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Asbestos found in Baltimore child welfare services building
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Related Topics: BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - About 350 state employees and countless children visiting the child welfare services building in Baltimore may have been exposed to asbestos, found in the building over the weekend.
Outside maintenance contractors working at the 1510 Guilford St. building found suspected asbestos on pipes over the weekend and alerted the state early Monday, according to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union that represents state workers.
“There was supposed to be a meeting over this issue today, but it was postponed twice and then cancelled,” said union spokesperson Joe Lawrence. “We’re not getting any information.”
Attempts to reach the child welfare services administration Monday were unsuccessful.
Significant exposure to any type of asbestos will increase the risk of lung and abdominal cancers and asbestosis – a scarring and deterioration of the lining of the lungs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People are more likely to get sick when exposed to high concentrations of asbestos, for longer periods of time, but the diseases often take 15 to 30 years to manifest.
Employees alerted the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration to the potential danger in the Baltimore building to try and force the issue.
Employees have long complained of dangerous conditions at the Guilford Street office. Last summer employees filed a MOSH complaint over rodent infestations and persistent water leaks.
MOSH issued an order in July to exterminate the rodents.
At a meeting with the union in March, state officials promised to continue inspection and reporting on rodents, but union officials say no such reports have been provided.
Comments from Examiner Readers
10:53 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Officials, contractor: Asbestos claims at welfare office unfounded"
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10:56 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008
re: "Officials, contractor: Asbestos claims at welfare office unfounded"
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Mike Crill said:
asbestos powder.hum. is that anything like asbestos dust or/and asbestos fibers.Asbestos has no safe limit to exposure.Specially if from Libby Mt.Very deadly fiber,Tremolite.One fiber in the lung leads to cancer.Dr.Irving Selokoff(sp)Do not down play the dangers of this fiber unless you want to be held for murder for knowingly allowing people to be exposed to something you/we knows that kills you.More people must be held accountable and we must do what we have to for the sake of those we all leave behind,our children and theirs.What else matters....They are the generation needing saved,by our generation.Thank you ps stay away from Libby Mt as Libby is not a safe place to live and raise a family.
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Sandtown said:
I don't know who puts out more misinformation, Unions or Politicians.
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