Boxford woman and son charged for illegally dumping asbestos, prompting mesothelioma cancer worries

A Boxford, Massachusetts woman and son have been accused of illegally dumping asbestos-containing waste. Helen M. McCarthy and James McCarthy were named in the civil complaint, filed in Suffolk Superior Court.

The complaint alleges that the mother and son duo illegally dumped the asbestos waste for ten years. Demolition debris, including roofing material and scrap metal were dumped around the site. The asbestos waste was used to fill in the protected wetlands.

"By using their property as an illegal dumping ground for asbestos and other solid waste, we allege that the McCarthy’s have not only put at risk the health of workers at the property, but have destroyed sensitive wetland habitats," said the office of Attorney General Martha Coakley.

Asbestos is a highly hazardous material, known to cause mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is an aggressive asbestos-related disease, which most commonly forms from the internal lining of the chest cavity.

Mesothelioma clinicssupport the usage of standard medical treatment. Patients most often undergo chemotherapy and radiation, and some endure resectable surgery. Mesothelioma doctors such as Dr. David Sugarbaker continue to work towards a mesothelioma cure.

The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction, which would require Helen and James McCarthy to clean up the site, and restore the filled-in wetlands, reports the Salem News.

Helen McCarthy also failed to comply with a 2007 administrative consent order to remove the solid waste from the wetlands.