Former Plant Workers Informed of Possible Asbestos Exposure
Friday, September 26th, 2008On September 26, 2008, public health officials began informing former employees of a Fremont manufacturing plant that they might have been exposed to asbestos. Workers of the Flintkote Co. were exposed to low levels of asbestos between 1967 and 1979, according to a report from the Federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry.
Those who lived with Flintkote workers during those 12 years also were at risk because employees could have carried asbestos fibers home in their hair or clothing, the report said.
Former workers and their family members may contact Maria Teran-MacIver, the agency’s communication specialist, at 770-488-0720.
Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring minerals whose long, thin fibers, when inhaled, can become lodged in the lungs. Over time, the fibers can accumulate, causing scarring and inflammation, and possibly cancer.
The fibers, which are resistant to heat and fire, were used in building materials for decades before it was learned that they were harmful to health. Flintkote used materials containing asbestos to make fire-resistant wall boards.
The company went bankrupt in 2004 because of asbestos-related lawsuits. The former Flintkote site, at 27975 Shinn St., now is owned by United States Gypsum as a reloading and distribution center, according to the report.
It also is possible that between 1967 and 1979, dust and asbestos fibers were released into the air within a few blocks of the facility.
Cancer records and death certificate information for the neighborhood reviewed by state health officials showed “scattered evidence” that the number of deaths associated with asbestos exposure is higher than expected. However, these record reviews are an imperfect tool for determining whether asbestos from the facility made people sick, according to the report.