May 14th, 2008

An Ohio developer has put all demolition plans for a building on hold after asbestos was found. The new discovery could cause the budget for the plan to become insurmountable.

The deadline for the demolition of an Ohio building has been extended for 30 days after asbestos was found in the building. Though health officials are not stopping the demolition, they are mandating that any material from the site be disposed of in a contained way and dumped in an asbestos-approved landfill. The additional work could add $140,000 to the budget of the teardown, a situation that may take more than 30 days to resolve. Residents in the area are complaining that the delay is allowing for children in the area to go onto the property, which could pose a health hazard.

Asbestos that is not contained can become airborne, which can lead to asbestos exposure. Exposure to the material has been linked to mesothelioma, emphysema, asbestosis and other illnesses. Mesothelioma, a type of aggressive lung cancer, can lay dormant for years before being diagnosed. The developer is analyzing costs to remove and dispose of the debris, and a city board meeting will be held later this month to discuss the issue.