[68vette]

Has anyone seen the article on the damage and destruction of waterways and wetlands around Belvidere Mountain? www.BurlingtonFreePress.com

What an environmental disaster. The major concern is when the water levels drop and the ground dries, the asbestos will become airborne.

[flu189]

It's a shame that runoff from the tailings is affecting property in the area. The mine area is pretty large, I've seen it from hiking up over Belvidere Mt. As far as a health threat from airborne asbestos from what I have read probably is nothing for us to get alarmed over or start breaking out the checkbook over. Apparently the troublesome asbestos to health from fibers inhaled comes from it's processing into product format, not from it's crushed natural state. The mine operated for 90 years and according to at least one resident in Eden who knows former mine workers and families there has been no indication of direct health problems. If in fact asbestos had caused problems to the workers in Eden we would have heard of it once it was discovered to be a problem. On the other hand a good example involves the former workers of ship yards where asbestos in it's processed form was used and now there is very well documented negative effects on their health.

[harry chickpea]

We had talc/asbestos mining in the Moretown area. One of the engineers died of particularly hideous lung related problems. Exposure can be a problem, but I also think that the dangers are more related to lawyers having a field day than the chances of being personally affected by such a casual source.

As for the people of earlier generations being affected, one also has to remember that the culture of the time was of constant tobacco smoking. The combination was probably particularly leathal.