Volunteers Warned Against Mesothelioma Risk in Oklahoma

Oklahoma volunteers may be at risk from asbestos exposure. 

Volunteers from all over the country continue to head to storm-ravaged Oklahoma for the cleanup effort. But while their hard work and passion to helping others are hailed, they are however, warned against the threat of mesothelioma cancer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a lot of damaged homes and buildings in Moore, Oklahoma have been found to be exposed to different toxins. That includes asbestos, the number one cause of malignant mesothelioma.

While asbestos has long been phased out as among the construction materials, it is still present in large quantities in insulation, caulk and joint compound, floor and ceiling tiles, and shingles of old houses and buildings. In fact, a lot of establishments damaged by the hurricane are those that had been built between the late 50s and 1970s. This was the time when asbestos was the leading construction material. Although asbestos may not pose harm when buildings were intact, the risk, however, comes for anyone who unintentionally comes in contact with the hazardous material.

In an interview with HuffPost, EPA’s Chris Whitley revealed that the situation in Moore is “eerily familiar.” She warned that while the asbestos and mesothelioma threat may not be really that obvious today, volunteers and workers are advised to take precautionary measures by staying away from dusty area.

Linda Reinstein, president of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, said: “We’ve seen this is Joplin and after Hurricane Sandy,” so “after natural disasters, asbestos is a prevalent toxin.”

For the workers’ protection against developing mesothelioma symptoms, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has imposed strict requirements, including protective gear and negative pressure respirators, which, any worker should wear when working with asbestos.

Meanwhile, the EPA has a set of rules that help individuals handle and dispose asbestos. This is really helpful in minimizing the risk not only of mesothelioma, but also other asbestos-related diseases. However, concerned organizations are worried that the overeager volunteers in Moore may accidentally bring themselves to harm by getting exposed to asbestos, either by unknowingly holding or disturbing it. To ensure the protection of the cleanup volunteers, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has already posted debris management guidelines on its website.

Adapted from the news in Surviving Mesothelioma.