Asbestos in Hopkinton, MA
Biotechnology Tools Company Fined for Asbestos Violations at Former Massachusetts Facility
The use of asbestos-containing products in aging commercial buildings continues to place those who work in these buildings at risk for exposure to the cancer-causing mineral when building renovations take place. As with this incident in Hopkinton, MA, local, state and federal agencies are responsible for enforcing asbestos removal and disposal regulations.
If your family is facing a loved ones diagnosis with an asbestos disease caused by occupational exposure, you can obtain vital information from our asbestos lawyers about your legal rights by completing the form on this page.
In September 2010, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced that it had assessed a $7,940 asbestos violation fine against Life Technologies Corporation, a company that markets biotechnology tools both in the United States and abroad.
Asbestos Violations Investigation
As part of an August 2009 inspection of the facility, MassDEP inspectors discovered the company had improperly removed floor tiles contaminated with asbestos-containing adhesive. The floor tiles were found in an open container stored outside of the building.
As a result of the MassDEP investigation, the company was citied for:
The company was ordered to hire a licensed asbestos contractor to package, remove and dispose of all ACM waste at the facility.
Asbestos Health Risks
The MASSDEP action was taken because of the serious health risks associated with exposure to asbestos. The mineral, which has been classified by both U.S. and international health agencies as a known carcinogen (cancer-causing material), causes men and women from many walks of life to develop serious illnesses such as mesothelioma cancer, asbestos lung cancer and asbestosis.
Tragically, these diseases strike 40-50 years after an asbestos disease patient is first diagnosed. This decades-long time between exposure and when symptoms of asbestos disease develop are known as asbestos latency periods.
When microscopic asbestos fibers become trapped in the lungs, they eventually cause scarring, which can cause scarring of health lung tissue and chronic breathing disorders such as emphysema and pleural plaques disease to develop. The scarred lungs may also cause abnormal cells to reproduce and grow, resulting in lung cancer or mesothelioma tumors.
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.
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