EPA Inspector General Elkins Challenges Agency's Policies On Asbestos

The government agency responsible for protecting citizens from environmental dangers is the same agency that is endangering its employees through asbestos exposure, concludes the group's own inspector general. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inspector General Arthur A. Elkins Jr. said EPA own policies threaten public health and potentially endanger the lives of workers. He made that conclusion in a memo this week. The report, titled "Early Warning Report: Use of Unapproved Asbestos Demolition Methods May Threaten Public Health" and sent to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, discusses the agency's policies on handling asbestos and emphatically states that there is "no safe level of exposure of asbestos." By some accounts, his report leaves little room for confusion on where the inspector general stands on asbestos exposure and how the agency should structure policies around it. Within the formal memo, Elkins goes into details about the background of asbestos policies within the agency and how violations may have occurred. Report Specifics Asbestos exposure is a known cause of malignant mesothelioma cancer, a rare and aggressive illness that has no known cure. Mesothelioma represents about 0.3 percent of detected cancers. The inspector general's office learned of allegations that the EPA was using unauthorized methods for demolishing asbestos-containing buildings. Elkin then made Jackson aware of the potential issues and suggested internal reviews to ensure misconduct is not...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Asbestos Exposure & Bans Source Type: news