Asbestos Removal

* We agree with your Feb. 13 headline, “Asbestos Contamination Adds to Risks and Costs of Cleanup.” Abundant evidence indicates that inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers can cause cancer. However, the article suggests that regulators may be overreacting to this threat. For instance, disposal of all furnishings, carpets and clothes that may have been exposed to fallen asbestos debris shaken loose by a quake is not always necessary. This is because asbestos fibers typically do not penetrate into fabric or solids. Instead, asbestos debris could be vacuumed from the surface of exposed items using time-tested remediation techniques. In short, the presence of asbestos is a manageable risk. It is better public policy to allocate scarce earthquake relief and personal funds to more urgent problems.

DAVID E. ROSS

MICHAEL D. GEYER

SCS Engineers, Long Beach