A Detroit neighborhood has recently had unexpected asbestos exposure reported, leading to serious concerns.

A contractor tore down a home without permission, which neighbors claim could lead to dangerous asbestos exposure.

The house in question had good reason to be torn down. In 2013, the house caught fire, and two small children were killed in the incident. Since then, the burned house has been an ugly reminder of the terrible tragedy.

“It’s a blessing it’s gone,” said one neighbor, Sandra G., to a local news station.

Though it was undoubtedly a house that needed to be taken down, the general consensus goes, the house had not actually been scheduled for demolition when the contractor took it down.

Another house had been scheduled, and this was simply the wrong one; however, because this house had not gone through proper regulatory procedures of asbestos removal, neighbors may have been put at risk of asbestos exposure.

One neighbor noted that their health was in “jeopardy” because of the unscheduled demolition and asbestos exposure reported subsequently.

After realizing his mistake, the contractor immediately contacted the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

In response to the asbestos exposure reported, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has cited the company for the violation, and the contractor has been referred for disciplinary review to the city of Detroit.

Asbestos Lung Cancer

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used for commercial purposes such as electrical or building insulation, as well as countless other uses.

Before asbestos was widely considered to be a dangerous substance, it was used in a great deal of construction.

However, asbestos’ microscopic fibers can accumulate in the lungs and cause several critical health problems, the worst of which is lung cancer.

Lung cancer has been associated with exposure to asbestos. Asbestos lung cancer takes decades to develop, but once established quickly spreads to distant organs.

Unfortunately, the lung cancer survival rate is very low amongst cancers in general.

Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits

In most cases, asbestos exposure lawsuits are filed by workers who have been exposed to asbestos in their line of work.

For some, continuous exposure to asbestos led to their cancer diagnosis, while for others, it only took a single instance of exposure.

Asbestos exposure can lead to lung cancer diagnosis, incurring physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering, as well as serious medical expenses.

However, lung cancer is typically diagnosed years after the initial exposure, once the disease has progressed to its later and more dangerous stages, leaving the families to deal with the ramifications.

According to many asbestos exposure lawsuits, the companies that allow their workers to be exposed to asbestos should have been aware of the dangerous nature of their asbestos-containing materials. Companies should also be aware of its ability to cause disease and even fatalities.

There are many asbestos regulations in place to prevent these kinds of issues. Asbestos exposure reported to health regulators is taken very seriously.

Many people exposed to asbestos have filed asbestos lung cancer lawsuits after being diagnosed. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with or died from an asbestos-related disease such as asbestos lung cancer, you may be able to file an asbestos exposure lawsuit.