Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

That asbestos is a human carcinogen is recognized by the EPA, OSHA, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and numerous other international and national agencies. The Clear Creek Management Area in Central California (CCMA) contains the largest deposit of asbestos in the United States. . The CCMA spans more than 75,000 acres across San Benito and Fresno Counties and includes the Atlas Asbestos Mine Superfund Site. It includes a 31,000 acre outcrop of naturally occurring asbestos. The CCMA is visited by hikers, campers, hunters, botanists, rock collectors, off-highway vehicle riders and others and has about 35,000 visitors per year.

The EPA has completed a study of the risk caused by exposure to asbestos for people engaging in various activities at the CCMA The EPA found an increased long-term cancer risk from engaging in recreational activities at the CCMA. The EPA’s sampling results demonstrated that where asbestos is present in the soil, any activities that create dust do create exposure to asbestos. The asbestos levels measured in the breathing zone at CCMA were similar to those seen in industrial environments.

The EPA studies found that motorcycle riding, ATV riding and SUV driving created the highest asbestos exposures. The EPA data also showed that children are generally exposed to higher asbestos concentrations than adults participating in the same activities.

Based on the asbestos exposure levels, the EPA estimated lifetime excess cancer risks. Many CCMA activities were found to have risks above the range that EPA considers to be acceptable. Asbestos causes fatal cancers, including pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos lawyers have claimed that even small exposures to asbestos can cause mesothelioma.

Jack K Clapper
Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason
415-332-4262
800-440-4262
jkc@clapperlaw.com