Revisions to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster clean-up policies are raising concerns about future diagnoses of mesothelioma among health care professionals and asbestos awareness advocates. The agency has announced that it will not be conducting additional soil tests to confirm that the earth under former home sites is free of toxins.
Residents Fear Asbestos Left Behind Will Lead to Future Mesothelioma Diagnoses
When hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters occur, the risk of mesothelioma is not the first thing that comes to mind. But advocates of asbestos bans and health professionals know that the destruction created by these events can release deadly asbestos fibers into the air, and demolition of homes destroyed by fire leaves asbestos in soil that will be disrupted during future construction or spread as wind erosion occurs. These invisible particles can lead to significant illnesses in the future.
While the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will continue removing wildfire ash, debris, and six inches of topsoil from properties affected by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, the decision to conduct a comprehensive assessment leaves residents, business owners, and others throughout the community at risk of mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and other diseases.
Wildfires in Populated Areas Leave Asbestos Behind
Wildfire ash is always dangerous, but when it impacts heavily populated areas like the 16,000 buildings affected by the two Los Angeles fires, there are additional concerns about the risk of exposure to toxic materials hidden in the structures that were burned. Asbestos is a key concern, as it was commonly used in the construction of homes built before 1980, and when inhaled or ingested, it can lead to mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer.
Despite concerns from residents and health advocates about asbestos-related diseases, FEMA federal coordinating officer Curtis Brown dismissed the idea of returning to the previously established testing process, saying it would be “tedious, inefficient, and a barrier to timely clean up and recovery.” California Governor Gavin Newsom is urging the agency to change its policy.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
