Asbestos Covers Parts of NYC After Steam Pipe Explosion

An underground steam pipe explosion and the resulting fountain of vapor filled with toxic asbestos fibers caused the evacuation of 28 buildings and the closing of several surrounding streets in New York City Thursday. Only five minor injuries were reported, but the force of the blast and the steady stream of smoke pouring from the resulting crater covered nearby buildings and sent commuters running for shelter. The fear of asbestos contamination dominated the early cleanup efforts. Inhaling or ingesting microscopic asbestos fibers can eventually lead to serious health problems, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. “The big problem that we have to consider is asbestos,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito at a news briefing. “The big part of this will be the cleanup. We are deconning anyone who was in the area.” Asbestos Confirmed Quickly at Explosion Site Early testing of debris and air confirmed the presence of asbestos in the surrounding area. The initial explosion, which occurred in the Flatiron district of Manhattan, came at 6:39 a.m., quickly causing street closings and serious rush-hour traffic problems. The local power company didn’t stop the flow of steam pouring from the rupture until three hours later. “We are very concerned about the material that was part of the steam line,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “There was asbestos in the steam-line casings.” The underground steam pipes in Manhattan, which...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news