As the flood waters in Iowa recede, residents and clean up crews will begin working together to rebuild their communities. In addition to clean up crews and other professionals, residents may notice another organization working alongside them.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been present in various parts of Iowa City conducting air quality monitoring in an attempt to confirm whether or not there are dangerous levels of asbestos in the air.
EPA has set up monitoring equipment at three locations within Iowa City: at the Jiffy Lube located on Highway 1, at 407 Third Avenue in Coralville, and at the northwest corner of Eastmoor Drive and Normandy Drive.
EPA Coordinator Dave Williams said that monitoring has been ongoing for about three weeks and is “precautionary.”
Asbestos exposure has been conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a form of cancer that attacks the pleural lining of the lungs. Tiny asbestos fibers have a claw-like structure that allow them to settle inside the pleura for decades, and individuals may not be diagnosed with mesothelioma for up to fifty years after their initial asbestos exposure.
Spokesperson Dianna Whitaker of the Kansas City EPA Public Information Office said that monitoring the air at the three Iowa City locations was an attempt to ensure the safety of all residents and other individuals who would be involved in the clean up and rebuilding process, and that air monitoring also occurred at other flooding sites throughout Kansas and other areas of Iowa.
Marion Burnside, the Iowa Asbestos Coordinator for the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, reminded residents that asbestos-containing materials may become friable if they are damaged or disturbed by flood waters or subsequent demolition. Any individual who may be working with asbestos-containing materials, including insulation, drywall, acoustical plaster, floor or ceiling tiles, or roofing tiles, should wear a mask that adequately covers the nose and mouth to avoid inhalation.
In addition, anyone who removes asbestos from homes or other buildings must abide by local and state asbestos disposal regulations.
The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center is the web’s foremost resource for information related to asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, mesothelioma treatment options, and more. For further information, visit the Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center website.
