A building owner in San Francisco was recently charged with illegally demolishing a building full of asbestos.
Since his arrest and the charges were made against him, he has been sentenced to 10 months in prison.
Asbestos Ridden Building Torn Down
Wassim Mohammad Azizi, 37, has been accused of putting his workers and the residents surrounding his building at risk of asbestos exposure.
The building, located in Hayward, was a two-story wooden building that Azizi owned and was reportedly infested with asbestos.
Owner Fails to Notify Necessary Authorities
After a five-day trial, a federal jury charged Azizi for violating the Clean Air Act and accused him of failing to notify the Environmental Protection Agency of the demolition.
He also was held responsible for not notifying the Bay Area Air Quality Management District of the demolition that is said to have released asbestos fibers into the air.
Dangers of Asbestos
Asbestos has been proven to be a carcinogen that can be fatal when it is inhaled, ingested or improperly handled.
The substance can lead to various forms of cancer, including mesothelioma and asbestosis, and was banned for us in construction and other professions in the 1970’s.
However, many buildings and homes built with asbestos previous to the ban, still pose risk to residents and the community as a whole.
(Source: SF Gate)
Have you been wrongly exposed to asbestos and now have a form of asbestos cancer? If so, please contact us today to find out about the legal resources available to you and your loved ones.
