March 17th, 2008

A developer in Texas is hoping to erase the bad memories of asbestos left behind by W.R. Grace and revitalize an area that used to be an asbestos plant. The developer is hoping that the site can be cleared of asbestos.

A developer in Texas is hoping that an area used for an asbestos plant will be developed into a mixed-use area that would revitalize the city. The site was a plant operated by W.R. Grace, the company that has been fighting asbestos lawsuits in Montana for years. The site is on a riverbed, which probably soaked up high levels of asbestos. If the area can be safely converted into land that can be developed, the company hopes that they will be able to erase the memories of a factory that put the town in danger.

Asbestos is normally a safe product that was used in insulation and industry before a ban was enacted against it in the 1980s. The material is only dangerous when it is disturbed or improperly handled; then the fibers can become airborne and be inhaled into the body. Asbestos exposure has been linked to mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases. Mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer, is the disease that most of the Libby lawsuits involve. The disease can take decades to manifest, and can be terminal when it is diagnosed.