A United States Postal Service (USPS) office in Torrance, California, recently destroyed more than 4,000 pieces of mail and packages due to asbestos contamination.
The USPS said that services at the Torrance Main Post Office, located at 2510 Monterey Street, have been temporarily shut down from July 26 onwards and relocated to neighboring facilities.
Newsweek has contacted the USPS for comment by email outside of regular working hours.
Why It Matters
Exposure to asbestos increases one's risk of developing lung disease, with symptoms sometimes taking many years to develop, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The three major health effects linked to asbestos exposure are lung cancer; mesothelioma—a rare form of cancer in the thin lining of the lung, chest and the abdomen and heart; and asbestosis—a serious progressive, non-cancerous disease of the lungs.
Asbestos can be found in materials such as roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, asbestos cement products, heat-resistance fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coating. It can also be found in friction products such as automobile clutches, brakes and transmissions parts, the EPA said.
What To Know
The USPS said in August that testing at the Torrance Post Office found no asbestos-containing materials in the air duct systems or any human-occupied areas, the Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday.
However, tests did reveal that all remaining property inside the facility had been contaminated with asbestos, including all mail and packages.
Thousands of items of mail that may have contaminated were subsequently collected and disposed of "out of an abundance of caution," the USPS said.
Asbestos fibers are released into the air during disturbance of asbestos-containing materials, for example during demolition work, building or home maintenance, repairs, and remodeling, the EPA said.
The agency added that asbestos was previously used in numerous building materials for insulation and as a fire retardant due to its fiber strength and heat resistance.
According to local news station KTLA, the USPS has provided the following guidance to customers for the destroyed mail and packages:
What People Are Saying
The USPS said regarding the destruction of mail and packages: "While we understand the importance of these items to our customers, these steps are being taken in accordance with federal, state, and local OSHA and EPA regulations."
What Happens Next?
Services at the Torrance Post Office remain closed temporarily, and additional information will be released regarding its reopening.
Postal services have been relocated to Hawthorne, El Segundo and Marcelina post offices.