April 5th, 2008

Reports showing high levels of asbestos in a New Jersey building being converted to a library paused all work on the site. Workers that conducted demolition on the building last year are being contacted to make them aware of the situation.

An environmental study conducted on a building being renovated into a new library in New Jersey showed high levels of asbestos on the site. The report shut down all work, and prompted an immediate air quality test. Those tests confirmed the high levels of asbestos in areas that had not been disturbed, a small bit of luck for workers conducting demolition in the building last summer. The town is contacting everyone that performed demolition in the building last year, including students and volunteers, to let them know about the test results.

Though high levels of asbestos are concerning, the material is usually still safe if it has not been disturbed. Disturbed asbestos can become airborne, a situation that can pose a health risk to people in the area. Airborne asbestos can be breathed into the body, leading to diseases like a form of lung cancer called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is the result of airborne asbestos fibers being breathed into the lungs and getting trapped there, causing the tissue in the lungs to not be able to absorb oxygen.