Residents of 36 town homes in a Ventura, California complex may have been exposed to asbestos particles.

Tenants were assured that work on the homes’ popcorn ceilings would not be hazardous to their health–for the ceiling, as the owner claimed, did not contain asbestos.

That sentiment, however, has been proved untrue. Following a resident’s complaint, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District tested some of the materials scraped from the ceiling, and discovered elevated levels of asbestos.

Due to this discovery, residents are now concerned for their health. For when airborne asbestos particles are inhaled, those exposed are put at risk for contracting several asbestos related diseases. Mesothelioma is the most aggressive form to arise, and affects nearly 3,000 Americans each year.

Mesothelioma doctors often fail to diagnose patients with the disease for several decades following their exposure, and because mesothelioma symptoms mimic those of other diseases, the diagnostic process is even more complicated.

Owner of Ventura Village Green apartments, Tony Biedul, and contractor, Bill Bigler, have been issued multiple notices of violation, which may carry fines as high as $10,000.

Biedul claims he was unaware there was asbestos in the building, and told Bigler to go ahead with the work, which included repairing water-damaged walls and ceilings.

“What I should have done is have the asbestos abatement guy take care of it first, but I didn’t know asbestos was involved,” said Biedul.

Biedul has now hired a contractor to complete the asbestos abatement and fix the problems in the 36 town homes. While the abatement occurs, residents were given enough money to stay at the Motel 6 on Johnson Road.

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