ASBESTOS

Along with the harm done by companies, this region has faced many additional problems. In April of 1987, the EPA proposed regulations directing elementary and secondary schools to start disposing of dangerous asbestos by July 1989, which was expected to be a $3.2 billion program.[1] Asbestos are a group of six types of naturally occurring minerals and were used in a variety of things such as building materials and fireproof protective gear.  They were widely used in schools starting in the 1940s by spraying them onto ceilings and wrapping them around hot-water pipes, boilers, and air conditioners for insulation and fireproofing. They were not banned until the 1970s as it is now widely known that exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, as well and other cancers and lung related illnesses.[2] Stephen M. Vargo, the facility planning director for Columbus Public Schools at the time, said the district planned to spend around $700,000 annually for four years to cleanse city school buildings of asbestos. Whitehall City School officials planned to spend $65,000 the summer of 1987 to remove asbestos from the schools of that district. In the end, it was suggested that the Ohio schools were doing a better job than majority of the schools nationwide.[3] 

However, Ohio is still to this day battling asbestos. One group of people particularly susceptible to this hazardous carcinogen is firefighters. There is a high rate of cancer among firefighters that federal and state lawmakers, local officials, and fire-service leaders are reacting strongly to. Some proposed ideas for better protection include tougher standard operating procedures for firefighters to clean their gear and themselves, increased funding to update old fire stations, a second set of gear for all firefighters, and free cancer screening for all firefighters. In their efforts to take action on this problem, the Columbus Dispatch conducted two statewide surveys of professional, full-time firefighters and fire chiefs from across Ohio and found that one in six of nearly 1,300 firefighters had been diagnosed with cancer at some point in their careers. Firefighters are at least 14% more likely to develop cancer than the general public. According to a study done in 2015 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, they are twice as likely to get skin and testicular cancer and mesothelioma – the cancer caused by asbestos. Almost 50% of the survey respondents and about 95% of the 360 fire chiefs surveyed said cancer is the greatest threat on the job yet nationwide standards to prevent cancer are lacking, along with the funds. [4]

With this in mind, many Ohio authorities such as U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman have taken major steps towards lessening the threat of cancer for firefighters. Brown is co-sponsor of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, a bill meant to help track and address cancer in the firefighter ranks. State and local officials are planning to hold meetings with Ohio fire service leaders to analyze ways to better protect firefighters from cancer. Ohio’s state and fire marshal and chiefs recently met to discuss the issue. Al Tarawneh, head of Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation division of safety and hygiene, stated that grant programs will be issued to help departments buy equipment to reduce exposures. In further detail, Governor John Kasich authorized $2 million in Ohio’s most recent two-year budget to give to departments across the state who apply for the grants to purchase better equipment or gear. In addition, Zach Klein, Columbus City Council President, suggests cities work with fire departments to leverage funds and implement cancer screening for firefighters. Through these efforts, Ohio has the potential to become a national leader in reducing risk of cancer from carcinogens such as asbestos and save many lives. [5]

[1] “EPA Proposal to Press Schools for Asbestos Cleanup”, Columbus Dispatch, April 23, 1987, 1A

[2] What is Asbestos?, Pleural Mesothelioma Center, https://www.pleuralmesothelioma.com/asbestos/, accessed October 21, 2017

[3] “EPA Proposal to Press Schools for Asbestos Cleanup”, Columbus Dispatch, April 23, 1987, 1A

[4] “’Dispatch’ spotlight on firefighter cancer threat prompts call to action”, Columbus Dispatch, October 29, 2017

[5] “’Dispatch’ spotlight on firefighter cancer threat prompts call to action”, Columbus Dispatch, October 29, 2017