June 28, 2011
PRLog
Recently, the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District issued an advisory regarding cleanup efforts in Capitola Village. The concerns resulted from remediation efforts following floods this spring that damaged a number of structures.
As reported in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, “We are aware of contractors working in your area that are either unlicensed or simply failing to conduct asbestos testing because they are not certified or qualified to conduct asbestos-related work,” said Mike Sheehan of Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District. “We hope to prevent violations of asbestos rules primarily to protect workers, building owners and the public from unnecessary asbestos exposure.”
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that when added to building products offers desirable attributes such as increased strength, corrosion resistance, acoustical dampening, thermal insulation and fire resistance. Breathing these resilient asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of respiratory diseases including, mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Cleanup efforts that disturb asbestos containing materials can aerosolize the asbestos fibers and create avoidable health hazards.