asbestos mines are currently closed in the US and Canada are temporarily closed. The exposure among miners was reduced as a result, but what happens to the area around the mine after closure? Asbestos is a carcinogen that can cause mesothelioma cancer to develop in our chest and abdominal cavities. Although asbestos is no longer intentionally extracted from American mines, we are still in danger if we live near the mines?
The most common way to the asbestos mine the earth is removing the mineral from a pit opening. Large pits are dug into the ground to access rocks that contain asbestos minerals. The earth that is removed is then sorted and processed. However, there is a lot of land left over and it is deposited in large piles near the mine. These batteries are called "residuals".
These large pile of earth with asbestos traces can present serious problems. Dirt is often sold as backfill or gravel. In addition, the enormous waste can promote the spread of asbestos fibers into the local environment. For example, the runoff erodes residues and asbestos channels in local waterways. Windy days can also spread asbestos fibers piles of tailings in nearby residential areas.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created a list of national priorities, including the names of the most dangerous sites for our health through the United States and US territories. At present, there are four asbestos mines on the list:
- Atlas Asbestos Mine, Fresno County, California
- South Bay Asbestos Area , Alviso, California
- Libby Asbestos, Libby, Montana
- Borit Asbestos, Ambler, Pennsylvania
a mine that are not on the list is currently in violation of water quality standards in Vermont and the Federal Clean water Act is the asbestos mine Vermont group (VAG). GAW mine sediment discharges containing asbestos in local rivers, wetlands and lakes. . The EPA has determined that this site is eligible to be added to the list of national priorities
Other notable facts about the VAG mine include:
- The size of the tailings VAG are estimated at 29 to 30 million tonnes.
- cost to fix runoff VAG mines can range from $ 135 to $ 207 million.
- GAW mine does not comply with the solid waste management rules of Vermont, stormwater and wetlands regulations.
If substantial quantities of asbestos are inhaled or ingested into your body over time, the fibers can be trapped in the lining of the lungs or abdomen and may cause illness. If you lived near an asbestos mine or think you have been exposed to asbestos, do not hesitate to find more information Asbestos.com.
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