October 20th, 2007

Rubble that is laced with asbestos is being removed from a public site on Marco Island and is being taken to a local landfill. The material was removed from a future park site that has been under scrutiny for almost a year due to the presence of asbestos.

Cleanup has begun in order to remove asbestos from a Marco Island lot that is to be turned into a public park. The asbestos is in one of three lots affected by asbestos left over from industrial machines stored on the lot last year. The presence of asbestos at the lots has been under heated debate this year when concerns were raised about the removal of asbestos from one of the other lots. Residents in the area questioned how the asbestos got there, and whether the cleanup and disposal of the dangerous substance was completed.

The asbestos needs to be removed, handled and disposed of with care, since disturbing asbestos can create a public heath concern. When asbestos is disturbed it can break apart and can be breathed in, causing the asbestos particles to become trapped in the body. Asbestos in the lungs can lead to emphysema and mesothelioma, a form of deadly lung cancer. Other diseases have been linked to asbestos exposure, though mesothelioma tends to be the least treatable when diagnosed.