Comments on: What can I do about apartment complex illegally removing asbestos?

By: jazznsax

jazznsax — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:25:46 +0000

In my state, it’s the Department of Environmental Quality, unless you’re in a certain county, then it can come under the county’s air quality regulation agency. So, be prepared for the health department to steer you to someone else.

If the building was constructed after 1980, there’s little chance it’s asbestos containing, but not impossible. You can take a full-depth sample of the hallway walls or whatever they’re demolishing and take it to an accredited lab – look for "environmental services" in the yellow pages. Analysis can range from 12 to 30 dollars, but would be well worth it.

Do NOT use a vacuum. It’s very difficutl to analyze, and impossible to give an accurate number from. Also, there’s no published and approved method for analyzing asbestos in vacuum bags….For air sampling, you need appropriate pumps, filters, and you need to know the air flow volume. This is best left for an industrial hygienist.

Bulk samples, if you decide to take one, should be taken with a clean tool, put in a sealed plastic bag, record the location taken, maybe take pictures, and send it to a lab. Or – call your air quality regulatory agency and "sic them" on it. Good luck.

By: here to help

here to help — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:25:46 +0000

contact the health department first,they will be able to determine if it was abestos.

By: samhillesq

samhillesq — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:25:46 +0000

EPA will do the trick and could give you a reward for turning them in if you stay on them about it, on top of that you probably have a good lawsuit for negligence with malice!

By: jupyter_flew

jupyter_flew — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:25:46 +0000

Yikes! Contact your health department, asap! As far as suing, you can sue for anything these days, so sure.

By: lady_golf_sc

lady_golf_sc — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:25:46 +0000

Immediately contact your local DHEC dept.
or any local authority related to health issues

By: Alwyn C

Alwyn C — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:25:46 +0000

Get everyone concerned to vacuum up a small amount of dust from their apartments and put it into a sealable plastic bag and take it to the authorities, whoever that may be and have it tested to see if there is any asbestos in it. If there is you may all have a case against whoever it was that removed it. Just remember to keep each apartments dust in separate bags from each other.

By: Mr.D

Mr.D — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:25:46 +0000

Contact the county health department AND the EPA. Do not waste time. Also ask to see the work permit, it’s your right and your health. If you can find a sample of the material that was removed, get it and bag it, then take it to county health or EPA office near you.

By: EC Expert

EC Expert — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:25:46 +0000

Call the local Health Dept. ASAP. They can impose very severe penalties on the landlord. As to you, you’ll have to sue and claim potential future damages. Get a good lawyer.

By: jimkearney746

jimkearney746 — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:25:46 +0000

The illegal removing of asbestos is a violation of the clean air act

Dept of health has an office in every major city

Sounds like its time to contact them

As for law suits – now sure whatyou can get there – if you settle now for future damages you wont be able to collect if the damages arent enough in the future bacause you settled now – this will need to be your call – but it is possible