April 5th, 2005

A load of dumped material, including asbestos, has been found a couple of miles North of Nebraska Highway 2 in Otoe County. Officials are currently investigating the illegal dumping of the dangerous materials, and should the perpetrator be found, he or she will face serious penalties.

About half a pickup load of material was discovered abandoned, putting the air and passing people at risk of contamination. Asbestos is a mineral that was once widely used in building and other industries, and ingesting loose, airborne fibres of this mineral are known to cause a range of health problems, including a terminal cancer known as mesothelioma.

Police have stated that not only was the illegally dumped waste hazardous in terms of contamination because of the dangerous waste that was included, but that it’s location – having been dumped on a road between two hills, could have caused a serious road traffic accident. Police have stressed that if they discover who dumped the waste, there will be serious consequences.

Police continue to investigate the dumping of the waste, and in the meantime a specialist team has been brought in to clear up the mess. The county is yet to be informed about how much the clean up will cost.