It can be difficult to estimate just how many homes and buildings across the country contain some form of asbestos. Any demolition or renovation project can disturb the material and put the health of people in the vicinity at risk. Such is the case for a Cleveland woman, who lives next door to a demolished home.
Selita Wilford lives with her family in the Tremont area, which is an up- and coming neighborhood. According to a report by WKYC-TV, Wilford claimed that debris from the demolition “was sent flying onto her home,” and left the lot covered in dust close to her home.
Air quality specialists for the Cleveland Department of Health tested the debris and discovered that transite, which is cement that contains asbestos, was indeed present. As a mesothelioma attorney can confirm, exposure to any amount of asbestos can lead to future health problems.
Officials are not sure why asbestos testing was not conducted before the demolition and are currently investigating the company responsible for the project.
Asbestos exposure has long been associated with industrial worker who have developed diseases. These people often turn to mesothelioma lawyers to obtain compensatory damages from the businesses responsible for their illnesses.
In recent months, researchers have found that renovation projects can expose people to asbestos, which was prevalently used as a construction material throughout the country. Companies in charge of demolition, who don’t conduct test to determine if asbestos is present, are putting a people at risk for respiratory diseases. By hiring mesothelioma attorneys, asbestos victims may be able to hold these negligent businesses liable for unnecessarily jeopardizing their health.