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- EPA finds no airborne asbestos in tornade-damaged Missouri, but remains cautious
No asbestos has been found in air samples taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in tornado-damaged Joplin, Missouri, but officials say the potential remains that asbestos within the disaster debris could be released.
According to KSPR-TV, the ABC affiliate in Springfield, Missouri, Joplin city leaders are concerned that drier weather this summer could result in dusty conditions that could stir up asbestos fibers, which are a health danger to anyone in the vicinity if they become airborne.
Asbestos exposure is linked to diseases that include
lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma and
asbestosis, and is the focus of many
asbestos settlements and
mesothelioma lawsuits in recent years.
The news station advised anyone working in the tornado-impacted area to wear at least an N-95 respirator mask to protect against inhalation of particulates in the air, although those rated as N-100, P-100 or R-100 masks can also protect against asbestos harm. They also cautioned members of the public to follow instructions on using the respirator masks because they offer little protection if they are worn incorrectly.
The EPA, which has not found asbestos in its air samples at Joplin, will continue to monitor the city for asbestos contamination.