Spokane, Washington Targeted For Soil Testing

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced testing in Spokane, Washington, following concerns that soil in residential areas may be contaminated with asbestos. The concern arises from a nearby W.R. Grace insulation factory which used contaminated materials from another recent high profile cleanup in Libby, Montana. The cleanup in Libby was brought to the attention of the EPA and the federal government when it was revealed that over 200 people had died as a result of asbestos exposure. The cause of such a wide range of asbestos exposure was the result of a nearby vermiculite mine, under the control of the W.R. Grace company, the same company involved in manufacturing processes near Spokane.

As such, the EPA has decided to take precautionary measures against further potential health concerns by testing for asbestos contamination in residential areas near Vermiculite Northwest, the production facility involved in manufacturing Zonolite insulation. The Zonolite insulation was produced using vermiculite contaminated with asbestos from the mine in Libby, Montana.

According to reports, the EPA is testing 9 different sites from a nearby residential yard and will now analyze the samples in a government laboratory using the most advanced asbestos detecting tests available. Despite previous testing in early 2000, new testing for asbestos contamination has improved significantly in the past 10 years. The development of new testing methods coupled with the recent revelations of the extent Libby, Montana contamination and subsequent health effects has prompted the EPA to retest the soil. The newest tests can detect asbestos levels down to 0.25 percent in soil, as opposed to older methods which detected levels to about 1 percent.

Asbestos exposure is a serious health concern. It is responsible for a host of health complications, including serious respiratory and cardiovascular concerns as well as terminal conditions such as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a terminal, destructive cancer caused by the prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers. Over time, the fibers build up in the lining of the lungs, forming a cancer-causing plaque. The medical procedures for mesothelioma treatment often exceed the average person's medical insurance benefits. For this reason, it is important that individuals who have developed mesothelioma speak with an experienced mesothelioma attorney regarding the development of a mesothelioma lawsuit at their earliest convenience. Taking such a proactive step can potentially provide the affected person with the monetary compensation they need to cover medical costs and increase the quality of life during their cancer experience.

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