News story: Indiana residents in danger of developing asbestosis and other diseases
Thousands of acres contaminated by asbestos
In March 2011, Cincinnati news station, Channel 12 WKRC-TV reported on an asbestos crisis in the town of Madison, Indiana that will continue to affect residents there for many years to come. There were signs of widespread asbestos contamination in the town that could lead to serious asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Even worse, the news story revealed, the asbestos had been “scattered around months ago and only recently identified.”
Weitz and Luxenberg believes that it is tragic that there are still news stories like this in America today. As pulmonary physician, Dr. William Eschenbacher, told WKRC-TV: "Everybody has known for years the serious nature of asbestos. Many other countries in the world have actually come out and banned it."
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An “amazing” level of asbestos exposure
The situation in Madison began several months before when a dangerous asbestos removal operation was launched at the Jefferson Proving Grounds, a 56,000 acre piece of property in the town. The Jefferson Proving Grounds was previously an Army munitions testing facility, and had long been known to be dangerously polluted for some time. “The federal register clearly documents that buildings here were well known to contain asbestos. A paste containing high levels of asbestos was used to wrap miles of heating steam pipe that connected buildings on the property,” said the WKRC-TV news report.
In 1996, a Madison businessman, Dean Ford purchased 3,400 acres of the former facility for development. According to allegations made by investigators from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, in March of 2010, Ford and a local handyman, James Reed, “violated at least 16 state air pollution regulations when Reed and his crew removed the dangerous insulation by simply ripping it off the pipe and dumping it.” Test results obtained by WKRC-TV showed the asbestos content in a sample removed from the pipes contained 40 percent chrysotile asbestos, a level that one of the investigating experts called "amazing." "That's the most hazardous form. I would say that anybody within the surrounding area, and it's tough to put a mile limit on it, is probably at risk."
After receiving an anonymous tip about these pollution violations, on November 30, 2010, local, state, and federal investigators intervened and forced Ford to hire a licensed asbestos contractor to remove the asbestos materials safely and properly.
Unfortunately this did not occur until months later, after many of the town’s resident could have already been exposed to the deadly carcinogen. In fact, a month before the discovery was made by authorities, in October 2010, “a local hospital sponsored a breast cancer run through the Jefferson Proving Grounds-ironically calling it ‘Run For Your Life,’” reported WKRC-TV.
So far the TV news station has said that “the investigation into the asbestos removal situation at Jefferson Proving Grounds is so complex and potentially so expensive that we weren't able to get a single person from any of the investigating agencies to talk with us on camera about it.”
“No one can say how many people on or around J.P.G may have been exposed during the asbestos removal. They will only say at this point, it's contained and the investigation continues.”
Weitz & Luxenberg can help
Weitz & Luxenberg understands how widespread the asbestos problem is and the pain and suffering it has caused countless people across the country like the residents of Madison, Indiana. It is unfortunate that even though the dangers of asbestos have been known in the United States since at least the Industrial Revolution, it continued to be used in multiple industries. Such carelessness should not be ignored.
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Sources:
Update on the "Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2006"?