November 23rd, 2007

When a Florida landfill was up for voting, officials said that the site would not accept dangerous materials, including asbestos. But when permits were filed with the state, the landfill was requesting the right to take the hazardous substance.

The residents of Pasco County are upset over the proposition of a new landfill. When the situation was up for vote, officials representing the landfill said that the area would not be used for dangerous substances, such as asbestos. But when the permit application was filled out, the landfill requested authority to accept asbestos. Since then, what could have been an easy settlement has turned into a battle, with residents stating they do not want the quality of the land or water affected by the new landfill.

Asbestos is normally a safe material that was used in insulation and fire retardants prior to the 1980s. But when asbestos is disturbed, such as when moving or disposing of it, it can break about into small airborne particles. The particles can be breathed in, causing respiratory illnesses like emphysema and mesothelioma, or can soak into the ground and merge into the water supply. Mesothelioma, a particular concern, happens when asbestos particles get trapped in the lungs and can take decades to manifest.