ASBESTOS POISONING

Demolition Project in Detroit, MI, Halted. Improper Testing reportedly Places Workers and Residents at Risk for Asbestos Poisoning.

News Update

Plans to demolish several thousand blighted properties in Detroit were put on hold after it was discovered that the buildings had not undergone pre-demolition testing for asbestos. Exposure to the dangerous mineral, sometimes called “asbestos poisoning,” can cause serious illnesses many decades after first exposure.

If your family is facing a loved one’s diagnosis with mesothelioma cancer, asbestos lung cancer or asbestosis, you can obtain important information from our asbestos lawyers about your rights and legal options by completing the form on this page.

In March 2010, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) first learned of the city of Detroit’s plans to demolish over 3,000 vacant and abandoned homes in the city after reading that the first property had faced the wrecking ball.

The DNRE ordered the project immediately halted because the city agency responsible for the demolition project had allegedly not followed state and federal regulations that require the city to have the properties tested for the presence of asbestos.

State and Federal Regulations for Asbestos Testing and Abatement
The city, as well as owners and developers of commercial properties, are required to follow regulations enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the DNRE regulations when planning renovations or the demolition of properties where asbestos is believed to be present.

A state-certified asbestos abatement contractor must be hired to test the building for all areas where asbestos-containing materials (ACM) were used, and follow specific regulations to make sure that all ACM is removed in a way that protects workers and all those who live or work in the area to be protected from exposure to the cancer-causing mineral. EPA and DNRE regulations also require that all ACM waste be transported to approved locations for disposal.

More information about regulations in Michigan can be found at the DNRE Web site.

Environmental Health Risks
If asbestos is removed improperly, or in the case of the demolition project in Detroit, left in the abandoned properties being demolished, microscopic asbestos fibers are released into the air, causing all those who live or work in the area to be exposed to the contaminated dusts.

Diseases related to asbestos poisoning typically have a long asbestos latency period. That means that individuals who are exposed to asbestos do not show symptoms of illness until 30-40 or even more years after they are first exposed.

This long gestation period is a result of the way asbestos affects the lungs. The microscopic fibers have sharp, jagged edges which cause them to attach to lung tissue instead of being expelled by coughing, sneezing or blowing one’s nose.

The asbestos fibers remain in the lungs, where they cause scarring to occur over this long period. Eventually the scarring will cause breathing problems such as emphysema, pleural plaques disease, asbestosis or chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) to develop. In more serious cases, the asbestos-scarred lungs will begin to produce abnormal cells which cluster to form the tumors that are eventually diagnosed as 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.