Officials Rig Studies/Tests; Cover-up Health Hazards on Illinois Beaches
Beach Visitors' Asbestos Safety Tips Published
CHICAGO, May 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Beach season opens this weekend!
Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society asked nationally recognized asbestos
safety risk expert, Jeffery C. Camplin, to compile "Asbestos Tips for Beach
Visitors" who choose to visit the beaches, risking exposure to amphibole
asbestos, the most deadly type. For decades, trillions of asbestos fibers were
released daily and carried southward by Lake Michigan's currents from USEPA's
Johns-Manville asbestos Superfund site in Waukegan, IL. This bungled clean-up
attempt has contaminated the entire Illinois shoreline and polluted the
drinking water supply
http://www.illinoisdunesland.org/pdf/Chicago_Water_Bureau_Asbestos_Study.pdf.
Camplin reviewed USEPA, CDC/ATSDR and state studies/tests, finding they were
"deeply flawed and severely lacking in standardized scientific protocols."
http://chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=46&SubSectionID=139&ArticleID=4854&TM=42288.05
Dunesland's President Paul A. Kakuris said, "Officials rigged studies/tests to
cover-up their involvement in obstructing and not enforcing pollution hazard
violations against polluters facilitating and dumping asbestos fibers into the
drinking water supply. Waves wash fibers onto the beaches where sand releases
asbestos during beach activities, exposing millions of unwitting victims to
deadly asbestos fibers while corrupt public officials and polluters'
consultants rigged studies, using government funds."
http://www.illinoisdunesland.org/pdf/A_Spoiled_Shoreline_Broadcast.pdf
STEPS TO MINIMIZE TOXIC ASBESTOS EXPOSURES ON CHICAGO'S BEACHES
Amphibole Asbestos Found at Oak Street Beach is Deadly!
Rare amphibole minerals, several hundred times more harmful to public health
than common urban asbestos fibers, exist on Oak Street beach in Chicago. If
you can't avoid Lake Michigan beaches, follow these tips to minimize breathing
asbestos by you, your family, or pets.
1. Avoid Eating and Drinking at the Beach!
Asbestos and amphibole fibers can contaminate your hands, food, and
containers. Eat in picnic areas away from the beach.
1. Avoid Disturbing the Sand!
Microscopic asbestos can be released from the sand when agitated. The Centers
for Disease Control's (CDC) found amphibole asbestos fibers can be released
from wet sand and become airborne.
1. Shower Off and Clean Belongings Prior to Leaving the Beach!
The deadly amphibole asbestos fibers can be found wherever beach sand can go.
Wash your whole body including hair, ears, and under fingernails. Pets should
also be washed down prior to leaving the lakefront and beaches.
1. Carefully Clean or Isolate Items Used at the Beach!
Don't track material that could contain asbestos through the house." (USEPA)
Take care when shaking out towels and blankets that may have come into contact
with sand. Remove all beach clothing before entering your car or home.
Launder clothing, blankets, and towels separately. Store shoes and hard to
clean items outside.
1. Avoid Certain Cleaning Methods!
Do not dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos. According to
the USEPA, "These steps will disturb tiny asbestos fibers and may release them
into the air." The use of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtered
vacuums is recommended for cleaning up toxic dust and fibers.
References:
http://illinoisdunesland.org/Asbestos.html
http://illinoisdunesland.org/Asbestos2.html
http://illinoisdunesland.org/Critical_Issues.html
http://illinoisdunesland.org/Complaints_and_Reports.html
http://illinoisdunesland.org/News_Room.html
http://www.ewg.org/node/16026
http://www.ewg.org/node/16030
http://www.ewg.org/node/15971
http://www.chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=46&SubSectionID=155&ArticleID=4911&TM=53466.84
SOURCE ILLINOIS DUNESLAND PRESERVATION SOCIETY
Paul Kakuris of the Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society +1-312-332-3377,
ildunesland@aol.com
