Asbestos Problems Present in Japan

More than one year after the earthquakes that ravaged Japan, a new study has confirmed that asbestos levels in some cleanup areas well exceed safety limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to The Daily Yomiuri, in the midst of the cleanup of demolition sites across a number of prefectures that were hit by last year’s earthquakes the Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry partnered with the Environmental Ministry to measure the asbestos density in the air at 114 different sites.

The WHO’s safety limit of asbestos-per-liter-of-air ratio is 10. According to the report, 14 of the 114 sites had asbestos-to-air ratios ranging from 10.6 to 783.5.

As yet another example of how asbestos is often present at dangerous levels in buildings used by the public every day, the site with the 783.5 asbestos ratio was a hotel being demolished Sendai. Demolition of the building had gotten underway last November without utilizing asbestos containment strategies, so loose asbestos likely spread to nearby areas.

Loose asbestos following a natural disaster became a national concern in Japan following the 1995 Hanshin earthquake. In its aftermath, at least three workers developed health issues relating to asbestos exposure.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos that has led to the development of mesothelioma, call Sokolove Law today to learn more about pursuing a mesothelioma lawsuit.

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