In April 2025, officials at a Massachusetts company pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the illegal removal of asbestos flooring at a middle school<\/a> in Dartmouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assistant Superintendent James Kiely said the school used the Marion-based company\u2019s services in the summer of 2021 for a flooring replacement project, which included removing and abating asbestos tile flooring in seven classrooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n During the work, a state inspection revealed the company failed to use water, which is necessary to prevent particles from becoming airborne. Additionally, there were problems with the airflow barriers that the company directed and the flooring wasn\u2019t given enough layers of protective \u201cpoly sheeting\u201d in some areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Attorney General\u2019s Office, asbestos is a hazardous material and known human carcinogen regulated under the Clean Air Act. It is used as fire proofing in a wide variety of building materials, from roofing and flooring, to siding and wallboard, to caulking and insulation and is especially prevalent in older construction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If asbestos is improperly handled or maintained, fibers can be released into the air and inhaled, devastating the lungs, causing scarring, malfunction and potentially life-threatening illnesses, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Once disturbed, asbestos fibers can remain airborne, and therefore breathable for up to 72 hours. Because of the serious health risks associated with asbestos, there is no safe level of exposure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you thought asbestos was only used in attic insulation, think again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This mineral is not just fireproof. It\u2019s also waterproof, which explains its presence in concrete. Waterproof concrete wasn\u2019t cost effective until very recently. Asbestos also has aesthetic properties. Asbestos put the pop in the popcorn ceilings<\/a> that were so popular in the 1960s and 1970s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Industry leaders kept pushing asbestos even after its health risks were public knowledge. At a 2005 Senate hearing, Donald Trump claimed that \u201cif the World Trade Center had asbestos it wouldn\u2019t have burned down<\/a>\u201d on 9\/11. Furthermore, when compared with fireproofing alternatives, asbestos is \u201clike a heavyweight champion against a lightweight from high school,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back in the day, asbestos use was not limited to large commercial buildings and residential abodes. In fact, in many ways, these two uses were just the beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s still true of many auto parts imported from China, Russia, and other countries where asbestos mining and use remains legal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some asbestos contamination was unintentional, at least initially. Talc-asbestos<\/a> is a good example. Talc mines are often interlaced with asbestos mines. Therefore, talc particles often wound up in asbestos products and vice versa. If a little talc seeped into attic insulation, that was no big deal. But if a little asbestos seeped into talcum powder, the results were disastrous for many women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Clean Air Act and other 1970s and 80s laws, along with increased awareness of health risks (more on that below), basically put an end to asbestos use in new construction projects. The bottom forty floors of the Twin Towers were laced with asbestos, while the upper floors, which were built in the late 70s, contained very little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But asbestos use is not a 1970s or 1980s problem. Legacy asbestos removal<\/a>, which is required under a 2024 asbestos ban, is a very dangerous business. In fact, in many ways, asbestos removal is more dangerous than asbestos insulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A single fiber can cause cancer or lung disease. The good news is that contained asbestos fibers are totally harmless. So, the construction workers that installed asbestos-laced components bore most of the risk. But renovation and demolition projects usually release fibers and dust into the air, placing everyone at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The high risk<\/a> underscores the need for a top-notch asbestos abatement contractor<\/a> who handles all three asbestos abatement phases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, the asbestos abatement contractor should be a local company with experience in the type of project at hand. Asbestos removal carries so many risks that these projects should never be training programs for inexperienced contractors or those who are unfamiliar with the general layout of public buildings in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Negligent asbestos removal is not just a problem in Massachusetts. Asbestos removal is so expensive that many unscrupulous companies see a chance to make a quick buck.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA plan for corrective action on the asbestos exposure was made and the state ordered the company to remedy the work, according to Kiely. The school district has not used the company since. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Asbestos Uses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Until the mid-1980s, building supply companies used this toxic mineral in:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Asbestos was a key ingredient in auto parts and other manufactured components. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Asbestos Removal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tiny asbestos fibers are odorless, colorless, and tasteless; you may not know you\u2019re breathing it. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Case Study<\/h2>\n\n\n\n