November 7th, 2007

Three people and one company were given penalties for almost $150,000 in regards to the mishandling of asbestos in Massachusetts. Though the fines were handed down, most of the charge was dropped in a plea deal.

Three men and one business were handed penalties early this week after it was found that they had violated the Clean Air Act when working with and removing asbestos. The company and one of the workers reduced their fine by working with the Department of Environmental Protection and taking action to right the issues immediately after being notified. Each of the four violations were handed out due to removing asbestos illegally and, in three of the cases, dumping the asbestos in a public place without securing the dangerous substance.

The DEP and the Environmental Protection Agency closely watch asbestos, considering that exposure to the material can lead to respiratory illnesses including asbestosis, emphysema and mesothelioma, a form of deadly lung cancer. When asbestos is mishandled it breaks into airborne particles that can be inhaled. Disposing of asbestos in a public place, without sealing the substance, can put people in danger of breathing in asbestos particles.