After a destructive fire at an Indianapolis warehouse on Belmont Avenue, an environmental remediation company is hard at work cleaning up asbestos debris in the surrounding neighborhood. Officials from the Marion County Health Department along with the Environmental Protection Agency are concerned that the asbestos debris – especially paper containing asbestos – may end up miles from the original site.
Marion County Health Department has ordered the owner of the destroyed warehouse to immediately clean up the area. The most pressing concern is that the debris containing asbestos may continue to deteriorate, potentially releasing toxic asbestos particles into the air. Further, if the asbestos debris is not properly and safely handled during the clean up process, the potential for additional contamination rises dramatically.
The focus of the clean up efforts is mainly on the neighborhood near the warehouse, but workers for the environmental remediation company are also clearing toxic debris from the warehouse property.
Residents in the affected area have been warned to be careful in handling any suspected asbestos debris from the fire. Mishandling the asbestos debris can lead to immediate and long-term health conditions including mesothelioma cancer. Residents are urged to keep an eye out for any debris in their yard and to not walk on any suspected material. Though it is not typically recommended for people to handle asbestos, officials suggest that residents wear protective gloves and masks when wetting down suspected asbestos paper. The dampened asbestos materials should be immediately transferred to a plastic bag and notify local officials.
Asbestos is a set of naturally-occurring minerals that was widely used in manufacturing building materials in the twentieth century. Use of the asbestos has been since banned in the United States, but asbestos products remain prevalent. Asbestos is highly toxic, and exposure to asbestos particles is as dangerous as being exposed to cigarette smoke. Mesothelioma cancer, lung cancer and asbestosis are among the most deadly medical conditions related to asbestos exposure.
The Environmental Protection Agency has not set a timetable for the overall clean up efforts, stating that ridding the neighborhood and warehouse area of asbestos will continue until the toxic debris is gone. Investigation into the cause of the warehouse fire is underway.