Residents in El Dorado Hills, CA could be facing an increased risk of respiratory ailments and more serious diseases due to exposure to high levels of naturally occurring asbestos. A report that was recently released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that while naturally occurring asbestos could contribute to increased exposure levels in outdoor areas, there probably isn’t a substantially increased risk of disease.
Jill Dyken, a federal environmental health scientist, stated “…We don’t think the exposure is high enough that we would be able to measure elevated rates of diseases in the community.”
Residents, however, aren’t entirely convinced. Many believe that increased residential and commercial development in El Dorado Hills and throughout California could lead to levels of airborne asbestos fibers sufficient to raise concerns about mesothelioma and other serious diseases. El Dorado Hills’ county government website briefly discusses naturally occurring asbestos (NOA), saying that “When rock containing NOA is broken or crushed, asbestos may be released from the rock and may become airborne, potentially causing a health hazard.”
Other factors support the argument that NOA could create a potential health hazard. The American Cancer Society states that in the United States about one in three cases of mesothelioma, an aggressive and fatal cancer linked to asbestos, are due to non-occupational exposure. Additionally, mesothelioma can take decades to develop after initial exposure to asbestos, making it difficult to draw accurate conclusions about the substance’s effects from a short term investigation such as the one the EPA conducted.
The investigations that led to the EPA’s report started some five years ago in response to a general concern that development in El Dorado Hills’ Oak Ridge area may increase airborne NOA and contaminate the local high school and other residential areas. The report allows that asbestos exposure may rise with development, but denies the necessity for a full blown investigation and effectively gives the “go ahead” to waiting contractors.
While insufficient studies have been conducted to conclusively link NOA to diseases like mesothelioma, many believe that insufficient evidence does not constitute sufficient counter evidence. The leader of a group that opposes development in the Oak Ridges area, Nadine Lauren, argues that the lack of research is simply a convenient circumstance, “a curtain a lot of people are hiding behind.”
At present, it appears that further development is on the agenda for El Dorado Hills’ Oak Ridge area. The county’s environmental management director plans to work with state and federal officials to help educate the public on minimizing asbestos exposure.
