Suspects Accused of Michigan Asbestos Dumping

Article Added December 12th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

Two suspects have already been arrested and a third is being sought for the illegal dumping of asbestos in Washington Township, Michigan. The men all worked for a company accused of the dumping in 2003.

Three men all working for a local Michigan company are accused of illegally dumping asbestos waste near a school and in a residential development. The dumping came to light when a homeowner saw 55-gallon barrels at the site, which had a company logo on it. Another site across from a school was found, with the same logo on the containers. While two men are in custody awaiting a late November trial, lawyers hope the third man will be caught before that date in order to try all involved at once.

Since some of the containers were near a school, state health workers removed them, instead of by the company liable. Asbestos, when disposed of improperly, can become a health issue as the material breaks down and becomes airborne. The fibers can be breathed in, sticking to the lung linings and killing the tissue there. This result, called mesothelioma, can take years to manifest and is often deadly when discovered. Local health officials state that there was no immediate health concern to the neighborhood or school near the find.

Article Added December 12th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story