Former Penn. asbestos dump designated Superfund site
The U.S. EPA has added a former asbestos dump in Ambler, Pennsylvania to the Superfund cleanup list. It will join more than 1,500 sites designated for cleanup by the EPA to protect public health. The EPA is concerned that asbestos from the site could become airborne or be washed into nearby creeks, exposing the local population.
Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer and other serious diseases. Asbestos-related diseases generally have a long latency period, and they can take decades to appear.
The asbestos dump was in operation from the early 1900s until the 1980s. In addition to the asbestos dump, the site includes a reservoir and a playground that was closed in the 1980s.
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