Whatcom residents who live near Swift Creek and Sumas River should avoid the waters this week, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology.
The department issued an asbestos exposure warning related to the rivers early Wednesday morning.
The rivers, which carry naturally occurring asbestos deposits from Sumas Mountain, pose a hazard during particularly hot and dry weather. With Whatcom County currently in a heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service, several state and local agencies are concerned about exposure levels.
“Avoid walking, driving, cycling, riding horses, or disturbing the riverbed or dredge piles along Swift Creek and Sumas River, or where flooding may have left deposits,” the warning said. “When disturbed, asbestos fibers in the dry sediments can become airborne. Airborne asbestos can be inhaled and potentially cause health problems.”
Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and increases risk of lung disease, asbestosis and mesothelioma, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Ecology releases the warning annually, according to Marie Duckworth, a communications specialist at the Whatcom County Health Department.
“It goes out around this time every year,” she said. “When it’s wet and raining, there’s a very low chance that the asbestos will become airborne. But now that we’re in the dry months, it’s much more likely.”
Duckworth said the warning will remain in place until the region’s “dry season” ends.
This story was updated July 27 at 12:10 p.m. to include additional information about the asbestos warning issued Wednesday.
