Jan 14, 2009 - Public Meetings Continue over Asbestos Mines
Public meetings were held this week to discuss the findings of a report from the Vermont Health Department that was issued last November. The report looked at hospital and death records of residents who lived within a ten mile radius of a closed asbestos mine. The mine is located on Belvedere Mountain in Lowell and Eden in Northern Vermont. It was closed in 1993.
The Health Department study found that there appeared to be an increased risk of contracting an asbestos related disease among residents living within a ten mile radius of the abandoned mine. Asbestos is a known carcinogen that has been linked to different forms of lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, according to the EPA. Asbestos related diseases can lay dormant for 10 to 40 years before symptoms appear.
Individuals exposed to asbestos that contract mesothelioma or asbestosis require treatments, such as chemotherapy, surgery or radiation. Consulting a knowledgeable doctor and experienced attorney can provide the most up to date information and opportunity for compensation.
Some of the residents in the affected areas are concerned about the potential health risk from the mines and asbestos products in their community. Others are very concerned that if the study’s findings are accurate, it could gravely affect the value of their properties.
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