Ambler, Pennsylvania - Sixteen miles outside Philadelphia lies Ambler, a community scarred by its asbestos manufacturing past. Today, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) announced that it was awarded a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study any lingering or residual health effects from this once lucrative industry on the community of Ambler.
The purview of study by the University of Pennsylvania is more comprehensive then any previous study, in that, not only will the long-term, adverse health effects attributed to the asbestos industry be vigorously studied, but also whether there are any social, community and cultural effects.
As a rule, studies of this type typically focus on the health impacts asbestos may have on a community rather than understanding if there are any social impacts due to the asbestos manufacturing. Though it may not be clear at the outset of the study, the social impacts may be entirely gleaned by the community itself.
According to the study's authors, there are two main goals ? first, helping the Ambler community understand any health issues resulting from the asbestos industry while clearing up any confusion, and second, what the social effects may be. Over the course of 5 years, the research team will gather needed information from the town, produce an exhibit of the data collected and establish an web database.
Ambler's long and storied history with asbestos began in the late 1800s with the establishment of Keasbey and Mattison Co.. From 1897 until the mid-1930s, Keasbey and Mattison Co. manufactured asbestos products including millboard, a product mainly used as an insulating material that would act as a heat protector.
The company also produced pipe covering, cements and adhesives, all containing asbestos. Though Keasbey and Mattison Co. stopped production in 1934, the site continued to be operational, manufacturing asbestos-related products through the 1980s.
Those working directly with asbestos in manufacturing settings were at a high risk of asbestos exposure. Until it was widely known that asbestos caused mesothelioma cancer, lung cancer and asbestosis, workers in the industry were routinely exposed to the toxin, often without protective clothing and gear. Though asbestos exposure did not end when the workers left the job site. Many workers inadvertently carried asbestos home on their clothing only to expose their spouses and families.
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