Asbestos News Roundup: 1.7.10

January 7th, 2010. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information  that you should be aware of.

Asbestos Hot Spots

Roanoke, VA:  A 1952 time capsule scheduled for unveiling on Thursday, January 7^th, is delayed indefinitely due to the presence of asbestos in the floor tiles surrounding the time capsule.

Robert Parker, a spokesman for the Virginia Dept of Health, said that it’s not uncommon for materials of that era to contain asbestos. He said he’s curious to see what’s inside the time capsule, which will be opened after proper assessments and remediation have been done. The capsule was filled by city and health officials 58 years ago. (wsls.com)

Asbestos in Schools

Montclair, NJ: Officials from the Montclair School District have closed part of Glenfield School this week, following evidence that flooring tiles damaged in a flood over the Christmas break, contain asbestos. A heating pipe burst and damaged tiles in the boys’ locker room located in the middle of the school, but the area was quickly contained. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk. These materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged, are disturbed in some manner, or deteriorate over time and release asbestos fibers into building air.”

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act administered by the EPA recommends that asbestos in school buildings be managed “in place.” According to the EPA, removal of asbestos-containing materials is not usually necessary unless the material is severely damaged or will be disturbed by a building demolition or renovation project. (northjersey.com)

Washington County, MD: The Washington County Board of Education has approved using three firms for asbestos abatement within its schools, if and when needed. According to Tony Suranno, an environmental safety specialist for Washington County Public Schools, 35 of 48 school buildings have asbestos. (herald-mail.com)

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma

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