The Wisconsin Department of Health Services will begin a series of free information sessions today, March 25th. The sessions will focus on asbestos abatement and other asbestos issues, and contractors, landlords, homeowners, facility managers, and other members of the community are encouraged to attend.
The goal of the sessions is to provide important information about asbestos safety.
Asbestos is found in over 30 million American residences and other structures in the form of attic insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, stucco, drywall, acoustical plaster, and roofing tiles. Before the dangers of asbestos exposure were recognized by the federal government, asbestos was a popular implement in construction and other products – even certain brands of duct tape and a popular brand of cigarettes contained asbestos.
As asbestos-containing products age, they often become friable, and asbestos fibers may be released into the air. If inhaled or ingested, these fibers can lodge inside the mesothelium, or lining of the internal organs, for up to fifty years before they may form a malignancy. Diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and pleural mesothelioma are attributed to previous asbestos exposure, and are often fatal.
The first session ran from 8-noon today at the Chippewa Valley Tech. College campus. The next session will be March 31st from 1-5 pm at the Milwaukee Area Tech. College in room 103. On April 7th, a session will be held from 1-5 pm at North Central Tech. College, and an April 8th session from 1-5 pm will be held at UW Green Bay. A fifth session is scheduled for April 14th from 1-5 pm at UW Parkside in the student union, and the final session on April 16th will be held from 8-noon at the Clarion Hotel (the location has been moved from the Alliant Center, which is adjacent to the Clarion Hotel).
Last year’s session was held on December 5th at the Chula Vista Resort, and slides from the various presentations are available for viewing on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.
According to federal and state laws, an individual is required to hold an asbestos certification before handling any asbestos materials. If an individual illegally removes asbestos materials from a structure, they may face steep fines and possibly jail time.
For additional information about the free asbestos information sessions in Wisconsin, contact the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Mesothelioma.com features important information about asbestos exposure and the associated health concerns, including the development of mesothelioma cancer. For more information about these and other asbestos-related illnesses, please visit Mesothelioma.com.
