industry effort to gut the rule.

In January 2026, ADAO sued the Trump administration under the Freedom of Information Act after months of unanswered requests for records related to the demolition of the White House East Wing. The organization wanted documentation showing whether asbestos was found in the structure, how abatement was handled and how demolition debris was disposed of. The White House said precautionary measures were taken before work began, but never released any supporting records.

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What the Pabst Asbestos Ruling Means for Mesothelioma Patients

Amy Edel — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:55:25 +0000

Pabst Brewing Company petitioned Wisconsin’s highest court to review the Court of Appeals’ decision in favor of the plaintiff. The Court of Appeals had itself been reviewing the original Milwaukee County Circuit Court judgment against Pabst. The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment that Pabst was responsible for the asbestos exposure that caused Gerald Lorbiecki’s mesothelioma.

Much of the coverage of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s ruling focuses on the recalculation and reduction of punitive damages from $11 million to $4.6 million. The jury had actually awarded $20 million, but both courts applied a legal cap and disagreed on how to calculate it. This has left many mesothelioma patients and their families wondering how this decision could affect their own mesothelioma lawsuits pursuing compensation.

As Patient Advocate Danielle DiPietro notes, “For someone facing mesothelioma, any news that sheds light on potential causes, responsibility or avenues for support can feel deeply personal and significant.” She recently hosted an episode of the podcast, After Exposure: Asbestos & Mesothelioma Stories, on litigation focusing on asbestos-contaminated talc, J&J on Trial: The Talc Litigation Story, and knows how lawsuit headlines can affect survivors and their loved ones.

“Don’t let headlines about reduced verdicts discourage you,” Danielle advises. “These often involve punitive damages, while the compensatory damages that cover medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering typically remain intact, affirming the core victory of holding companies accountable. Your legal team remains dedicated to securing the comprehensive justice and financial support you and your family deserve.”

The Supreme Court’s decision addressed three distinct legal questions, each with potential implications for patients pursuing mesothelioma compensation. The full picture is more nuanced than some of the headlines suggest.

Pabst Held Responsible for Asbestos Exposure of a Contract Worker

When Gerald Lorbiecki worked as a steamfitter at Pabst’s Milwaukee brewery in the mid-1970s, he was hired through an independent contractor. While not a direct employee of the company, he was cutting out and replacing Pabst’s asbestos-insulated pipes, work that sent asbestos dust into the air. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ultimately ruled that being a contractor rather than a direct hire didn’t absolve the company of responsibility for his asbestos exposure.

Under Wisconsin’s safe-place statute, the court held that a workplace owner has a duty to keep that place safe for everyone on the premises. Pabst knew its pipes were wrapped in asbestos. And the company knew workers would be at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers when materials were disturbed in the course of their jobs, but failed to take adequate steps to protect them.

Founded in Milwaukee in 1844, at its peak Pabst Brewing Company employed approximately 5,000 workers. Through much of its history, asbestos was heavily used throughout its facilities. With thousands of workers on site across decades of operation, the potential scope of asbestos exposure is significant.

Lorbiecki filed suit against Pabst in 2017 before his death from mesothelioma. His wife Carol then became the plaintiff and personal representative of his estate. After her death during the appeals process, their son Scott became the plaintiff in the case before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

For mesothelioma patients and their families, the ruling for Scott Lorbieki and his family carries weight beyond Wisconsin. This ruling may influence how similar cases are argued and decided for mesothelioma survivors and their families in the U.S.

Compensatory Damages Intact, Punitive Damages Sustained on Review

Pabst challenged its asbestos liability at every stage of this case. If this argument had been successful, it would have eliminated the compensatory damages covering medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. But at the circuit court, Court of Appeals and Wisconsin Supreme Court the compensatory damages awarded to the Lorbiecki family were consistently upheld.

The brewing company also challenged whether punitive damages should have been awarded. Its defense team contested the claim that there was deliberate, knowing disregard for safety that Wisconsin law requires for punitive damages to apply. Each court that reviewed Pabst’s argument disagreed. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Pabst’s conduct met that higher standard.

Punitive damages are essentially a legal punishment for a company’s conduct considered egregious enough to warrant consequences beyond simply paying for the harm caused. The court’s affirmation that punitive damages were warranted is significant.

What the courts did debate was how the punitive damages were calculated. Where the Supreme Court parted ways with the Court of Appeals was in determining the baseline and applicable caps on the total amount.

Punitive Damages Were Capped, But Millions Still Awarded

The jury that heard Gerald Lorbiecki’s case awarded $20 million in punitive damages against Pabst. But under Wisconsin law, punitive damages can’t be more than double the compensatory damages. The recalculation, therefore, wasn’t a finding that Pabst’s conduct was less serious than the jury determined. It was a mathematical detail that needed to be addressed because the total number of defendants in the case changed.

In mesothelioma lawsuits, juries assign a percentage of responsibility to each defendant. In Lorbiecki’s case, 5 companies were initially defendants and the jury divided responsibility across all of them. The Court of Appeals based the punitive damages cap on the full compensatory damages of $5.5 million, making the cap roughly $11 million.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court calculated the total exclusively on Pabst’s portion of $2.3 million, making the cap $4.66 million. The total judgment of compensatory and punitive damages against Pabst the Lorbiecki family is entitled to stands at $6,986,906.07.

For mesothelioma patients following this case, the recalculation is a technical legal distinction that doesn’t change the core outcome. Pabst was held responsible. Punitive damages were affirmed. And Gerald Lorbiecki’s family is entitled to nearly $7 million in total damages.

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Mesothelioma in Younger Patients: Doctors Want to Know Why

Travis Rodgers — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:26:41 +0000

A new study from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is raising questions about who develops mesothelioma and why. Researchers identified 273 patients with pleural mesothelioma diagnosed at or under the age of 50 who were treated at the center between 1990 and 2023 and found that many had no occupational asbestos exposure history, including a significant share of women.

For decades, mesothelioma has been documented primarily in men with direct occupational asbestos exposure: military veterans and former workers in construction, shipbuilding and manufacturing. With a latency period of 20 to 60 years from initial exposure to diagnosis, patients are typically older than 65.

For physicians, the data raises practical questions about risk assessment and early detection of pleural mesothelioma in patients who don’t fit the established profile. The results point to gaps in how risk is understood and whether younger patients are being identified early enough.

Why Are Younger People Getting Mesothelioma?

Memorial Sloan Kettering spotlighted the case of Reicy Bobadilla, MD, to illustrate how unpredictable this disease can be in younger people. An orthopedic surgeon in the Dominican Republic, she was 43 when colleagues urged her to get a scan for a persistent cough. She had no family history of cancer, no known genetic predisposition and hadn’t identified a known source of asbestos exposure. Her diagnosis was mesothelioma.

The study, published in JCO Precision Oncology, is what Dr. Offin describes as the first report from a hospital on the growing appreciation of mesothelioma in younger people. Many of those patients, especially those diagnosed under 35, didn’t know how they may have been exposed to asbestos. Women with mesothelioma made up a disproportionately high share of the studied group, and about 70% had a family history of cancer, most often breast, lung or colon cancer.

Experts have long established that asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. Certain inherited gene mutations like those in BAP1 and BRCA1/BRCA2 may add to the risk of someone exposed to asbestos developing mesothelioma. While this study found mutations in some younger patients, Dr. Bobadilla had none. Cases like hers are pushing doctors to look more carefully at potential asbestos exposures younger people may have experienced.

How Younger People May Have Been Exposed to Asbestos

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering specifically pointed to the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001 as a possible asbestos exposure source for the younger patient population. The towers extensively contained asbestos building materials, and their destruction released a massive cloud of toxic dust into the air, exposing hundreds of thousands of people. Because mesothelioma typically takes 20 to 60 years to develop after exposure, children exposed in the wake of September 11 are entering the window when symptoms could become more pronounced.

Secondary exposure is another possibility. First responders and recovery workers faced the heaviest exposure from 9/11 and could have unknowingly brought asbestos fibers home on clothing, skin or hair. Family members who regularly worked around asbestos in firefighting, construction or manufacturing could have unknowingly brought fibers home as well.

Older apartment buildings, homes and military housing also often contain legacy asbestos. The mineral was widely used in construction materials through much of the 20th century. People who grew up in older homes with asbestos could have had significant exposure.

Baby powder containing asbestos-contaminated talc was widely used on infants and children for decades. Talc has also been a primary ingredient in makeup and other personal hygiene products. Asbestos and talc form near each other and talc can become contaminated when mined. Studies have linked asbestos-contaminated cosmetic talc to mesothelioma cases where it was the only identified source of exposure.

Early Detection and Treatment for Younger Mesothelioma Patients

According to Memorial Sloan Kettering, Dr. Adusumilli says the medical community should consider mesothelioma when a younger person presents with symptoms like a persistent cough, chest pain or shortness of breath that doesn’t improve with antibiotics. Dr. Bobadilla’s case illustrates how easy it can be to dismiss those symptoms. She’d been coughing for 2 weeks before colleagues urged her to get a scan, and her first instinct was that they were overreacting.

Early mesothelioma diagnosis changes outcomes. Because Dr. Bobadilla was diagnosed early and was in excellent physical shape, Drs. Adusumilli and Offin told her at their first appointment that her cancer was treatable and her prognosis was very good. She had 4 cycles of chemotherapy, then surgery and a month of daily radiation, continuing to see patients and performing surgeries throughout her treatment. Her most recent scans show no signs of the cancer returning.

Mesothelioma treatment for someone in their 30s or 40s can differ significantly from treatment for a patient in their 70s. Doctors can analyze tumor tissue to identify specific characteristics of the cancer cells and match patients to targeted therapies or clinical trials. Dr. Offin noted that younger patients should seek care at a comprehensive cancer center, and that where a patient receives their first treatment matters.The study’s authors hope their findings push the medical community to think differently about who gets mesothelioma and how quickly it gets identified. For younger patients who do receive a diagnosis, our Patient Advocates can help connect them with specialists, navigate treatment options and find supportive services.

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