Asbestos Cancer

... Stock Market News and Investment Information RSS LONDON (Reuters) - Shares in Hanson Plc (HNS.L: Quote, Profile, Research) surged to an all-time high on Wednesday as talk circulated of a bid for the building materials supplier from France's Lafarge (LAFP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research), adding to rumors the firm might separate its U.S.

business.

"We have heard Lafarge could be about to bid for Hanson.

It has been rumored before," said a London-based trader.Another dealer cited break-up talk as the main reason behind the share price move."There's a real feeling that they're going to uncouple their U.S.

business, which would get rid of some of this asbestos worry," the dealer said, echoing rumors reported in Wednesday's Independent newspaper.Hanson's U.S.

operations are performing better than its UK and ...

... Market News and Investment Information RSS LONDON (Reuters) - Shares in Hanson surged to an all-time high on Wednesday as talk circulated of a bid for the building materials supplier from France's Lafarge, adding to rumours the firm might separate its U.S.

business.

"We have heard Lafarge could be about to bid for Hanson (HNS.L: Quote, Profile, Research).

It has been rumoured before," said a London-based trader.Another dealer cited break-up talk as the main reason behind the s...

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JT Archives MOBILE Home > Opinion EDITORIAL Asbestos aid falls short The Diet enacted a law in early February to financially help people suffering from asbestos-related health problems not covered by labor accident compensation.

Eligible people can start filing requests for the aid under the law on March 20.

Enactment of the law was quick - in about seven months - after it was discovered that people living near an asbestos-related factory in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, were suffering from illnesses caused by the carcinogenic material.

So far so good.

But the government's basic position on asbestos pollution is far from laudable as it refuses to take responsibility for the nationwide health disaster.

Although the carcinogenic quality of asbestos has been known for decades, the government waited until 1995 to ban the production and use of highly poisonous brown and blue asbestos.

The use of white asbestos, which is less carcinogenic, wasn't banned until October 2004.

And the governme...