January 5th, 2008
Renovations on a county courthouse have been halted when asbestos was found in the flooring of the building. Initial inspections did not reveal any of the dangerous substance, and the budget for the project did not encompass the expensive removal.
The Lafayette County Courthouse was supposed to be getting a face-lift this summer, with $60,000 in the budget for upgrades and renovations. But when the flooring of the building was being removed, it was found to contain high levels of asbestos. Initial inspections could not see below the current flooring, where the asbestos was hidden. The finding halted all renovations, and the exposed asbestos is sitting in the building until a contractor can be found. The $60,000 first allotted to the project will be used for the abatement, and additional funding will now be needed for the renovations.
Asbestos abatement is an expensive project, since the material can be deadly if mishandled. Asbestos that has broken apart can become airborne and be inhaled, causing many types of respiratory diseases. Emphysema and mesothelioma have been linked with asbestos exposure, both of which can be terminal. Mesothelioma, a type of aggressive lung cancer, results from asbestos fibers being caught in the lungs.
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