November 23, 2021 When it comes to asbestos, there is no safe level of exposure. Asbestos was used in a variety of products from the 1930’s through the 1970’s, and many of those products ended up in landfills once they had outlived their usefulness. It is widely known that natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires and blizzards can disturb forgotten asbestos materials in older structures and create hazardous conditions which could lead to exposure. Human interference can also result in the disturbance of old asbestos materials.
In Denver, a blizzard hit the city in March and would ultimately leave two feet of snow. However, the snowstorm was not what eventually forced the Parks and Recreation Department to clean up exposed asbestos debris. Rather, a group of vandals chose to ignore that the area was closed to vehicle traffic. Their joy ride tore up layers of turf, revealing formerly buried asbestos that was discarded in the landfill. One dog-walker expressed concern that a popular park where local children go sledding would be placed on a trash dump, but this is a more common practice than most people realize.
When people know they live in an older home, they can do the responsible thing and hire professionals to properly handle renovations and materials believed to contain asbestos. In cases where asbestos is hidden in landfills unbeknownst to the general public, it becomes more difficult to make informed decisions to protect one’s health. Dumps like this one contain thousands of products manufactured with asbestos before regulations restricted its use and set safe recycling standards.
Some of the products containing asbestos that would end up in a landfill include insulation, old car parts like brake pads or parts of the clutch mechanism, oven mitts, and a vast array of construction materials from floor tiles, cement, drywall, paint, and piping.
While asbestos use in the United States has dropped off dramatically since its peak in the 1970s, the fact is that landfills containing discarded asbestos pose a threat to future generations if they become disturbed for any reason, which makes continued awareness important.
How We Help Victims of Asbestos Exposure
Seek justice with the help of our experienced asbestos attorneys. Our asbestos law firm has represented individuals like you affected by asbestos exposure for over 20 years, aggressively fighting the corporate giants responsible for their dangerous products. If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos or suffer from a disease caused by asbestos like mesothelioma, we can help.
