The recent fires in San Bruno, California, were one of the worst environmental disasters in the field of history. Although the fires extinguished have and the smoke has cleared, other potential health hazards. Much of the rubble left behind from the destroyed houses and companies contain multiple toxins. Some of the older structures contained asbestos insulation, roofing shingles and ceiling tiles.
Usually is left undisturbed, asbestos not dangerous. However, if the loose asbestos fibres are airborne, the carcinogenic fibres could inhale unprotected bystanders. The fibers work their way are embedded through the lungs of sacs and the pleura of mesothelium, a band of tissue around the lung. These fibers change the genetic structure of mesothelial cells during the time that you to a deadly form of cancer, the known mutate as mesothelioma.
City, county and State health officials have expressed concern that the smoke from the fire asbestos may have included some. Although fire fighters typically wear protective clothing and breathing masks to prevent exposure, the deadly fibers, House and property owners and others who work in the field may have inadvertently asbestos-laced smoke have suspended. Also, with many homeowners return to their properties will increase the risk that you were exposed to asbestos behind left in the debris.
Dean Peterson, Director of the San Mateo County Environmental Health Services Division, said that the dirt and dust from the fire left behind "a threat might." He also said that it would be impossible for environmental safety workers "to 100 percent reduction of dust do." He not advised families in the area handle debris, although he has given assurances that the contamination were "A serious health hazard for homeowners won't be" their properties from the affected areas.
Don Johnson, an official from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said that it initially expected during an inspection of the fire site to less asbestos as investigators found with the local office. He said that some of the older homes, the asbestos-laced had used isolation had undergone renovation and had removed the toxic substance. The EPA tests also showed that asbestos in some structures was already exist.
Another problem facing residents is the potential for seasonal rainfall to asbestos and other harmful substances in the local groundwater supply. San Mateo County Health Department officials from several big drums of toxic waste removed the area affected by the fires and have stacked sandbags to storm drains. The storm drains carry excess water in San Bruno Creek, which drains into the nearby San Francisco Bay.
Instead of taking samples of dust level of contamination of whether workers will delete all the debris as soon as possible. Heavy rain likely in the area from mid-October so that Government officials will work in the coming weeks deleted around the area. Workers are also down the debris to prevent seasonal wind burn implementation of dust from the original website of next wetting.
Source: San Jose Mercury News
