Untested Demolition Method Banned By EPA -- MesoLink.org -- 08-30-04

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently put a ban on an untested demolition method that was being used near Lambert Field. This followed claims that the demolition procedure increased the risks of asbestos exposure.

Known as the ‘wet method’ the demolition procedure entailed spraying buildings and structures with water as they were demolished.

Traditionally, asbestos is removed by professionals prior to demolition of buildings. It was claimed by critics that the water-spraying method simply but more people at increased risk of exposure. Hundreds of homes and a number of other buildings has already been demolished using the ‘wet method’ prior to the EPA’s ban.

Although the EPA carried out tests to check whether there was an increased risk of asbestos exposure using this method, the results were inconclusive.

Roger Wilmouth from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Risk Assessment Team stated: "We were not provided adequate sampling data to determine whether there was a risk to the public or the workers from asbestos."

One major concern was that these homes and building were demolished using the untested "wet method" whilst there were still people within the vicinity – in many cases, residents still living across the street, in the direct pathway of any contamination that may have arisen from the demolition process.

The use of this controversial and untested method commenced in 2000. However, the EPA claims that it was unaware that any unauthorized methods were in use until many structures and homes had already been torn down using the ‘wet method’.