A Colorado man by the name of Michael Merit has allegedly jeopardized the health of the community around the city of Elizabeth through falsifying pre-demolition toxic substance reports. A grand jury has accused him of improperly performing air tests to determine whether the area was contaminated with asbestos fibers, as well as falsifying lab results to show that the tested environment was free of the dangerous substance.
Asbestos was used commonly through much of the 20th century in a variety of different industries for its fire and resistance as well as its remarkable insulating properties. Asbestos products in the form of pressed boards, blown wall insulation, pipe wrapping, roof tiles, flooring tiles and more are often discovered while renovating or demolishing buildings constructed before the turn of the century.
Nowadays, strict state and federally enforced restrictions and regulations apply to the safe handling and proper disposal of asbestos containing materials. Professionals who work with or around asbestos must be properly trained and certified in effectively protecting themselves and the local population against exposure to the substance through air or water contamination.
Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, an aggressive and fatal cancer, and several other dangerous diseases and respiratory ailments. The microscopic, hair like fibers can enter the body through accidental ingestion or inhalation, and easily slip past the body’s normal protection against foreign debris due to their unique shape. Asbestos fibers often pass through the lung or intestinal walls and settle into a protective soft tissue known as the mesothelium. Once lodged in the mesothelium, asbestos fibers cause aggravation and scarring that can result in the development of malignant tumors.
According to the grand jury, Merit lied about his experience with asbestos remediation and claimed he was properly licensed for asbestos testing in order to gain employment with a demolition company. The falsified results from his improperly conducted tests were submitted to gain the state’s permission to demolish several mobile homes in Elizabeth city. Three mobile homes were demolished before the state halted the work following a tip that the tests were improperly conducted.
Qualified Colorado officials conducted follow testing on the demolition site to assess the damage and contamination. After the demolition of just three mobile homes, enough asbestos had been exposed for the state to declare an “emergency circumstance involving the sudden discharge of a hazardous substance.”
Prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney General of Colorado will pursue the case against Michael Merit in an Ebert County district court.
