talc-based products

Study shows some talc-based products contain asbestos

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Inhalation of even the smallest amount of asbestos in talc can cause mesothelioma and other fatal diseases which can occur even many years after exposure. But almost 15 percent of talc-based cosmetic products that were analyzed in a recent study contain asbestos.

Screening is inadequate

An advocacy nonprofit, Environmental Working Group, commissioned the study which was published in the journal Environmental Health Insights on Nov. 25. EWG concluded that the cosmetic industry used inadequate methods to screen talc supplies. Compared to electron microscopy, according to EWG, the industry’s voluntary method was not sufficiently sensitive for screening for asbestos.

The Scientific Analytica Institute conducted the tests and used electron microscopy for its analysis. Twenty-one samples of powder cosmetics were tested including eye shadow, foundation, blush, face, and body powders. The tests also repeatedly found asbestos in talc products marketed to children.

Over 2,000 personal care products containing talc were identified on the EWG database. These include over 1,000 loose or pressed products that pose a risk of inhalation.

Cosmetics often contain talc as a filler, to improve texture or for moisture absorption. Talc and asbestos may be formed in the same rocks mined for cosmetic and industrial use.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require testing cosmetics for asbestos. The FDA just encourages companies to carefully select talc mines to avoid asbestos contamination.

Harm

The extent of harm depends on how much talc was inhaled and the amount that was contaminated with asbestos. But only one asbestos fiber lodged in the lungs can cause mesothelioma decades later, according to an EWG senior scientist.

Asbestos exposure has links to asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung and ovarian cancer. The EWG Action Fund, utilizing federal data, estimates that up to 15,000 people in this country die each year from diseases trigged by asbestos.

Solutions

The Scientific Analytical Institute said that it is essential for the FDA to develop a stringent method for screening talc in personal care products. It said that that the cosmetics industry should be required to utilize the precise methods existing for testing care products for asbestos.

Johnson & Johnson announced in May that it was ending the sale of its talc-based baby powder in this country and Canada. Thousands of people filed lawsuits against that company charging that its product caused cancer.

An attorney can help obtain compensation for victims of asbestos-related illnesses. They can obtain evidence and pursue their rights in court.

Dog bites: What is the law in Kentucky

Dog bites: What is the law in Kentucky?

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There was a time when the common law “one-bite rule” guided the judgements on dog bite cases in the United States. The owner could only be held liable for a dog attack if he knew that the dog had aggressive tendencies, or if the dog had attacked in the past. In other words, the burden of proof lay with the victim of the attack.

Many states have changed dog bite laws to hold owners accountable for the animal’s behavior regardless of its past tendencies, and to require owners of aggressive animals to confine them. The gradual increase in the number of dog attacks, especially attacks on children and the elderly, has highlighted the need for greater accountability on the part of the owner.

The sad toll on the victims of dog bite attacks

It is estimated that 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States each year. Dog bite victims experience more than $1 billion in financial losses annually, and in 2018 alone, close to 27,000 individuals had to have reconstructive surgery from wounds inflicted by dog bites. Dog bite-related emergency room visits also occurred four times more often in rural communities in 2008.

The statistics on dog bite attacks show not only the prevalence of this issue, but also that breed-specific incidents keep appearing. From 2005 to 2019, pit bull terriers killed Americans at a rate 6.5 times higher than the next closest breed, rottweilers.

Infants from 0-2 years old made up a quarter of those fatalities, and in 43.6% of incidents involving injuries, parents were present at the time. Among all dog breeds, when a dog bite occurred the animal knew the patient 53% of the time. However, pit bulls were more likely to attack a stranger without provocation.

Dog bite laws in Kentucky

In Kentucky, dog bite laws hold the owner strictly liable for all damages in an attack, including to the victim, another person’s livestock or property, or to the victim’s pet. The law also permits anyone who witnesses the attack to seize or kill the animal.

Kentucky also applies comparative negligence in cases where the victim may have contributed to or provoked an attack, for example by trespassing on a neighbor’s property or approaching an aggressive animal. In such cases the court determines a percentage of responsibility to the owner and the victim.

In all cases, however, a statute of limitations for pursuing a claim applies. When pursuing a claim after a dog bite attack, it is important to know your rights and to get help so that you can get the compensation you deserve.

How to identify traumatic brain injury symptoms after an accident

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Being involved in a motor vehicle accident or hitting your head in a different type of incident can cause short- and long-term consequences.

Suffering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be scary to deal with, but the key is to treat it as soon as possible. Paying attention to the cues your body provides you will give a better chance to restore your health.

Brain injury symptoms

After taking a blow to the head in any situation — a car crash, at work, a violent act against you, etc. — immediate medical attention is necessary. Even when accident victims don’t lose consciousness or spot any external signs of trauma to the head, it’s still possible that they are suffering from a brain injury.

Here are some typical signs of a brain injury:

  • Slurring speech
  • Facing fatigue
  • Feeling numbness or weakness
  • Experiencing vision loss
  • Suffering a headache, dizziness or nausea

A whirlwind of emotions can interfere with one’s ability to notice these signs. So, not only is an initial visit to a doctor essential, but continuing to follow up with symptoms that may take a few hours or days to kick in is important too.

Irreversible damage

According to Mayo Clinic, timely care is crucial because brain injuries can progress quickly and lead to brain damage that can’t be corrected. In severe cases, internal bleeding and limited oxygen to the brain can take place. So, going to the emergency room will be the best course of action.

On the other hand, mild injuries might only require at-home care. But following a doctor’s orders when it comes to resting up at home is imperative. This is because limiting physical and cognitive activities might be essential to prevent one’s condition from worsening.

 

Motorcycle crash with SUV has predictable result

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A motorcycle accident recently in east Louisville resulted in one fatality and one injured person. The motorcyclist was killed when he collided with an SUV on Ballardsville Road near Worthington Place at approximately 10:30 p.m.

The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time. The driver of the SUV was unharmed, although the passenger of the SUV was taken to University Hospital with unknown injuries.

The high price of motorcycle accidents

Motorcycle accidents are much more common, relatively, than car accidents and far more deadly. Motorcyclists make up 14% of all traffic related deaths, with the number of total annual injuries steadily rising to 88,000 in 2016. Sadly, a third of all fatal crashes involving a motorcycle were due to alcohol impairment, while another third occurred when the biker was speeding.

Three-quarters of all biker accidents are due to collisions with another passenger vehicle, and in most of these cases motorists did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid a collision. Head-on collisions accounted for 75% of all biker collisions.

The likelihood of injury is very high in motorcycle accidents. Single vehicle accidents involving a motorcycle resulted in injury to the motorcyclist in most of the cases.

Medical bills for bikers are also much higher than for injured car drivers, ranging from $6,000 to $30,000. This does not include long-term expenses for head trauma victims, most of whom were not wearing helmets.

The importance of a helmet and protective gear

Using a safety helmet is the most important preventative measure a biker can take to minimize injury in the event of an accident. Head trauma is one of the main causes of death in motorcycle accidents.

Not only do helmeted drivers have fewer neck injuries in a crash, but they stand a much better chance of surviving a crash. Unfortunately, only about 50% of motorcyclists wear a helmet.

Losing a loved one to negligence

Losing a loved one in a preventable accident is devastating. If the accident was due to the other driver’s inattention, reckless driving or elevated alcohol level, it is possible to file a wrongful death claim.

Successful claims can result in judgements that make the other party liable for medical treatment, funeral costs or the projected lifetime lost earnings of the deceased. While this can never erase the pain of loss, financial compensation can help your family find closure.