Asbestos Removal Leads to Jail

Article Added December 23rd, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

A New York man was charged with illegal removal of asbestos in multiple cases on multiple sites. The botched removal of the hazardous substances has put thousands of people in danger of exposure.

The state’s assistant US Attorney has charged one New York man with several counts of illegal asbestos removal. The man allegedly oversaw the removal of hundreds of tons of spray on asbestos fireproofing at one site, and oversaw the removal of fibrous asbestos from many other sites. The man ordered that the material be dumped as construction debris, which is not regulated. The result was that tons of the hazardous material was discharged into the surrounding area and released into storm drains leading to the Erie Canal.

Though no one has come forward yet, the illegal removal and dumping has put thousands of people at risk of asbestos exposure. Exposure can lead to many different types of respiratory illnesses, including emphysema and a form of lung cancer called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers are breathed into the lungs and then stick there, prohibiting the tissue from getting oxygen. The lung tissue dies, suffocating the victim over a period of years or decades. No cases of respiratory illness have been linked to the removal to date.

Article Added December 23rd, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story