Japan Quake Recovery Leads to Asbestos Concerns

As the cleanup from last year's earthquakes in Japan continues, a new study has found that asbestos levels in some cleanup areas well exceed safety limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and could be putting workers at risk of developing illness such as mesothelioma.

According to The Daily Yomiuri, the Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry recently partnered with the Environmental Ministry to measure the asbestos density in the air at 114 different cleanup sites across differen areas affected by the 2011 earthquakes. The report found that 14 of the sites had asbestos-to-air ratios ranging from 10.6 to 783.5.

The WHO’s safety limit of asbestos-per-liter-of-air ratio is 10.

The site with the 783.5 asbestos ratio was identified as a hotel being demolished in Sendai. Demolition of the building began last November without utilizing asbestos containment strategies, so loose asbestos likely spread to nearby areas.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos that has led to the development of mesothelioma, there are legal options available. Call Sokolove Law today to learn more about pursuing an asbestos lawsuit.

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