Soil to be cleaned of asbestos, the only known cause of mesothelioma cancer

Two parties have agreed to cleanup asbestos contaminated soil at an Easthampton, Massachusetts site. W.R. Grace & Co. and Oldon Limited Partnership will pay close to $833,000 to clean the soil, reports the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

W.R. Grace & Co. leased the 2.3 acre site from Oldon Limited Partnership between 1963 and 1992. During that time, Grace produced Zonolite attic insulation and fireproofing material, from asbestos-contaminated vermiculate concentrate. Grace received the vermiculate from the Zonolite mine in Libby, Montana.

The EPA has discovered asbestos contaminated soil behind the former Grace building, and on the eastern half of the property. Residual asbestos contamination was also found inside the building. Grace and Oldon must clean the aforementioned areas, as part of their settlement with the EPA.

Once the asbestos is removed, the site will be safer. Asbestos is a highly hazardous material, known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is the most aggressive asbestos-related cancer, known to affects 3,000 Americans each year.

Unfortunately, there is no mesothelioma cure. In order to fight the disease, patients must undergo standard medical treatment, such as mesothelioma surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Mesothelioma doctors often diagnose patients in the later stages of the disease, and because there is no mesothelioma cure, palliative therapies are a sufferer’s only option.

Asbestos must also be cleaned from the soil of a nearby railroad, which the town hopes to convert into a bike trail. The two companies will pay an additional $72,537 to the EPA for past cleanup costs.