Asbestos in Vermont

As elsewhere in the United States, Vermont has mining operations.  With mining come the dangers of asbestos exposure and the possibility of asbestos fibers doing damage to your lungs.  Asbestosis and Mesothelioma are two illnesses that can develop from exposure to asbestos, and they can be fatal.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral in the family of magnesium silicate.  There are different types of asbestos, such as white asbestos, also known as Chrysotile; blue asbestos, known as Crocidolite; and brown asbestos, called Amosite.  The landscape of Vermont is native to Chrysotile; therefore, a natural occurrence is present.  Chrysotile is known to be less brittle, or friable, which means it is less inhalable and perhaps not quite as harmful as the other types of asbestos.  Vermont asbestos fibers that are inhaled can damage and scar your lungs, decrease your breathing capacity, and create cancerous cells that could become malignant mesothelioma.

Where Asbestos Comes From

Asbestos was used for many years because of its heat-resistant properties.  It made great insulation, roofing, linings for pipes, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, and brake linings, just to name a few of its many uses.  That is why it is still so plentiful now and it stays in the news even though most of its uses have been banned for 20 years.  It was not realized at first how harmful the asbestos fibers could be to your lungs.  We now know that it is directly related to mesothelioma, which is an aggressive form of lung cancer.  It has been linked to gastrointestinal cancer as well.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned all products containing one percent or more of asbestos material.

Some asbestos-related symptoms may take years to show up.  If you have worked in or near a site that is at-risk for asbestos exposure, you can get asbestos help in Vermont by contacting an asbestos attorney to find out about your options for legal recourse regarding your potential health problems.

Mine in Belvidere Mountain Still a Health Concern to Residents

Mining Vermont asbestos began in 1899 on Belvidere Mountain.  During the 1920s and 1930s, the mountain was supplying almost all the asbestos in the United States, according to some reported statistics.  Daily mining capacity reached 3,500 tons by the 1960s.  In the 1970s and 1980s, attention began to be paid to claims that working in the asbestos mines were hazardous to one’s physical health.  The EPA tried to regulate the mines and, eventually, they were shut down.  Belvidere Mountain was one of the last mines to close.

Belvidere Mountain is still at the heart of the asbestos debate in Vermont in 2009.  Residents of Eden and Lowell, Vermont, where Belvidere Mountain is located, believe the closed asbestos mine is still a health hazard.  A study conducted by the Vermont Health Department concluded that residents who lived near the mine had a significantly higher rate of contracting an asbestos-related illness.  The study also showed a high incidence of lung cancer.

The biggest concern that residents have today is left-over “tailings” from the mine, estimated at approximately 30 million tons.  The EPA and the federal government have both filed lawsuits against Vermont Asbestos Group (VAG), who is the current owner of the site, to have it cleaned up and pay for the costs associated with its cleaning.

Vermont Asbestos Regulations

Vermont asbestos regulations strive to educate citizens about the dangers of asbestos and the hazards of trying to remove asbestos without the proper certification or authorization.  The state has an “Outreach Program” to help let the public know about federal asbestos and lead laws and to encourage voluntary compliance.  The state also has an “Enforcement and Compliance Inspection Program” that is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents.  More information about this program can be found at the Vermont Department of Health web site.  The health department web site will also assist in finding a qualified and certified asbestos contractor.

Asbestos Help

If you or a loved one have been affected by asbestos exposure, either by working in a mine or being closely affiliated with it, get asbestos help in Vermont by contacting an asbestos attorney today to see if you are entitled to any legal recourse from your situation.