{"id":14658,"date":"2023-08-25T15:14:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-25T21:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/?post_type=blog&p=14658"},"modified":"2023-08-25T15:27:19","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T21:27:19","slug":"asbestos-in-mauis-wildfire-ash","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/es\/asbestos-blog\/asbestos-in-mauis-wildfire-ash\/","title":{"rendered":"Asbestos in Maui\u2019s Wildfire Ash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Hawaii State Department of Health issued a warning that wildfire ash could be contaminated with harmful asbestos.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Recent wildfires have devastated Maui, with a significant death toll. But another danger lurks: Asbestos.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Maui, the second largest Hawaiian island, is renowned for its natural beauty, lush landscapes, and vibrant culture. Sadly, this paradise has been recently ravaged by wildfires. Climate change and prolonged droughts have exacerbated the situation, rendering the island more susceptible to fire outbreaks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The death toll from last week\u2019s Maui fires is the highest the United States has seen from wildfires in over a century. Survivors wanting to return to the island and sift through the remains of a life gone up in flames, are still not free of danger. Amidst the ongoing wildfire devastation, Hawaii\u2019s Department of Health has issued a warning over toxic substances in the ash raining down on the state, including the cancer-causing mineral asbestos. 1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you believe that you were exposed to asbestos, even as a child, speak to a healthcare provider about tests and screening to help diagnose lung-scarring and screen for <\/strong>asbestos-related diseases<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Department of Health warned the toxic ash can cause irritation of the skin, nose, and throat and recommends individuals returning to Maui wear tight-fitting respirator masks such as the N95. The long-term effects of asbestos exposure are significantly more dangerous than irritation from toxic ash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asbestos is highly resistant to heat, pressure and corrosion, so it was used in many products, vehicles and buildings. In particular, many workplaces like factories, refineries, foundries and shipyards involve high amounts of heat, and were built with a lot of asbestos.<\/td><\/tr>
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What exactly is asbestos? <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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(And why is it still a problem in Maui and elsewhere?)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Asbestos was once a widely used mineral in construction materials such as insulation, ceiling and floor tiles, drywall, shingles, etc. Asbestos is very durable because it is resistant to heat, corrosion, and electricity, which made it a great building companion. However, asbestos\u2019s durability is also what makes it a dangerous substance. The fibers do not evaporate or dissolve in water and can stay in the body forever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most people are unaware they are breathing in asbestos because it has no taste or smell. Once the fibers enter the body, they cause damage over time leading to asbestos-related illnesses sometimes decades later. Asbestos fibers are like tiny needles puncturing the lungs and other tissue creating scar tissue leading to diminished lung capacity and chronic, potentially fatal, illnesses including cancers such as lung, mesothelioma, stomach, and colon cancer among others.2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The public was not made aware that asbestos is a carcinogen until the 1970\u2019s, however the asbestos industry knew since the 1930s.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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“The overall evidence suggests there is no safe level<\/span> of asbestos exposure<\/span>.\u201d<\/h3>\n                            
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When the truth came out, thanks to asbestos lawsuits, it still took the United States government until 1989 to officially ban its use.4<\/sup> Even then contractors were not required to destroy their supplies meaning it is possible asbestos was still used in renovations and building up to a decade after that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Nearly every building constructed before the mid-1980s contained asbestos products and building materials.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
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Some reports estimate there are still over 30 million homes in the U.S. containing life-threatening asbestos. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One reason so many buildings still have asbestos is because in the Unites States landowners are not always obligated to remove asbestos and are only required to disclose its presence. Homes in Hawaii are among those 30 million, which was one of the reasons the Department of Health issued the warning to its residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asbestos causes cancer. Health researchers are learning how<\/em>. 
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Studies show that asbestos fibers embed in the bodily tissue: