December 8th, 2007

A political figure in Illinois that is currently serving a jail sentence for charges in voting fraud may have his sentence extended over asbestos. It was found that the man illegally removed deadly asbestos from a building in 2002.

An Illinois political figure is currently serving 21 months in jail for charges related to voting fraud. That sentence may be extended over illegal asbestos removal that he completed in 2002. New documents show the man and a hired worker knew that asbestos was in an old building they were completing renovations on. Despite knowing that the hazardous material was present, and that it needs to be removed by licensed professionals, the man and the worker removed the material and disposed of it illegally. The charges could add an additional 15 months to his sentence.

Licensed professionals must remove asbestos in order to keep the hazardous substance from becoming a public health concern. Asbestos can fragment becoming airborne if it is improperly handled and can be inhaled by the public. Asbestos exposure can lead to many diseases including asbestosis, emphysema and mesothelioma, a type of aggressive lung cancer. When asbestos particles get stuck in the lungs, it keeps oxygen from being absorbed by the lungs, resulting in mesothelioma.