Oregon Landfill Can’t Take More Asbestos

Article Added August 7th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

After violations were found on the site, a Washington County landfill is not accepting any more asbestos. The decision came after it was found that the landfill was accepting hazardous loose asbestos.

The residents of Scholls, Oregon has had problems with the Lakeside Landfill for a while. But it was not until the found that the site was accepting loose asbestos that the landfill was closed down. The area was allowed to take stable, contained asbestos items, but was prohibited from putting citizens at risk by accepting loose material. The landfill is now banned from accepting any material containing asbestos.

By accepting loose asbestos, the landfill was creating a potential hazard of exposure to residents around the area. As the asbestos is dumped, it breaks into fibers and becomes airborne. People may breathe in the fibers, then becoming a health concern. Breathing in asbestos can lead to a slew of health problems, including asbestosis, emphysema and mesothelioma. Possibly the worst of these conditions, mesothelioma is a direct result of asbestos and can take years to manifest. Once a person is diagnosed, the cancer is normally too far along to be treated and the victim ends up suffocating to death as the fibers cause lung tissue to die.

Article Added August 7th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story