Over the past several weeks, top White House aides have reportedly been evacuated from their offices because of renovations that include removing asbestos from ceilings and attics.

White House Removes Asbestos Despite Denying Cancer Claims

According to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG), the asbestos abatement is being done on the second floor of the West Wing of the White House, where asbestos insulation and other products have been in place for years.

As exposure to asbestos has been linked to health concerns including mesothelioma and other cancers, these materials must be removed in order to mitigate the risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses. According to The Hill, top aides to President Donald Trump have been removed from their offices for their safety for the duration of the work. Displaced staff members and aides include First Daughter Ivanka Trump, policy adviser Stephen Miller, top economic adviser Larry Kudlow, senior counselor Kellyanne Conway, as well as members of the White House legal team.

According to the White House, the asbestos abatement should have been completed by the end of August. Despite the concerns regarding asbestos building materials in the White House, President Trump claimed that the mineral is not carcinogenic and is 100 percent safe, according to the Environmental Working Group.

Public Buildings and Exposure to Asbestos

The White House asbestos abatement is a reminder that this hazardous mineral may still be in place in the insulation, roofing, tiling, and other construction materials of many public buildings. School buildings are commonly found to contain asbestos in the building materials. If these buildings are old and the insulation or tiling is crumbling or deteriorating, students, teachers, and parents may be at risk of exposure to this dangerous material. Although today there are laws dictating when asbestos may be used in construction products, many school buildings were built before these laws were enacted. Additionally, since there is no federal ban barring asbestos, many buildings constructed before the laws went into place have not been required to remove the carcinogenic material.

In addition to the risk of coming into contact with asbestos through deteriorating buildings, the mineral may also be found in a wide array of common products, including children’s’ toys, window glazing, duct tape, crayons, and makeup products. Exposure to asbestos may result in severe health side effects including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural disease, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Asbestos Bans

Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) attempted to ban asbestos in the 1980s, the agency was unsuccessful and the material has continued to be used in products in the United States. Although nearly 70 other countries have banned the carcinogenic material, more than one million Americans have died due to asbestos exposure and asbestos-related complications.

If you have been exposed to asbestos through your office, school, or another public building, and have developed asbestos-related conditions, you may be eligible to hire an attorney and file a class action lawsuit. Victims who pursue litigation may be able to collect damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, injuries, and other costs associated with asbestos-related health conditions.