May 5th, 2008

A Maryland man that was responsible for overseeing asbestos removal from an old hospital has entered a guilty plea this week in a District Court. He was charged with conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act.

After multiple inspections found that asbestos being removed from an old Maryland hospital was not being properly contained or disposed, charges were brought against the supervisor overseeing the work. The man was charged with conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act when asbestos was removed from the decommissioned hospital and allowed to sit in an open ravine for more than a year. The asbestos eventually filtered into a creek that runs through the ravine, spreading the health concern beyond the walls of the hospital.

Asbestos can be hazardous when it is improperly handled or removed from a building. Allowing asbestos to sit exposed to the elements, and close to a moving water source, only increases the danger of exposure to the material. Asbestos exposure can lead to health problems including mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer. Mesothelioma has been linked with breathing in airborne asbestos particles, and can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages. The man faces a fine of $250,000, five years jail time or both for the offense.