Asbestos Debris Found Dumped on Road in Washington County, PA Community of Bentleyville

Pennsylvania DEP is investigating a case where bags of asbestos debris where dumped on a Bentleyville, PA road. The improper disposal of asbestos materials can cause serious health risks for anyone exposed to the dangerous carcinogen.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer or asbestosis caused by exposure to asbestos, our lawyers may be able to help. Please complete the form on this page to obtain information about your legal rights.

On April 15, 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was called to investigate the illegal disposal of hazardous wastes in the Washington County, PA community of Bentleyville. A woman driving on Hess Road spotted eight large trash bags dumped near the side of the road and called 911 to report the illegally dumping.   The bags were determined to have contained asbestos debris.

The DEP is investigating the illegally dumped materials to determine the responsible parties, who may face possible citations and fines for the illegal dumping of asbestos-containing materials (ACM).

Serious Health Risks Caused by Illegal Disposal of Asbestos
The DEP enforces both federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state regulations regarding the removal and disposal of ACM.  These rules and regulations are in place in order that the public—both those who work in industries where exposure to asbestos may be likely and those who live or work in locations where asbestos materials are being removed—are protected from exposure to the dangerous mineral.

When asbestos materials are being removed from a demolition site, as part of renovations at a commercial or residential property or in other cases, the fibers can contaminate the air in the area.

When asbestos fibers are inhaled, the sharp, jagged edges on the microscopic fibers prevent them from being expelled from the lungs by coughing, sneezing or blowing one’s nose. Instead, the asbestos fibers attach to the lungs and cause damage over periods of 30-40 or more years (known as “asbestos latency periods”).

During this decades-long period, the asbestos will eventually cause the lungs to scar. When the scarring becomes significant, it can lead to a number of serious lung diseases such as emphysema, pleural plaques disease, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and asbestosis.

In more serious cases, the asbestos-scarred lungs will begin to produce abnormal cells that eventually reproduce and cluster to form the tumors that cause asbestos lung cancer or mesothelioma cancer.

How Weitz & Luxenberg Can Help
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we may be able to help you to seek justice for your illness and file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Please complete the form on this page for a free and confidential review of your potential asbestos lawsuit or request a free copy of our asbestos sourcebook. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.