Asbestos in Washington

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was commonly used in a variety of industrial applications.  Some of its primary responsibilities were as insulation for homes, boilers, pipe, and other mechanical systems; roofing tiles; floor and ceiling tiles; cement shingles; acoustical treatments; and for a number of automotive uses.  In the 1970s and 1980s, a growing awareness of the dangers of asbestos led for regulation on the toxic substance and many manufacturers either stopped production and usage, or dramatically slowed it.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has an Asbestos home page that offers a wealth of information for anyone concerned about contact with asbestos.

Where Asbestos Comes From

Washington asbestos has been in the news recently because the EPA has found naturally-occurring asbestos in Whatcom County, along the banks of the Sumas River and Swift Creek.  A landslide on Sumas Mountain caused this toxic substance to travel near the water.  The asbestos is thought to be migrating toward the Canadian border.  So far, reports from the agency have indicated higher concentrations of Washington asbestos than were previously recorded along the river.  Recent flooding in the area didn’t help matters.  The level designated as safe by the EPA is 7 MFL (million fibers per liter) and the content in the water has been measured at between 63 to 1,483 MFL.  Obviously, this is an extemely high concentration.

Other industries specific to the State of Washington and the Pacific Northwest that are known to experience asbestos exposure are shipbuilding, oil refineries, power plants, timber mills, and the aluminum industry.  Shipbuilding is a popular industry in that section of the country, along with the timber industry.  The state also has both nuclear and hydroelectric power plants.  The aluminum industry has experienced a high number of lawsuits in the state due to the heat required in the manufacturing process, and the use of asbestos to help alleviate that situation.

Washington Asbestos Regulations

Washington asbestos regulations are identified in EPA’s Region 10 of the United States.  Asbestos is largely found in the insulation of older homes, around pipes and furnaces, in shingles, floor tiles, and some paints.  The State of Washington, Department of Ecology web site lists asbestos removal procedures for homeowners.  According to Washington asbestos regulations, homeowners are permitted to remove asbestos from the homes they live in “if” the asbestos is deemed not “friable” by a competent inspector.  You should contact your local Clean Air Authority before attempting to disturb asbestos.  Renovations and demolitions require a survey by a certified inspector.

You can find asbestos help in Washington by contacting an asbestos attorney and discussing the particular details of your exposure to the toxic substance.

Washington Health Statistics

The State of Washington is known to have an abundance of chrysotile, a type of naturally occurring asbestos.  Several deposits are known to be in the central Cascade Mountains and the Okanogan highlands, just north of Spokane.  In the two decades between 1980 and 2000, asbestos poisoning is listed as the cause of death for nearly 1,800 persons.  Asbestosis was charged with 55 percent of these.  King County is the fourth highest ranking area of asbestos-related deaths in the United States.

Asbestos Help

If you think you have been a victim to asbestos exposure, get asbestos help in Washington by contacting an asbestos attorney.  He or she can listen to the details of your particular situation and offer assistance.