Investigations have confirmed that an apartment owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority is contaminated with asbestos. The Health Department took samples in the local apartment and has confirmed that there is asbestos in the basement. An anonymous tip alerted The Health Department and has potentially uncovered a huge problem with the way the PHA conducts business.
The investigation has revealed that the PHA is not properly disposing of asbestos and hasn't been for years. Workers have claimed that they were routinely told to dispose of asbestos by placing it in dumpsters and even sealing it up in building walls. There have even been reports of PHA workers burning asbestos off pipes with a blow torch.
When inhaled asbestos fibers are extremely dangerous and can lead to a number of lung problems including mesothelioma. Asbestos is by law only to be removed from buildings by licensed and trained contractors who place the asbestos in sealed bags and dispose of the asbestos in a specialized landfill. The PHA has agreed to properly remove the asbestos from the apartment. An investigation has also been launched by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
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