Demolition of Camp Roberts Ends Army's Asbestos Era in California

There was so much asbestos, lead-based paint and other contaminants throughout the 658 abandoned buildings at Camp Roberts that the U.S. Army had to create its own on-site hazardous waste landfill before the demolition could begin. That's a scary thought for the hundreds of thousands of military veterans who once lived and worked there. They marked the end of an era earlier this month at Camp Roberts, the largest military training facility in California, when a $20 million demolition project began with considerable fanfare. Many of the structures were abandoned long ago, and fell into disrepair, becoming an eyesore along Highway 101 near San Miguel, and to anyone venturing onto the base. They were barracks, chapels, administrative offices, supply huts, warehouses and mess halls that were built in the early 1940s, a time when the American military was falling in love with everything asbestos, which served as a wonderfully versatile insulator and fire retardant. It also was abundant and economical. Old Soldiers Exposed to Asbestos Soldiers from the 1940s, '50, '60s, '70s and early '80s were housed and trained there, unknowingly putting themselves at risk for future health problems. Asbestos is the cause of mesothelioma, a rare cancer that has a latency period of up to 60 years before showing obvious symptoms. Most have been empty for 30 years, waiting for the slow-moving, military chain of command to finalize the orders and receive the proper environmental approval to start the...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Asbestos Exposure & Bans Source Type: news