The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri Air Conservation Commission have referred an asbestos-related case to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in order to pursue legal action for violations of Missouri’s Air Conservation Law and Regulations.
The Missouri Air Conservation Commission voted to refer the case to the attorney general’s office in order to attain compliance from the company. The commission is also seeking a civil penalty for the violations.
Accurate Building Inspectors of Springfield, Missouri failed to register with the department as a certified asbestos contractor, reports The Rolla Daily News. The company also failed to provide notification of the asbestos work, before beginning the project.
Asbestos is a highly hazardous material, which must be dealt with properly in order to avoid any unnecessary exposure. If inhaled, the material has been known to cause mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
Mesothelioma is the most aggressive asbestos cancer, known to affect nearly 3,000 Americans each year. The disease most commonly forms from the internal lining of the chest cavity, causing symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain.
Patients diagnosed with the disease must undergo clinical therapies. And although painful, mesothelioma surgery, chemotherapy and radiation have been known extend patients’ life expectancy periods.
The Air Pollution Control Program has also documented that the company used improper work practices while removing the asbestos, which may have posed a health risk to workers and nearby residents.