Mesothelioma fears addressed by North Carolina officials
North Carolina state officials have finally gone on the record and addressed concerns related to pollution and cancer risks in the community of Old Fort. For many years, Old Fort residents have been concerned about the environmental repercussions associated with the former finishing plant located in the town.
According to locals news reports, a new report issued by the North Carolina Department of Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that “incidents of cancer in Old Fort are not associated with environmental pollution at the defunct Old Fort Finishing plant, and that school personnel are not at risk.”
Locals had worried for a number of years that the cause of cancer among area residents was due to the presence of hazardous materials at Old Fort Finishing and the Old Fort School. "The petitioner’s initial concern was the potential exposure of staff and students at the nearby Old Fort Elementary School to chemicals from the Old Fort Finishing site," the report explained. "The specific concern was the possible relationship between the chemicals and cancer cases among former school staff."
The hazardous materials in question included radon and asbestos. Asbestos is a known carcinogen linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare cancer. Asbestos was known to be present at the school in the 1990s, and while most of it has been removed, some asbestos remains in the boiler room and in some floor tiles. However, the report reads that, "No evidence of exposure to airborne asbestos was found." "The Cancer Registry did not detect a higher occurrence of cancers typically associated with environmental factors," the report concluded. "The cancer rates for McDowell County were consistent with overall cancer rates for the state."