Due to Asbestos Contamination, National Park Closes 30 Acres of Coastline

The Republic reports that authorities have closed 30 acres of land on Horn Island, located in Mississippi, until further notice while asbestos contamination is removed. The asbestos was detected on tiles at a former biological testing site utilized by the U.S. Army.

Today, the park is a popular recreational destination that has been reserved for the protection of natural and historical resources.

Authorities at the Gulf Island National Seashore have reported that only one acre of the 2,700 acre island has been affected by the asbestos contamination, but 30 acres are being closed to keep visitors away from the location during the cleanup.
The process reportedly may take years to complete.

An inspection of Horn Island was conducted in June as a result of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Tiles contaminated with asbestos were found scattered across an acre on the island. In another area of the former military test site, sand was tested and came back positive for mustard gas.

The National Park service plans to contact the federal agency in charge of defense site cleanups to begin the cleanup procedures.

“Asbestos can cause serious illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma,” says Ed Cahill, Vice President of EMSL’s Asbestos Division. “All of our locations, in the United States and Canada, are fully equipped and accredited to test for the presence of asbestos in air, soil, water, and bulk building materials.”

For more information regarding EMSL’s asbestos services, please call 800-220-3675 or visit www.EMSL.com or email info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a full service testing company providing quality lab services under the same private ownership since 1981. Including the corporate lab facility in Cinnaminson, NJ, EMSL Analytical operates over thirty laboratories nationwide in the US and Canada. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations, as well as state and federal regulating bodies

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com