Cleanup crews have been sent to an abandoned Pillsbury Mills plant in Springfield, Illinois, beginning the asbestos abatement process.

The plant has been abandoned since its closure in 2001 by the former owner, Cargill Corporation. This asbestos abatement process is projected to cost around $1.8 million and is expected to last up to six months. Around 750,000 square feet of space is in need of asbestos abatement.

The most recent owner of the former Pillsbury Mills plant was conducting an asbestos removal process to clean up the area, but the property was not being cleaned up with proper asbestos abatement processes.

Asbestos debris was being contained in garbage bags and open cardboard boxes that were left inside the building. The issue was reported to the EPA in a lawsuit over concerns of health and safety hazards to people in the area.

Within one mile of the plant, there are around 11,000 people that could be at serious risk, and the closest home is under 100 feet from the entrance to the facility.

The lawsuit brought the demolition process of the plant to a temporary halt in order for the asbestos abatement process to be completed properly, according to regulations.

This is an unusually large asbestos abatement site. “This is the largest clean up I’ve ever been involved in,” according to the on-site coordinator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Kevin Turner.

Asbestos exposure has been a fairly continuous problem in the Springfield area, given that there it has historically been a popular location for a great deal of manufacturing and commercial construction. Since asbestos exposure has been linked with the risk of mesothelioma cancer, asbestos concerns are a serious problem.

What is Asbestos?

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

Asbestos’ microscopic fibers can accumulate in the lungs and cause several critical health problems, the worst of which is lung cancer. Asbestos lung cancer may take decades to develop, but can quickly spread to distant organs. Unfortunately, the lung cancer survival rate is very low, even among cancers.

Because of these factors, asbestos lung cancer is commonly diagnosed at a late stage of development which is more dangerous and difficult to treat.

Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits

In most cases, asbestos lawsuits are filed by workers who have been exposed to asbestos in their line of work, or those who live in the surrounding area. For some, continuous exposure to asbestos led to their cancer diagnosis, while for others, it only took a single instance.

According to many asbestos 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 problems reported to health regulators and the EPA are taken very seriously.

Many people exposed to asbestos have filed asbestos lung cancer lawsuits after being diagnosed, which can help with medical expenses and other financial losses.

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 or seek an asbestos fine.