Faulty Asbestos Abatement Contractors Create Mesothelioma Risk

Although hiring a professional asbestos abatement company is the safest route to take when removing asbestos, homeowners and business owners should be aware that crooked asbestos abatement contractors do exist.

Even companies that are certified have been known to illegally remove and dispose asbestos-containing materials in way that causes risk for citizens. Outside of using improper abatement techniques, contractors will sometimes claim that all asbestos has been removed when a significant amount is actually left behind.

Such a lie can expose those nearby to toxic asbestos fibers floating in the air. If these fibers are inhaled, they can become lodged in the mesothelial lining of the lungs and cause pleural mesothelioma to develop. Other areas of the body that can be affected include the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma) and abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma).

In addition to mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis can also result from faulty asbestos removal. To make matters worse, all three of these diseases have a severe latency period, and exposed victims will not likely experience symptoms until at least 10 years have passed since the initial asbestos exposure occurred. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.

Those that hire a contractor to perform asbestos abatement should also hire an asbestos inspector to oversee the work of the contractors. However, if an inspector is hired, it’s important to make sure the inspector is part of a completely separate business from the contractor. There have been times when inspectors have secretly worked with contractors to help falsify air quality samples.

A written work plan specifying the federal, state and local asbestos regulations should also be required by the person paying for the project. The work plan should entail permits, notifications, and all precautions that will be taken in order to prevent asbestos exposure.

With all risks aside, hiring a professional asbestos abatement contractor to carry out an asbestos-related project is highly recommended. Just ensure that all asbestos abatement techniques are strictly enforced and that the hired contractor is well received by local and state health departments. 

For more information on mesothelioma, please visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 5:29 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.