Philadelphia Housing Authority Makes Asbestos Blunder

The Philadelphia Housing Authority is under fire for recent allegations of improper disposal of asbestos from people's homes.

Plumbers removed leaky pipes from a resident's home and left the rusty pipes - covered in a white gauzelike material - on the front patio. One resident removed the asbestos-covered debris with her bare hands, disposing of the pipes in her normal garbage.

The white gauzelike material may be asbestos, a hazardous substance with potentially deadly consequences if torn or disturbed. Asbestos exposure has been linked to the lung cancer mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other serious health related diseases.

This is one of many cases that have been alleged against PHA workers, who may have been responsible for improperly removing and disposing of asbestos covered heating and plumping pipes.

Local and federal laws state only trained professionals are licensed to remove and dispose of asbestos in public buildings. By law, asbestos debris must be transported to special landfills in sealed bags.

Because of the implications, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched a formal criminal investigation researching the allegations. If the allegations are true, the employers of the PHA may be held liable for putting the health of its employees and residents at extreme risk.

Former employees have also files complaints against the housing authority, backing the current allegations. Some employees, such as former PHA plumber, David Poulterer, accuse the PHA of suspending them without pay for complaining about the illegal asbestos handling.

Although the PHA reported low a low asbestos risk level, the city Health Department found asbestos fibers during its inspection. The Health Department has demanded that the PHA return and re-inspect the homes due to the discrepancy in the reports.

The Philadelphia Daily News reported a resident described the experience. Channel Saunders claimed that the PHA was "much more concerned about me talking to the Daily News than about the health and safety of me and my children." Saunders resides in one of the affected apartments with her four children, aged 9, 5, 2 and 2 months.

Because mesothelioma typically manifests 20 or 30 years after exposure, it is difficult to accurately determine how these recent events will affect those involved. Ongoing investigations will determine the asbestos level and whether additional apartments may be at risk as well.

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