Workers who must go into the tunnels under the U.S. Capitol say they risk a slow death from asbestos-related disease.
The Hill, a newsletter that covers Congress, reports that it obtained a copy of a letter sent to legislators by 10 employees of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, which is responsible for maintaining the complex. They describe thick asbestos dust, punishing heat and locked emergency exits.
The tunnels that connect the power plant to the House and Senate office buildings and the Capitol are so dangerous that Capitol Police do not patrol them, which also creates a security risk, the workers said.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen, linked to lung cancer and to mesothelioma, a cancer caused only by asbestos exposure. It causes other health problems, including asbestosis.
In their letter, the workers said the air in the tunnels is not surveyed for asbestos.
"The one thing we can tell you is we have breathed in an awful lot because it is everywhere and you can see it and physically pick it up," they said.
© Copyright 2006 by United Press International
