“Many people don’t realize asbestos may be present in older flooring and other building materials until repairs or renovations begin,” Snehal Smart, MD and Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center, tells us. “When it’s discovered, people need clear information about what was found, how the work will be handled and when it’s safe to return to the affected area.”

The discovery highlights a concern for people living in older homes and buildings. Asbestos flooring and other asbestos construction materials may remain, and renovation or repair work can disturb those materials and release fibers into the air. Property management said the asbestos flooring adhesive was found during remodeling and that qualified professionals handled the abatement.

Asbestos Discovered During Apartment Renovation

Property management said asbestos was discovered in flooring adhesive during remodeling and that it contacted qualified professionals to handle the abatement. Gorilla Contracting, the project’s general contractor, said CM Noble performed the work.

According to Gorilla Contracting, the abatement included containment, controlled removal, engineering controls, final air sampling and written clearance before people could return to the affected area. Property management also said city officials inspected the apartment after the work and cleared it for occupancy. Norfolk officials hadn’t responded to WAVY-TV’s request for comment before the report was published.

Older flooring products, including vinyl floor tiles, backing on vinyl sheet flooring and flooring adhesives, may contain asbestos. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identifies these materials as potential sources of asbestos in older buildings. When renovation work disturbs asbestos materials, proper abatement procedures are important to limit the release of fibers into the air. Proper asbestos abatement requires trained professionals who know how to safely contain and remove the material.

Asbestos Discovery Raises Safety Concerns for Residents

Bonavita said she couldn’t enter her apartment while asbestos abatement was underway. When she later viewed the unit with fire marshals present, she found flooring removed, tarps throughout the apartment and other signs of ongoing work. She also said contractors unplugged the router connected to surveillance cameras inside her home.

Her experience raises broader concerns about how residents are informed when asbestos is discovered in their homes. People may have questions about what materials contain asbestos, whether renovation work disturbed them, how the abatement will be handled and when they can safely return. In this case, property management said the apartment was cleared for occupancy after the work, though Norfolk officials hadn’t responded to WAVY-TV’s request for comment before publication.

Asbestos in older homes doesn’t automatically mean residents have been exposed. Materials in good condition that remain undisturbed generally pose less risk than materials damaged during renovation or repair. When asbestos fibers become airborne, people can inhale them, potentially increasing their risk of mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These diseases can take decades to develop after asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Discovery Adds to Building Safety Concerns

Property tax records list Pembroke Towers as built in 1962, while property management gave a 1965 construction date. Both dates fall within a period when asbestos was commonly used in building materials.

Virginia law requires asbestos inspections before local building departments can issue renovation or demolition permits for many buildings first permitted before Jan. 1, 1985. Owners must certify that the affected area was inspected and that no asbestos was found or that appropriate response actions will be taken.

The asbestos dispute adds to Bonavita’s concerns about conditions at Pembroke Towers. She said residents have dealt with leaks and other maintenance problems for years. City violations obtained by WAVY-TV also cited damaged ceilings, leaks, a broken elevator and pest infestations at the property.

Bonavita said her concerns extend beyond her own apartment to the health and safety of other residents. She intends to remain at Pembroke Towers and is pursuing legal action.

The post Asbestos Flooring Adhesive Found in Virginia Apartment Building appeared first on Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

Alliance received nearly $1.8 million to remove asbestos from the abandoned medical campus in Waukegan before demolition began in 2023. The property included the former St. Therese Medical Center, later known as Vista Medical Center West and then part of the Lake Behavioral Hospital campus. Court records describe extensive asbestos in the older buildings, including spray-on fireproofing, pipe insulation, floor tile and mastic.

Federal prosecutors say Fioravanti certified the work as complete in September 2023 despite knowing asbestos remained in parts of the Old Main Hospital. He also submitted air-sampling reports claiming a third party had tested the site and found asbestos levels below regulatory limits, but prosecutors say no third party performed the testing. 

Demolition spread the remaining asbestos through the debris, releasing asbestos into the air and substantially increasing cleanup costs. The property owner has spent more than $26 million on remediation.

OSHA Found Asbestos Hazards at Demolition Site

OSHA opened an inspection in November 2023 after investigators observed demolition workers at the 8-story former hospital working without protective equipment near debris and steel beams. The agency later found asbestos in insulation and fireproofing materials at the site.

Some of the fireproofing contained up to 15% chrysotile asbestos, the most commonly used type of asbestos and the type linked to most mesothelioma cases in the U.S. Investigators also found that the demolition contractor had a 2019 building survey documenting extensive asbestos use on structural beams but hadn’t warned employees or other contractors about the hazard.

OSHA cited demolition subcontractor K.L.F. Enterprises for 36 safety and health violations and proposed $392,002 in penalties. The agency also cited the general contractor, building owner and Alliance for violations related to asbestos safety requirements at the property.

Asbestos Contamination Required Extensive Cleanup 

The contamination required extensive remediation across the former hospital property. Court records state that cleanup generated more than 70,000 tons of asbestos waste. Crews also used millions of gallons of water to control dust and removed a layer of soil across the 2.5-acre property.

Prosecutors argued that the case went beyond financial fraud because demolition disturbed friable asbestos, which can crumble or turn to powder and release fibers more easily. They said this created possible asbestos exposure risks for workers, hospital patients and nearby residents.

Prosecutors also said some asbestos likely traveled beyond the property line. However, investigators couldn’t determine how much material traveled or identify any specific person who was directly exposed.

Long-Term Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure 

Federal prosecutors said workers, hospital patients and nearby residents faced possible asbestos exposure when demolition disturbed asbestos at the former hospital. Microscopic asbestos fibers can become airborne and enter the lungs when inhaled.

Asbestos exposure can cause serious diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. These diseases can take years or even decades to develop after exposure, a delay known as the latency period. Fibers that reach the lungs can remain there for years, causing inflammation, scarring and cancer.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros said the case shows why falsifying environmental and safety records can have consequences beyond financial fraud. “Environmental fraud causes substantial damage to the health, safety, and economic security of our communities,” Boutros said.

The post Contractor Sentenced for Fraud in Hospital Asbestos Cleanup appeared first on Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

These incidents occurred as other schools are preparing this fall for asbestos abatement work. Georgetown University recently announced an upcoming project in one of its academic buildings, while an Illinois school district is planning asbestos removal as part of a larger elementary school renovation.

Asbestos in schools remains a problem because contractors used it in floor tiles, insulation, pipe coverings, plaster and other construction materials before the 1980s. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says asbestos products that are intact may not need removal. However, wear and tear, renovations or other damage to asbestos materials can release fibers into the air, putting people at risk for asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma and can also cause lung cancer and laryngeal cancer. There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure, and the risk of developing disease increases with greater exposure. That risk doesn’t mean everyone who enters a building containing asbestos will develop an asbestos-related disease. These diseases generally have long latency periods, often taking years or decades to develop after exposure.

Watertown Declares Asbestos Cleanup an Emergency 

Watertown High School in New York closed 3 classrooms and an office after a teacher found asbestos in a classroom in late September. Superintendent Larry Schmiegel said the district relocated students and staff while asbestos abatement experts, including an asbestos management planner and environmental consultants, inspected the building.

The district initially said the 4 rooms would remain closed until mitigation work was complete and testing cleared them for use. The Watertown Education Association also told its members that the district was treating plaster walls as potentially asbestos-containing while it investigated the issue.

On Sept. 30, the Watertown City School Board declared the asbestos problem an emergency and authorized up to $250,000 for the work. The district also plans preventive work in additional classrooms before asbestos-containing material becomes damaged or disturbed. 

Asbestos Delays UNC Phillips Hall Renovation 

UNC-Chapel Hill has extended renovations at Phillips Hall after inspections identified asbestos materials in several parts of the building. The university had expected students and faculty to return to renovated areas in January 2027, but asbestos removal pushed the expected completion into spring 2027.

A 2024 inspection connected with the building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrade found friable asbestos, which means it can be crumbled or broken easily and is more likely to release fibers into the air. The asbestos was found in pipe-insulation elbows inside HVAC closets on the first, second and third floors. 

Inspectors also identified non-friable asbestos, which is more firmly bound in the material and less likely to release asbestos fibers unless it’s damaged, cut or disturbed. This was found in several materials, including a countertop, rooftop components and a pipe leading to a satellite dish. 

UNC told The Daily Tar Heel that licensed professionals are handling the removal and that barriers separate construction areas from occupied sections of Phillips Hall. The university also said contractors conduct air testing during the work and maintained that people outside the renovation area face no danger.

Older inspection records cited in the report found asbestos insulation in additional areas of Phillips Hall. UNC’s campus asbestos program requires contractors to survey areas before repair or renovation work that could disturb asbestos-containing materials. If they find asbestos, contractors must follow regulated abatement procedures.

Some students and faculty told The Daily Tar Heel they didn’t know asbestos was present in Phillips Hall. First-year student Jackson Wemhoff said he attended class in Phillips Hall without knowing asbestos was present. 

Other Schools Move Forward With Asbestos Removal 

Georgetown University announced Sept. 23 that it plans asbestos-containing material abatement in the basement of White-Gravenor Hall beginning Oct. 23. The university says contractors will seal the work area and monitor it throughout the project. Georgetown had already announced separate asbestos abatement for the third floor of White-Gravenor Hall earlier in September.

In Illinois, Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 is also moving forward with renovation planning at Hamel Elementary School. The district previously identified asbestos abatement as one of the top priorities staff raised for the building, along with a gym addition and improvements to employee spaces.

At its Sept. 28 meeting, the district board authorized negotiations with an architectural firm for the Hamel project. Current plans call for asbestos abatement to begin next summer and continue across 2 summers as part of the larger renovation.

These projects follow other recent asbestos problems in schools. In August, the School District of Philadelphia relocated more than 400 students and 90 staff members after a contractor disturbed asbestos at Kensington High School. 

Federal Law Requires Schools to Monitor Asbestos 

The EPA requires public school districts and nonprofit private schools to inspect buildings for asbestos under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. Schools with known or assumed asbestos must also conduct reinspections every 3 years and surveillance every 6 months.

Schools must maintain asbestos management plans that document where asbestos is located and what the school has done to repair, contain or remove it. Parents, teachers and school employees can request access to these plans and schools must provide annual notice about their availability and asbestos-related actions.

Federal rules don’t require schools to remove every asbestos product they find. The EPA says managing asbestos in place can be appropriate when the material remains in good condition and is unlikely to be disturbed.

Renovation work can change that. Cutting, drilling, removing walls or working around old insulation can disturb asbestos-containing materials, which is why schools conduct asbestos surveys before construction and use trained professionals when abatement becomes necessary.

The post Asbestos Disrupts Schools and Universities in Several States appeared first on Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

Linda Reinstein, ADAO’s president and co-founder, tells us, “We can’t fight asbestos exposure alone, especially with the laws around it changing all the time. That’s why, for 21 years, this conference has brought together experts, patients, advocates and policymakers who all want the same thing: to end asbestos-caused diseases once and for all.” 

The conference begins Friday, Sept. 25, with an evening community gathering called “Under the Stars.” Musicians Jordan Zevon, Matt Cartsonis and Jordan Summers will perform during the event, which gives patients, families and advocates an opportunity to connect before Saturday’s academic sessions.

Academic Conference Sessions

Saturday’s academic program features 4 sessions covering asbestos prevention, health impacts, research, treatment, policy and the law. Speakers will discuss the progress advocates have made, ongoing challenges and the work that remains.

2026 ADAO Conference Agenda

• Session 1: Two Decades of Advocacy, Milestones, Challenges and the Road Ahead
• Session 2: Asbestos Prevention and Health Impacts, Risks, Diagnosis, and Advances in Treatment
• Session 3: The Asbestos Policy Journey and Strategic Advocacy
• Session 4: Navigating Asbestos Law, Litigation, Regulation and Legislative Action

Session 4 will examine legal and legislative developments, including asbestos lawsuits, EPA regulations and the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act. The bipartisan bill would ban all six regulated types of asbestos in the United States. The legislation remains with a Senate committee. Attorneys on the panel will discuss these developments and what they could mean for families dealing with asbestos exposure.

September is Mesothelioma Awareness Month, and September 26 is Mesothelioma Awareness Day. ADAO will recognize advocates, researchers and organizations during its Awards and Recognition Dinner that evening.

2026 Conference Honorees

ADAO recognizes individuals and organizations each year for their contributions to asbestos research, advocacy and community support. This year’s honorees include medical researchers, patient advocates and nonprofit organizations.

List: 2026 Honorees

• 9/11 Health Watch, Tribute of Inspiration Award
• John M. Dement, PhD, and Michael Crane, MD, MPH, Dr. Irving Selikoff Award
• Jordan Summers, Warren Zevon “Keep Me in Your Heart” Award
• Libby Brow and Penny Jo Major, Alan Reinstein Tribute Award
• Mesothelioma UK, Tribute of Hope Award
• Miles for Mesothelioma, Tribute of Unity Award

Reinstein says, “We started this work 21 years ago with one goal: stop asbestos exposure and end the diseases it causes. This year’s honorees all pushed that goal forward, some through research, some through policy, some through art and some just by turning their own loss into action for others. Prevention is still the only real cure we have, and we only get there together.”

How to Join ADAO’s 2026 Conference and Get Involved

Tickets are still available for ADAO’s 21st Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference. Registration options include full conference access, a discounted rate for people diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease and current students. There is also a dinner-only ticket for those who want to attend the Awards and Recognition Dinner. 

Visit ADAO’s official conference site for registration information and current pricing. Reinstein adds, “Having our academic conference and awards dinner land on Mesothelioma Awareness Day this year means a lot to us. Even if you can’t join us in person, share the event and help this message reach as many people as possible.” 

ADAO also plans to grow its Six-Word Quote Campaign during the event. The campaign invites people to send Congress a message about asbestos in 6 words or fewer. 

A new app lets people submit a message and photo that ADAO turns into a shareable graphic. Reinstein shares, “During the conference weekend, we’re looking forward to expanding our Six-Word Campaign to end mesothelioma, as every Mesothelioma Warrior has a story to share and a voice that deserves to be heard.” 

The post ADAO’s 2026 Conference Focuses on Asbestos Prevention and the Law appeared first on Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

The records include air quality reports, contamination logs and internal memos from the administrations of former Mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg. They also include a 2001 memo from a senior scientist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency who warned that the city’s asbestos testing guidelines couldn’t work in practice. City officials plan to release more documents over the next year through a new online portal.

This release settles a lawsuit that advocacy group 9/11 Health Watch filed after the city denied its 2023 records request. A judge later ruled that former Mayor Eric Adams’ administration violated New York’s Freedom of Information Law when withholding the files. The city agreed not to appeal and will meet monthly with 9/11 Health Watch to track its progress on releasing the remaining documents.

“People got sick because the leaders they trusted lied and told them they were safe to breathe in toxic air,” Mamdani said at a news conference announcing the release of the documents. Ben Chevat, executive director of 9/11 Health Watch, said the records show the city knew about the danger even while it kept telling the public the air met safety standards.

Linda Reinstein, president and co-founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, tells us, “The release of the new documents is huge. But we always knew when we saw the plume that it wasn’t a good place to be.” 

Internal Memos Warned of Health Risks and Lawsuits

One document at the center of the release is the Harding memo. City Hall lobbyist Michelle Goldsen sent it to then-Deputy Mayor Robert Harding in October 2001, just weeks after the attacks. The memo informed Harding that the city’s Law Department expected 35,000 potential plaintiffs to sue for injuries related to Ground Zero.

The memo also warned that health advisories telling people to return to Lower Manhattan too soon could expose the city to lawsuits for causing “toxic exposure or emotional harm.” Goldsen suggested that Congress create a compensation fund or that the city seek federal protection against future claims. She specifically flagged the risk of “toxic tort cases that might arise in the next few decades,” according to the memo.

City officials kept reassuring the public even as these warnings circulated internally. Just 5 days after the attacks, Giuliani’s administration said the public faced a very low risk of short-term or long-term health effects. By early October, officials called the air “safe and acceptable.” Bloomberg made similar statements in February 2002, saying test results showed acceptable air quality and that “some people are just never going to want to believe that.”

Federal officials sent the same message. Then-EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman told the public just a week after the attacks that the air was safe to breathe and the water was safe to drink. The EPA’s internal watchdog found that Whitman’s office didn’t have enough data to support that claim 2 years later. Whitman apologized in 2016, saying she was sorry that people got sick and that her agency did the best it could with the information available at the time.

Health Toll From Ground Zero Exposure Continues Today

According to the World Trade Center Health Program, more than 9,000 people have died from illnesses connected to September 11, including 600 firefighters. That toll now exceeds the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks and the more than 300 firefighters who died during the rescue effort. The 9/11 Memorial reports that doctors have diagnosed at least 49,000 people with cancers linked to 9/11 and its aftermath.

These newly released records help explain why. Inspectors found asbestos on roofs, cables and building facades at 15 John Street, a building about a third of a mile from Ground Zero. A resident living about half a mile away wrote to the city’s Department of Environmental Protection in February 2002 describing how she scooped dust off her coffee table with a paper bag because she had no electricity to vacuum. She told investigators the cleanup felt “mostly futile” because the dust was so light it kept resettling.

Ground Zero Health Conditions

• Asbestosis
• Breast cancer
• Chronic respiratory illness
• Colon cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Lung cancer
• Lymphoma
• Mesothelioma
• Prostate cancer
• Thyroid cancer

As Dr. Raja Flores recently discussed with us, people who worked on the recovery efforts, lived, worked and went to school in Lower Manhattan or were exposed to the smoke and dust plume that spanned boroughs all face a higher risk.They’re urged to discuss their exposure history with their doctors. 

Dr. Flores explains screening and monitoring is key for anyone exposed. A baseline chest X-ray, lung function test and physical exam can help a doctor track changes over time. These conditions often take years or even decades to appear after asbestos exposure. 

500+ SPECIALISTS AVAILABLE

Exposed to Asbestos During 9/11?

Connect with top-rated doctors who can help you or a loved one diagnose an asbestos-related illness.

Find Your Doctor

Will the New Records Lead to New Lawsuits? 

People who developed an illness after exposure to Ground Zero dust or debris may have legal options, even decades after the attacks. Reinstein shares her take with us saying, “For me, the biggest aha moment, which wasn’t a surprise, is that the government lied. And that’s unacceptable. They betrayed the first responders, people who suffered and died and the families. The betrayal is huge. It will take a long time to rebuild trust.”

Joe Lahav, a lawyer and on-site legal advisor at The Mesothelioma Center, notes people who use the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, the federal government program established to compensate those who’ve received diagnoses, typically sign waivers relinquishing their right to sue in exchange for access to it. “That program does not require proof of negligence or attempts to hide information from the public on the part of government officials. It only requires proof that someone was exposed during the timeframe permitted and that the person has a qualifying medical condition.” 

Lahav adds, “The Harding Memo and other newly-released documents, while significant, are unlikely to change things for people who have a claim or are considering a claim based on 9/11 exposure to airborne toxins. There has been pretty ample evidence available for some time that the NYC government knew about the risks posed to people exposed to 9/11 toxins, but downplayed them. The most recent document releases are unlikely to change things or create new liabilities for the government.”

Where to Turn for Help Now 

Patient Advocates tell us many people who qualify for support never file a claim because they don’t realize their illness may be connected to the attacks. The release of these documents may help raise awareness. 

Snehal Smart, a medical doctor and a board-certified Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center, says, “If someone thinks their illness may be connected to time spent in Lower Manhattan after 9/11, they should speak with their doctor and get medical documentation about their illness. The doctor may also need to relate the diagnosis to the 9/11 exposure to dust/asbestos/debris. Second, they need to document their exposure to apply for the World Trade Center Health program.”

Snehal adds,”To register for the World Trade Center Health Program, they can submit an application, online or on paper, and include their documented exposure and medical records. Once they are eligible and enrolled, they will go through a series of medical tests and continued monitoring annually to detect any underlying diagnosis related to 9/11 exposure. If a diagnosis is found, their treatment could be covered.” 

She notes the Patient Advocates at The Mesothelioma Center can assist with the eligibility and application process. They can also connect people to specialists in asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and help people learn more about support for a 9/11-related illness.

The post New Documents Show NYC Hid Asbestos Risks After 9/11 appeared first on Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City holds onto the No. 2 spot again, praised for its research advances and patient outcomes. Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center and Mayo Clinic Rochester held onto the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, respectively. Massachusetts General Hospital climbed to No. 5.

U.S. News’s evaluation process considered patient outcomes, hospital structure and process, expert opinion, patient experience and transparency. These rankings help people diagnosed with cancer find hospitals with strong safety records, skilled specialty teams and access to services such as hospice and palliative care.

“Rankings like these can give patients and families a helpful starting point when they’re looking at their options after a mesothelioma diagnosis. They can highlight hospitals with strong cancer programs and help people learn more about the specialists and resources available there,” Jose Ortiz, medical outreach liaison at The Mesothelioma Center, shares with us. “Our Medical Outreach team can help patients explore those options and connect them with experienced mesothelioma specialists at many of these renowned cancer centers.”

Top 10 Cancer Hospitals

Following the top 5, Johns Hopkins Hospital ranked No. 6 in the 2026-2027 cancer hospital rankings. The remaining hospitals in the top 10 bring highly ranked cancer programs to several regions of the country, from Baltimore and Philadelphia to Chicago, Palo Alto and San Francisco. Mount Sinai Hospital and UCSF Medical Center tied for the No. 10 spot this year.

Top 10 Cancer Hospitals

1. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
2. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City
3. Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, Boston
4. Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota
5. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
6. Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore
7. Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian, Philadelphia
8. Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago
9. Stanford Hospital at Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto, California
10. (Tie) Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, and UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco

These cancer centers offer access to advanced treatments, clinical trials and specialists who treat complex cancers. For people with mesothelioma, a hospital’s experience with rare cancers can be an important factor when choosing where to pursue care. These rankings and NCI designations give patients and families additional information to consider when evaluating mesothelioma treatment plan with more confidence. 

Cancer Hospitals Ranked 12 to 20

Northwestern Memorial Hospital now holds the top cancer ranking in Illinois, while the University of Chicago Medical Center ranks No. 15 nationally. The University of Chicago is one of several major cancer centers in this group with extensive experience treating complex cancers.

The Next 10 Hospitals

12. City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California
13. New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell, New York City
14. Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Hospitals, New York City
15. University of Chicago Medical Center
16. Cleveland Clinic
17. Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
18. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
19. Houston Methodist Hospital
20. UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles

The 12 to 20 rankings include several major cancer centers with extensive experience treating complex cancers. The group includes both dedicated cancer centers and large academic hospitals, reflecting the range of programs that U.S. News recognizes for cancer care.

2026-2027 Best Hospitals Honor Roll

U.S. News & World Report also released its yearly Best Hospitals Honor Roll, which recognizes hospitals for excellence across a wide range of specialties, procedures and conditions. Unlike the cancer rankings, the Honor Roll looks at a hospital’s performance across many areas of care, so some hospitals appear on both lists.

Mayo Clinic-Rochester, for example, ranked No. 4 for cancer care and also earned a place on the Honor Roll. Mayo Clinic-Florida in Jacksonville made its first appearance on the Honor Roll, while Cleveland Clinic, Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles also returned to the list this year.

2026-2027 Honor Roll Hospitals

• Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
• Cleveland Clinic
• Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Houston Methodist Hospital
• Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore
• Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
• Mayo Clinic-Arizona, Phoenix
• Mayo Clinic-Florida, Jacksonville
• Mayo Clinic-Rochester, Minnesota
• Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City
• New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell, New York City
• Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago
• NYU Langone Hospitals, New York City
• Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
• Stanford Health Care-Stanford Hospital, Palo Alto, California
• UC San Diego Health-La Jolla, San Diego
• UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, Los Angeles
• UCSF Health-UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco
• University of Michigan Health-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor

This list spotlights hospitals that deliver excellent care across a wide range of conditions, not just one specialty. That approach helps people find hospitals suited to complex health needs, especially when they’re facing a serious diagnosis like mesothelioma.

The 2026-2027 Honor Roll includes 20 hospitals from across the country. Facilities from Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas all earned this distinction. U.S. News lists Honor Roll hospitals alphabetically rather than by rank, since each one excels across many areas of care.

The post U.S. News Names the Best Centers for Mesothelioma Care in 2026 appeared first on Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

The case traces back to February 2023, when Boulder homeowners Megan Rux and Jason Lustbader planned a basement renovation. An asbestos inspection required for the project found asbestos levels above the state’s 1% limit. 

Nine months pregnant, Rux, along with Lustbader, hired Roberts to handle the asbestos abatement work. Roberts told the homeowners he’d completed the abatement and the space was safe to use again.

“This story is a horrifying example of fraud resulting in significant public health hazards,” Dr. Shannon L. Fitzgerald, a toxicologist and pharmacist, tells us. “It’s a crime worse than mere theft.”

Investigators Say Roberts Forged an Asbestos Clearance Report

Prosecutors say Roberts improperly performed the removal work and left the basement contaminated with asbestos. He allegedly gave the family a forged clearance report to convince them he’d ensured the space met safety standards.

Records from the Denver-Arapahoe Disposal Site show the facility never received hazardous waste tied to the project, despite Roberts’ claim that he’d disposed of the asbestos there. Rux told investigators she noticed several warning signs during the job, including debris trails leading from the basement to Roberts’ disposal trailer and gaps in the plastic sheeting meant to contain the contaminated area.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment inspected the basement in August 2023 and called it a “major asbestos spill.” Roberts collected $8,400 for the work and stopped responding to the family once they discovered the space still wasn’t safe. The couple then paid an additional $17,736.52 for a licensed company to properly remediate the basement.

Roberts Faces Multiple Felony Charges

Prosecutors charged Roberts with causing and contributing to a hazardous substance incident, a class 4 felony. He was also charged with 2 counts of forgery and 1 count of theft, all class 5 felonies. Authorities arrested him in Larimer County, and he posted $5,000 bail on July 22, 2026. 

Attorney General Weiser says the charges reflect the broader trust homeowners place in licensed contractors during renovation projects. He believes people who break that trust need to face accountability.

Anyone who suspects a contractor performed asbestos work without proper certification should report the issue to their state’s environmental or public health agency. People who spent time in the home during or after an improper abatement should tell their health care provider about the potential asbestos exposure.

Health Risks From Asbestos in Homes

Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma, and also causes lung cancer and asbestosis. Dr. Fitzgerald tells us families who discover asbestos in their home should act quickly. She recommends leaving the affected area, avoiding further contact with debris, changing clothes before leaving the space and washing skin thoroughly, depending on how much exposure occurred.  She says an independent, third-party industrial hygienist should test the home’s air quality before anyone moves back in. 

Dr. Fitzgerald also tells us asbestos fibers can settle into carpets, upholstery, mattresses, stuffed animals and other soft materials, making them difficult or impossible to clean completely. “A painful realization for families in this situation is that they may have to discard substantial amounts of soft personal property,” she says. 

Asbestos-related diseases can take decades to develop after initial exposure. People who inhale asbestos fibers today may not see symptoms until much later in life. She says, “once inhaled, there is unfortunately no remedy for removing asbestos fibers.” Worrying about the possibility of cancer and other serious illnesses over long periods of time can cause anxiety. Dr. Fitzgerald recommends in addition to discussing screening and monitoring with their doctor, considering mental health support. 

Dr. Fitzgerald says doctors should log exposure details like dates, duration and proximity to the contaminated area in each family member’s medical chart. A doctor may perform a chest exam, lung function tests and a baseline chest X-ray. 

Verifying a Contractor’s Credentials 

What happened to Megan Rux and Jason Lustbader shows why finding a trustworthy, certified contractor matters so much for asbestos work, according to Dr. Fitzgerald. She recommends that homeowners verify a contractor’s certification directly through their state government’s website or the EPA, rather than relying only on paperwork the contractor provides. 

She also suggests calling testing laboratories directly to confirm that any clearance reports are legitimate before trusting that a space is safe. Dr. Fitzgerald explains that risk increases the longer asbestos exposure continues and the more concentrated it becomes. 

“In toxicology, the dose-response curve climbs with duration and concentration,” she shares. “This contractor ensured prolonged, repetitive exposure to a family that trusted him.”

The post Home Contractor Exposes Family to Asbestos, Faces Felony Charges appeared first on Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

The cases come as J&J works to settle tens of thousands of talc claims through a proposed $5.5 billion agreement. The company has continued to face individual lawsuits while it seeks approval for the broader settlement.

The proposed settlement doesn’t prevent new lawsuits from being filed or existing cases from moving forward. J&J must still secure the required approval before the agreement can resolve the broader group of claims.

Missouri Woman Sues J&J Over Baby Powder and Ovarian Cancer

The plaintiff filed the suit Aug. 3 in Jackson County Circuit Court. It also names Imerys Talc America, the company that mined and supplied the talc used in the company’s baby powder.

She applied the company’s baby powder to her perineum regularly from 1976 to 2017. Doctors diagnosed her with ovarian cancer in 2017, when she was 59 years old and had no other risk factors for the disease. She didn’t learn about a possible link between talc and ovarian cancer until 2024, and the lawsuit argues that timeline makes her claim timely under Missouri law.

The lawsuit brings 7 counts against J&J and Imerys, including strict liability for failure to warn, negligence, breach of warranty and civil conspiracy. It accuses J&J of marketing its talc products as safe despite research linking talc use to ovarian cancer. A 1982 study found women who regularly used talc in the perineal area faced a 92% higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Her diagnosis led to several surgeries, including a procedure to remove as much of the cancerous tissue as possible. She also faced ongoing medical bills and significant pain and suffering from the illness. The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $25,000.

Louisiana Jury Awards $10 Million in Talc Mesothelioma Case

A Louisiana jury awarded $10 million to the family of Lynne Roy, a New Orleans woman who died in 2020 from mesothelioma after decades of exposure to talc products. The trial took place in the Civil District Court for Orleans Parish and lasted 3 weeks before the jury reached its verdict.

The jury concluded that Roy had regular, significant exposure to asbestos from products J&J manufactured or sold and that this exposure was a significant cause of her mesothelioma. Jurors also found the company negligent and determined its products were unreasonably dangerous, largely because J&J failed to warn consumers about possible asbestos contamination.

The total award included $8 million for Roy’s physical pain, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. Her daughters, Melissa Kaiser and Melanie Roy, each received $1 million for the loss of their mother. The lawyer for the Roy family said her daughters waited more than 6 years for their day in court, largely because of J&J’s previous bankruptcy attempts to resolve its talc litigation.

The jury also found several other defendants, including other talc companies, responsible for contributing to Roy’s death. J&J’s individual share of the verdict came to just over $1.2 million.

Johnson & Johnson’s Ongoing Legal Battle Over Talc

Despite J&J’s ongoing denials that its talc products contained asbestos and caused cancer, it stopped selling talc-based products globally in 2023 and recently offered $5.5 billion to settle tens of thousands of talc lawsuits. That offer still needs approval from 95% of the law firms representing claimants before the company can move forward with any payouts.

J&J previously tried a legal strategy called the “Texas Two-Step,” which involved creating a subsidiary to absorb the lawsuits and then filing that subsidiary for bankruptcy. A federal judge rejected the company’s most recent version of this plan in March 2025 and J&J said afterward it would litigate remaining cases individually.

J&J has yet to file a formal response to the Missouri petition and a hearing date also hasn’t been set. Meanwhile, the company faces additional talc trials in several other states over the coming months.

The post J&J Faces New Lawsuits and Verdicts While Trying to Settle Cases appeared first on Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

District officials say the trouble started in July, when crews removed piping in the basement as part of an HVAC project. That work revealed asbestos and a subcontractor mishandled the toxic material and spread it throughout the building.

Deputy Superintendent of Operations Oz Hill addressed the issue directly at a recent meeting with Kensington families. “I would like to acknowledge and apologize for this unfortunate circumstance,” Hill said. He and other officials laid out what went wrong and where students will go while crews clean and repair the building, underscoring questions about the nation’s asbestos-in-schools safety system.

Union Says Oversight Failures Caused Shutdown 

Union leaders say better oversight could’ve kept a manageable problem from turning into a building-wide shutdown. Jerry Roseman, the union’s director of environmental science, visited Kensington High School over the summer and talked with people working inside the building.

Roseman says crews need to identify and safely move asbestos-containing materials out of the way before they start other renovation work. He calls the process straightforward and says the district missed a step somewhere along the line.

Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Arthur Steinberg says someone not certified to handle asbestos performed the removal in ‘a non-regulated way. He also says the district agreed to remove all the asbestos in the century-old building, not just the material the contractor damaged.

Students Face New Travel Challenges 

Austin Meehan Middle School has been empty since 2022. District officials say they chose the building because it has enough space for Kensington’s students and staff. It can also accommodate students with special needs.

However, the school is more than 7 miles from Kensington,a roughly 24-minute drive without traffic. To help manage the distance, the district plans to have 8 buses available beginning around 6:45 a.m. each school day for families to drop off students at Kensington’s closed building and shuttle them to Austin Meehan.

District officials held an in-person meeting recently and plan to offer families more opportunities to ask questions in the coming days. A virtual session and open houses will be held at Austin Meehan. Kensington Principal Dr. Jose Lebron says the district’s priority is keeping students and staff safe while working through the transition.

Asbestos a Persistent Problem in Philly Schools 

About 80% of Philadelphia’s school buildings date back to before 1980 when builders widely used asbestos products such as insulation, ceiling tiles and cement. Many schools now have aging materials that can release dangerous fibers with wear and tear like asbestos flooring. Renovations that damage asbestos products particularly pose a risk of asbestos exposure when proper precautions aren’t taken.

An independent review of Benjamin Franklin High School found a rushed construction timeline led officials to miss warning signs during a 2018-2019 renovation project that also exposed asbestos. And asbestos contamination forced 6 Philadelphia schools to close in 2023 alone. 

Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against the School District of Philadelphia in 2023 for its handling of asbestos in schools, marking the first case of its kind against a U.S. school district. The district entered a deferred prosecution agreement that requires compliance with federal asbestos rules for about 5 years. Officials say regular inspections continue across the district’s roughly 300 school buildings while that agreement stays in effect.

Philadelphia teacher Lea DiRusso taught in city schools for nearly 30 years before doctors diagnosed her with mesothelioma. The district settled her lawsuit for $850,000 in 2020. Frankford High School teacher Juan Namnun, who was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma, filed a similar lawsuit in 2024 over decades of asbestos exposure at the school.

The post Philadelphia High School Relocates After Contractor Disturbs Asbestos appeared first on Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

Uniroyal Holding filed for bankruptcy on July 31, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. Once tied to one of America’s largest tire and rubber companies, Uniroyal Holding no longer manufactures products and instead has spent decades handling legal claims tied to its former asbestos-containing products.

Two days later, Vi-Jon filed for bankruptcy on Aug. 2, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The private-label manufacturer faces lawsuits over asbestos-contaminated talc in body powder. Its products reached consumers under retailers’ own brand names, like Walmart’s Equate and Target’s Up & Up.

The separate filings highlight how companies can continue facing significant legal and financial liabilities long after the products at issue leave the market. Both companies plan to use the bankruptcy process to resolve current and future claims.

Decades of Claims Push Uniroyal Into Bankruptcy 

About 2,800 asbestos-related claims were pending in 1986, shortly after a 1985 corporate restructuring created Uniroyal Holding. In the more than 40 years since 1985, 516,656 personal injury and wrongful death claims have been filed against the company. 

It resolved 216,994 of them while paying just under $500 million, and courts dismissed another 264,232. More than 35,000 cases remain open. Company President and General Counsel Robert V. D’Angelo said in a court declaration that the caseload will become unmanageable once its small internal team retires.

Uniroyal Holding is now turning to Chapter 11 to address that decades-long caseload. The company filed July 31, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, listing $10 million to $50 million in assets against $50 million to $100 million in liabilities. It filed the case with subsidiary Great Hill Corporation and plans to establish an asbestos trust fund to handle current and future claims.

Uniroyal Holding traces its roots to Uniroyal Inc., which began in 1892 as the United States Rubber Company and grew into one of America’s largest tire and rubber companies. A 1985 reorganization split Uniroyal Inc.’s business among 6 subsidiaries, including Uniroyal Holding. The holding company took responsibility for retirement benefits for former Uniroyal employees and legal claims tied to the company’s asbestos-containing products.

Vi-Jon Turns to Bankruptcy as Talc Claims Multiply

Filings against Vi-Jon rose about 400% since 2023, and 28 law firms sued the company for the first time during that period. As of the day Vi-Jon filed for bankruptcy, 367 mesothelioma and lung cancer claims remained pending against the company. NERA Economic Consulting estimated Vi-Jon’s talc-related litigation at $720 million, up from earlier estimates of $59 million to $102 million. The increase reflected more claims, fewer dismissals and higher average settlement costs.

Two jury cases also added to Vi-Jon’s legal liabilities. A Minnesota jury awarded $10.2 million in Heyer v. A.H. Bennett Co. and assigned Vi-Jon 20% of the fault. The court also entered a separate judgment against Vi-Jon for about $16.8 million in Ludwig v. Sumitomo Corp. of Americas. Those cases account for most of the roughly $20 million in litigation judgments Vi-Jon now lists among its unsecured obligations.

Vi-Jon filed for Chapter 11 on Aug. 2, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The company entered bankruptcy with a Restructuring Support Agreement signed with Emprise, Emprise HPC and lawyers representing more than 75% of talc claimants. The agreement calls for current and future talc claims to move into a court-supervised trust under Section 524(g) of the federal bankruptcy code.

Vi-Jon’s history dates back to 1908, when the company started as a small St. Louis manufacturer and later shifted toward private-label products for national retailers. Its talc-based body powder reached consumers under retailers’ own brand names, like Walmart’s Equate and Target’s up & up. A 2006 merger with Cumberland Swan Holdings, Inc. brought another source of talc liability. Cumberland Swan had assumed that liability through a 1999 asset purchase.

How Vi-Jon’s Talc Claims Will Be Paid 

Vi-Jon filed for bankruptcy with a proposed settlement for current and future talc-related claims. If the bankruptcy court approves the plan, those claims would be resolved through a talc injury trust.

Where the Funding Comes From

• Cash: Emprise would contribute $25 million when the plan takes effect.
• Company payment: The reorganized Vi-Jon would provide a $1 million note.
• Insurance: The trust would receive Vi-Jon’s rights to certain insurance payments.
• Other assets: The trust could receive money from legal claims and the sale of Vi-Jon’s former St. Louis manufacturing plant.
• Future sale: Emprise Group would make an additional payment if it is sold or merged for $1 billion or more.

Lawyers representing more than 75% of claimants in talc lawsuits signed a Restructuring Support Agreement before Vi-Jon filed for bankruptcy. The agreement supports the proposed settlement and its funding plan.

Vi-Jon’s advisors expect the case to move quickly, with a targeted confirmation date about 110 days after the filing. If the court approves the plan, the talc injury trust would handle the company’s current and future talc-related claims.

What the Filings Mean for People With Asbestos-Related Diseases

Bankruptcy filings like these show why asbestos litigation continues decades after most companies stopped using the mineral. Asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma can take several decades to develop after initial asbestos exposure, so new diagnoses continue to happen.

People with a confirmed asbestos-related diagnosis can pursue compensation through the bankruptcy trust system when the responsible company is no longer solvent. Settlement trusts like the ones proposed for Uniroyal Holding and Vi-Jon exist specifically to make sure future claims can be paid.

Anyone with questions about a pending or potential asbestos or talc claim can talk with a Patient Advocate who can connect them with vetted attorneys who handle cases like this. Experienced asbestos attorneys can ensure claims are processed correctly and on time.

The post Uniroyal & Vi-Jon File Chapter 11 Over Asbestos and Talc Claims appeared first on Mesothelioma Center - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.