Asbestos Delays Reopening Of Daytona Pier

In Daytona Beach, Florida, the reopening of the iconic Daytona Beach Pier has been delayed. Now, residents and tourists might have to wait until summer to visit the pier. City officials purchased the pier last year after the owner allowed it to fall into disrepair. Ongoing work at the pier had nearly wrapped up, and officials had hoped to re-open the pier this month. However, workers recently discovered asbestos in the restaurant area of the pier. This material was used for decades in a variety of building materials, but is now known to cause serious health problems.

According to the website of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease…In general, the greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing harmful health effects…Fibers embedded in lung tissue over time may cause serious lung diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma. Smoking increases the risk of developing illness from asbestos exposure.”

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects less than 3,000 Americans each year. While there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemotherapy, there is no known cure. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms. Sadly, many patients succumb to mesothelioma within 2 years of being diagnosed.

Local officials say that more work is still needed at the pier site. Officials say that now the pier will likely remain closed until June, when it should reopen just in time for prime beach season.

Source: http://www.wesh.com/news/22404400/detail.html

1. 

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   July 4, 2010 at 8:27 am

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