More than 40 years since a vermiculite-processing facility near the Honolulu airport was shuttered over concerns about asbestos contamination, harmful vermiculite and asbestiform tremolite residue remains in the soil placing nearby Honolulu residents at risk.
Hawai’i factory’s troubled history
For decades, the facility known as the Vermiculite of Hawai’i Plant operated near the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport processing vermiculite shipped from a Libby, Montana, mine operated by W.R. Grace & Co. The plant used an exfoliation process that released asbestos particles into the air.
Although the Hawai’i facility closed in 1983 and remediation was performed in 2001, a new study confirms that dangerous levels of vermiculite and asbestiform tremolite remain. As asbestos and fibrous particles can persist in soil and air for years, the risk to nearby residents remains.
We can help.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is the name of a group of six different fibrous minerals that include amosite, chrysotile, crocidolite, and the fibrous varieties of actinolite, anthophyllite, and tremolite, each of which occur naturally in the environment.
Asbestos fibers are resistant to fire, heat, chemicals, and biological degradation. Because of these properties, asbestos has been extracted for use in a wide range of manufactured products, primarily building materials, friction products, and heat-resistant fabrics.
Generations of Hawai’i residents have been exposed to asbestos because was used in a variety of applications on military bases and in the shipbuilding and maritime industries.
Why Is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos fibers are undetectable by smell or taste, and they do not dissolve in water or evaporate. When disturbed, they become airborne and can be inhaled where they can irritate and scar lung tissue, making breathing difficult. Over time, the trapped fibers can cause inflammation, scarring, and diseases, most notably mesothelioma, but also lung, laryngeal, and ovarian cancers.
What Are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?
Pleural mesothelioma affects tissue surrounding the lungs. Symptoms may include:
- Chest pain
- Painful coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Lumps under the skin on the chest
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects tissue in the belly. Symptoms may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal swelling
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
How We Help Victims of Asbestos Exposure in Hawaiʻi
Seek justice with the help of our experienced Hawaiʻi asbestos attorneys. Our mesothelioma law firm has represented Hawaiʻi residents like you affected by asbestos exposure for over 40 years, aggressively fighting the corporate giants responsible for their dangerous products. If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos or suffered from a disease caused by asbestos, like mesothelioma, we can help.
