No Threat Posed By Asbestos In Sand -- MesoLink.org -- 07-14-06

Researchers from a university have stated that levels of asbestos found in the sand at Illinois Beach State Park do not pose a risk to the public. The asbestos was found in samples of sand taken from the park. The results of the testing were released earlier this week by the Attorney General, Lisa Madigan.

The samples were tested and results provided by researchers from the University of Illinois in Chicago. Eleven out of the twelve sand samples that were taken from the state park were found to contain asbestos, which is a substance that can cause a range of health problems including a deadly cancer known as mesothelioma, depending on the level and length of exposure.

However, despite the majority of samples containing asbestos, data showed that the levels of asbestos would not be considered dangerous by authorities and therefore it was concluded that there was no significant danger to the public resulting from the asbestos presence.

This is said to be the fourth bout of testing at Illinois Beach State Park since 1998, and each time the levels of asbestos that have been found in sand samples have been deemed to be below danger levels.