Asbestos News

Thirty tons of asbestos was recently dumped by two men in the UK countryside, local authorities heard.

According to the Express & Star, a man walking his dog in South Staffordshire, Cyril Heathcock, became suspicious when he saw a truck loaded with waste parked in an unusual place. When he came back across the area, he saw that men were unloading the truck's contents.

In total, 70 tons of waste was dumped with about 30 tons being considered asbestos material.

Such waste presents numerous hazards to those in the area as asbestos that is not properly handled or disposed of can become airborne. If these airborne mineral fibers are inhaled they can lead to a number of serious illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer that attacks the thin membrane that lines the chest, abdomen and many of the body's internal organs.

A 20-year-old was charged in the incident, but the hearing found him not guilty even though the truck used was registered in his name. Authorities determined that the young man had been duped by the real perpetrators.