UPDATED: Deadly Asbestos Fibers Found on Chicago's Oak Street Beach

Officials Rig Studies/Tests; Cover-up Health Hazards on Illinois Beaches

CHICAGO, May 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Due to formatting problems in
the first send, the media and public are advised to use the updated version
below:
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."
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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 (due to its length, you may have to copy and paste this URL
into your Internet browser).
http://chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=46&SubSectionID=139&ArticleID=485
4&TM=42288.05 (due to its length, you may have to copy and paste this URL into
your Internet browser).
CONTACT: Paul Kakuris of the Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society, +1-
312-332-3377, ildunesland@aol.com.
SOURCE Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society

Paul Kakuris of the Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society +1- 312-332-3377,
ildunesland@aol.com