Loose mesothelioma-causing asbestos materials prompt evacuation on California

The recent 6.5-magnitude earthquake in California has affected the city of Eureka. One of the Eureka agencies displaced by the quake is the city’s designated art agency, which goes by the name The Ink People. The artists were formerly situated in a wing of the Eureka Municipal Auditorium, but were forced to move out of their space when ceiling tiles fell during the quake, potentially releasing asbestos. According to city officials, the damage at the auditorium totals roughly $500,000.

”There is asbestos,” said Eureka emergency response team spokesman Gary Bird, “and because the plaster is loose, there could be airborne asbestos.”

Inhaling or ingesting these tiny airborne asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems. Medical professionals agree that asbestos exposure is the leading cause of mesothelioma, a rare yet aggressive form of cancer. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are palliative mesothelioma treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure. Asbestos exposure may also lead to pleural plaques, various types of lung cancers, and asbestosis.

Bird added that the city plans to fix up the auditorium, although no steps have yet been taken in that direction. For the time being, The Ink People will be housed in temporary headquarters provided by the Northern California Indian Development Council. The Ink People’s Executive Director Libby Maynard says that her organization had helped them council in the past, adding”It all comes around.” For the time being, all Ink People programs are canceled, as their new offices are much smaller than their previous location.