Residents of three communities in Whatcom County in Washington state are being warned that they’re at risk for malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. The danger comes from decades-old asbestos contamination that recent flooding may have unearthed.
Mesothelioma Risk Follows Catastrophic Flooding
The risk of mesothelioma faced by residents of Whatcom county is a “chronic issue” according to local experts, who explain that when flooding occurs in areas affected by the Swift Creek landslide, communities are at risk for exposure to naturally-occurring asbestos hidden within its sediment.
The Swift Creek landslide and others like it are common in the Pacific Northwest, where the area’s geology is made up of layers of loose sediment overlaying less permeable layers of clay. Frequent rains and snows create landslide conditions, but this particular area’s sediment contains significant amounts of asbestos, which is known to cause malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other deadly diseases.
The fears of mesothelioma are made even worse in the areas where the Sumas River meets up with the creek because that riverbed also contains asbestos. According to Cris Matthews, a hydrogeologist with the Washington State Department of Ecology, it’s been a known issue for decades.
Flood Events Create “Critical” Mesothelioma Risk
Matthews explained that recent events have exacerbated the risk of mesothelioma, saying, “As that material breaks up and is partitioned and carried as sediment downstream, the asbestos material comes out and is suspended in the water and is carried downstream and distributed around the landscape when the creek floods….Flood events like this obviously accelerate that process and make it critical like it is now.”
Local experts say that mesothelioma is a concern but that residents can take measures to protect themselves. According to Sue Sullivan, Environmental Health Manager with the Whatcom County Health Department, “Asbestos is something to be concerned about but there’s no need to panic. You want to make sure you’re keeping it out of your house.”
The health department is suggesting that respirators be worn by anyone cleaning up after flooding and that shoes worn on flood deposits should be rinsed off before being brought inside homes. Materials cleaned up from flood waters should be double-bagged and dried-up flood soil should be dampened before digging it up and moving it.
Mesothelioma is most commonly associated with occupational, commercial and industrial exposure, but asbestos can occur naturally too. For more information, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
