Asbestos Contamination makes Demolition of Vacant Houses in Buffalo More Expensive

Buffalo has its share of vacant and run down houses that are becoming a nuisance to neighbors and others living nearby. According to an estimate, Buffalo has more vacant houses per capita than any other city in US expect for St. Louis.

These vacant houses have become a respite and heaven for criminals who carry out their illegal and prohibited activities here that often result in burning and straining fires causing problems and further expenditures on various state departments to keep them intact. These vacant houses also slow down the investment in nearby areas that is badly needed for progress. Now with mutual decision, it has been announced that these houses would be demolished in the next 5 years.

However, the estimate that was initially planned for demolition of these vacant houses has risen considerably. This rise in cost is due to presence of asbestos that needs careful handling to prevent asbestos exposure. The estimate for demolition of these asbestos contaminated houses is coming to $16, 040 per house. This is 31% more than the actual cost that was estimated to tear down these houses. It is because asbestos handling needs careful handling and machinery so that it can be removed without posing any health risk to people working on the site and living here.

However, the mayor of the city has promised to take care and spend more money if needed for safe removal of asbestos from these houses.

Steam Pipe Explosion in Boston Street showers Asbestos-Contaminated Water

A steam pipe explosion in Boston led to spray of asbestos contaminated water and debris over the Otis Street of Boston. Due to the explosion, Otis Street was closed to pedestrians and other people that caused problems for commuters who needed to pass this busy intersection at Otis Street and Summer Street.

Eye witnesses say that the explosion took place around lunch time and left people working near by stunned and shocked. According to one witness, she saw huge steam rising from the man hole going up at least 10 or 11 stories high. According to reports, at least 5 people had to be given emergency treatment to decontaminate them from the asbestos water and debris that were present at the site of explosion when it occurred. Four people are reported to be taken to hospital but none of the injuries were life threatening. The only danger here is exposure to asbestos that took place when the explosion occurred as asbestos exposure can create a risk for mesothelioma cancer and other fatal lung diseases.

The reason behind explosion of steam pipe remains a mystery as authorities are still looking for the trigger that sent asbestos contaminated water and debris over the busy street. Health officials from the state department and other workers are collecting dust and air samples to check out the extent of asbestos contamination in the debris while the cleaning is still in progress.

Excessive Use of Asbestos in Asia draws attention of International Ban Asbestos Secretariat

A rise in asbestos usage has been noticed in Asian countries especially in China and India. Based on this, the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat has published a report titled as Killing the Future: Asbestos Use in Asia.

This report mentions in detail the rising use of asbestos in Asia and the threat it poses to workers handling asbestos. Along with this, the report also mentions in detail the success of various campaigns that were run to lessen the importance of asbestos dangers as well the associated health risks. The report quotes an interview by Chairman of the Asbestos Cement Products Manufacturers’ Association in India who claimed in one of his media appearances that the asbestos used in India is free of all health hazards and poses no risk to health of workers.

The other Asian country to make excessive use of asbestos is China. It has been noted that although China is one of the top 5 producers of asbestos in the world, even then it imports sizable amounts of asbestos from other countries. Much of this asbestos is imported from Russia that is used in various industries to meet domestic demands.

According to statistics, asbestos usage in China rose 40% just in four years from 2000 to 2004. The report mentions the health risks caused by extensive exposure to asbestos that are caused when asbestos is handled. Even natural disasters like earth quakes and tsunami have played an important role in exposing people to this harmful toxic. Mesothelioma, the cancer of lungs was considered very rare in this region, however with time and exposure, asbestos and mesothelioma cases are increasing in number.

The report in general covers all the Asians countries that are using asbestos to meet their national and domestic needs and stresses on the health risks it poses to their workers. It also stresses the increasing number of mesothelioma and asbestosis patients being reported in Asian countries as more and more people are being exposed to asbestos and emphasizes on the need to eliminate the use of this deadly carcinogen.

Check out full report Killing the Future: Asbestos Use in Asia

Asbestos Discovery at New Jersey School Raises Concerns

St. Mary’s High School in Rutherford, New Jersey has been detected with traces of asbestos that has raised questions and concerns regarding the safety of children in school. Asbestos has been found in ceiling of the locker room of wrestling team.

Officials believe that asbestos might have become air borne when the bathroom located above the locker was renovated in the past. After this discovery the EPA officials were called in who found traces of asbestos on a steam pipe in the high school cafeteria too. The pipe is said to be wrapped in asbestos and asbestos became loose when it was scrubbed after a leak in November 2006. At that time the officials believed that all asbestos has been removed from the school premises but it seems they were wrong and now their worst fears have been confirmed.

The officials have promised that the loose asbestos will be removed and the locker room will be cleaned properly following the EPA guidelines for asbestos removal. Air samples have also been collected at the high school but it will take a period of almost 6 weeks for results to be announced.

The parents of children coming to St. Mary’s High School were informed about this situation in a letter that was send by the parish last week. Many of the parents have raised concerns that even though the school authorities were aware of asbestos presence in school, yet they did not notify them.

The school authorities have promised that that they will ensure proper asbestos removal. They have also tried to over come their deficiencies that were earlier pointed out by EPA inspectors by coming up with a appropriate management plan for asbestos as required by the law and getting the school maintenance and custodial staff trained for handling asbestos.

Asbestos is a mineral fiber commonly used for insulation and fireproofing. However, it is a deadly toxic and its exposure can lead to various diseases especially mesothelioma cancer that can result in death.

Asbestos Particles a Constant Thereat to Beachgoers at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion

A team of scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of US is carrying out additional tests to determine if there is any risk of asbestos exposure to people visiting the Illinois Beach State Park.

It has been 10 years since it first came to knowledge that asbestos contaminated debris was washing up at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, Illinois. It was very alarming as it posed a risk of asbestos exposure and subsequent deadly diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung scarring. Until recently, the state park was declared to be safe by federal as well as the state authorities. However, EPA raised concerns regarding the asbestos exposure that could take place at the beach and affect numerous people coming here.

To check for asbestos exposure, scientists were seen engaged in childlike activities while they collected samples from air and sand. Even last year, air and sand samples were taken from the state park to be checked for asbestos contamination. According to the results, very low levels of asbestos were found that do not pose a threat to environment. However, a national preview panel recommended that additional tests should be performed as they showed lack of confidence in the tests. However, the scientists believe that the results would remain the same.

What cannot be denied is the presence of asbestos fibers in the sand due to which there is a constant danger of asbestos diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis etc. and there are enough asbestos fibers on the sand to worry the people and state of Illinois. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources sweeps the beach every week and during the summer months they even went to the extent of 3 sweeps per week to check for any asbestos contaminated debris on the beach.

Each time asbestos fibers were found on the beach, it lead to concerns among the Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society, the founders of the park as well as the people who are aware of dangerous consequences of asbestos inhalation. These air and sand samples will be analyzed by the EPA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) after which a final report on safety of the beach is expected.