Possible Mesothelioma Risk from Worcester, Massachusetts Downtown Building

According to information released by the office of the Massachusetts Attorney General, a Grand Jury has finally indicted Mayo Group Development LLC for the improper removal of asbestos in a downtown Worcester building.

The incident goes back as far as February 2007, which was when employees from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) noticed debris being tossed out of a window at Worcester Commons. An inspection test later confirmed the presence of asbestos.

In addition, authorities found out that the disposal of the asbestos-contaminated debris was scheduled to go to a landfill that was not equipped for handling asbestos waste.

The Mayo Group has been indicted on charges of violating the Clean Air Act for failing to file notices for asbestos removal with the Massachusetts DEP. They were also indicted for failing to comply with procedures for asbestos emissions control and improper disposal of asbestos waste.

During the construction project, it is believed that Mayo Group even removed asbestos in parts of the building where people were living, placing both residents and the workers involved at risk.

Exposure to asbestos has been known to cause several forms of asbestos-related disease, including malignant mesothelioma. This particular disease can be extremely dangerous because it can lay dormant for as many as 50 years, which typically results in a person being diagnosed in the latest stages of development.

Once mesothelioma is finally diagnosed, treating the disease can be very discouraging since the majority of treatment options available are palliative rather than curative.

The chance of developing an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma provides great reason for conducting a full asbestos survey before removing materials that might contain asbestos. Those companies that handle demolition and renovation projects should especially make sure that a proper assessment of the site is completed before work begins.

As for the Mayo Group, statements indicate the company will be summonsed for arraignment in Worcester Superior Court at a later date.

For more information on the affects of asbestos exposure, please visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 29th, 2009 at 2:56 pm and is filed under Asbestos Abatement, Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos Testing, Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.