Asbestos News

A rash of illegal asbestos dumping recently hit a region in Scotland.

There have been three incidents over the past two or so months in the Perthshire area that involved the discovery of illegally dumped asbestos-containing waste, according to STV.

"Fly-tipping is a blight on our landscape, and there is no excuse for it," Brian Roxburgh, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's unit manager in Perth, told the news source. "As well as the environmental impact, it ends up costing the landowners money to have it removed and dealt with appropriately, which can end up being very expensive indeed."

Fly-tipping - a British term for illegal dumping - is never acceptable but when it involves asbestos containing material it elevates the act from merely littering to potentially endangering someone's life. Improperly stored asbestos can allow the naturally occurring substance to become airborne. The inhalation of the deadly mineral fibers has been proven to cause a number of fatal illnesses including asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.

Roxburgh also told the news source that authorities are hoping that someone will come forward and provide information on any of the incidents.