January 13th, 2008
Hundreds of people in the Dallas area converged on one hospital over the weekend, hoping to be part of a free asbestos-screening program. Residents and workers of an asbestos plant in the area were given free chest x-rays to screen for asbestos-related diseases.
A local Dallas hospital opened its doors this weekend to allow residents and workers of a closed asbestos plant to receive free chest x-rays. The hospital had only planned on screening 300 people, but more than 500 showed up for the testing resulting in a waiting list of those that could not be screened that day. The free service was a response to a closed vermiculite plant near Dallas that operated until 1992, and was demolished in 2002.
Workers in the plant, and residents nearby, were exposed to asbestos dust while the plant was in operation. A study in May showed that of 25 people screened for asbestos-related diseases, eight were diagnosed with symptoms. Health officials then called for the screening to widen its scope. Asbestos can cause a range of diseases, including respiratory illnesses like emphysema and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers become stuck in the lungs and results in a deadly and aggressive form of cancer. The remaining people that were not screened will be offered another opportunity in a few months time to receive chest x-rays.
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