March 1st, 2008

An Illinois village hall bathroom and hallway was closed down this week after asbestos was found in the flooring tiles. The asbestos had been missed five years earlier, when the building underwent abatement.

Part of a village hall was closed down this week in Illinois after asbestos was found in some flooring tile. The tiles were being removed and replaced, but the work was stopped when the flooring glue was found to contain asbestos. The bathroom was primarily used by police officers, and has been sealed off until the asbestos can be removed. The asbestos in the flooring was missed five years ago when abatement was performed on the 100-year old building. Administrators are not angry over the oversight, as the floor tiles had to be removed in order to see the asbestos.

The village hall went through abatement, or professional asbestos removal, five years ago since the building was old and was known to contain asbestos. The removal was done as a precaution while the asbestos was still in good condition, cutting off any chance of deadly asbestos exposure. Exposure to asbestos has been linked to emphysema, mesothelioma and other types of diseases which are often terminal. Mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer associated with inhaling asbestos fibers, usually occurs when the material has been disturbed.