Government Agencies Warn Residents of Katrina-Ravaged Areas To Be Careful About Asbestos

Residents of New Orleans and other hurricane-ravaged communities are starting to return to their homes in order to start the clean up process and to try their best to reclaim their lives. But it is feared that many of those returning don't fully understand the numerous dangers associated with handling the debris and other materials that now litter the surrounding landscape. One of the biggest threats to human health is the threat of airborne asbestos.

Many buildings built before 1970 contain asbestos. If these older buildings are structurally sound and well maintained then they are generally OK for human occupation. This is because the asbestos in these building is almost always sealed, and sealed asbestos generally doesn't flake off and become airborne, where it can enter the lungs and lead to asbestos cancer.

But the massive amount of damage done to the unnumbered homes, office building, schools, etc. by Hurricane Katrina means that some of the asbestos contained in the older buildings is now exposed and is now able to break up and become airborne. The airborne asbestos fibers are very small and can easily enter the lungs of anyone near the asbestos source, and as we often like to remind our readers: it only takes a single, tiny fiber of asbestos to cause the deadly mesothelioma.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other government agencies have released some useful information regarding the careful handling of hurricane damaged materials. Click here to read more...

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