An Oregon company is facing thousands of dollars in fines over asbestos violations when vinyl flooring was removed from a home last fall.

D.C.I. Properties LLC is a home renovation and remodeling company whose owners removed vinyl sheet flooring from a home in Salem, Oreg. in October 2015.

Even though a September 2015 examination of the flooring proved it to contain 40 percent asbestos, D.C.I. did not use a licensed asbestos abatement contractor to secure the removal, according to an order from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ).

The owners of the company took the old flooring to a recycling plant that is not authorized to accept or dispose of asbestos-containing materials.

The asbestos violations could have caused asbestos fibers to be released into the atmosphere, possibly harming workers and the public, according to the ODEQ.

The environmental agency originally proposed a $15,464 fine, but reduced it to $10,644.

Alaska Finds Asbestos Violations in Sandblasting Area

Shipbuilder Seward Ship’s Drydock was issued a notice of asbestos violations by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) when it sandblasted and released “fugitive particulate emissions.”

Paint, insulation and joint compounds used to build a ship could contain asbestos.

When workers sandblasted these materials, asbestos fibers were no longer contained and were released in the air where they could endanger people in other parts of the shipyard. Asbestos fibers can remain in the air for hours, possibly finding their way to people’s lungs.

Why Asbestos Violations Are Serious

Asbestos exposure problems can go undetected for decades, but the tiny fibers embedded in the body, most often the lungs, continually irritate the tissue and can cause tumors.

Lung cancer and mesothelioma cancer are the two most likely cancers to develop as a result of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma refers to a cancer that develops in the lining of an organ, such as the heart or lungs.

Construction workers, carpenters and shipyard workers are apt to be exposed to asbestos at the workplace. Anyone who works in a steel mill, paper mill, automotive plant or print shop could be exposed as well.

For nearly 100 years – until the 1970s – asbestos was used in home and building construction because the fibers are strong and fire resistant.

Vinyl sheet flooring, vinyl floor tiles, ceiling tiles, texture for walls and ceilings, joint compound, oil and coal furnaces and home siding could contain asbestos. Potting soil that contains vermiculite is apt to contain asbestos, too.

A natural occurring mineral, asbestos exposure problems are not an issue until the material is disturbed and tiny particles release into the air.

When we inhale or swallow the microscopic fibers, they become embedded inside our bodies. It takes decades – sometimes 50 years – for the trapped fibers to cause inflammation, scarring and genetic changes that sometimes lead to cancer.

In addition to becoming trapped in the linings of the lungs, the fibers also can collect in the lining of the abdominal cavity or the lining of the heart. When the fibers cause biological damage, they can ignite malignant mesothelioma.

If you or someone you know has been exposed to asbestos because of asbestos violations, you could be eligible for compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, health care and other expenses.