October 2th, 2007

An old hospital in Ohio has gotten the green light to have its asbestos removed and then be demolished. The work will allow the lot to be used for more housing in the up and coming neighborhood.

A recently awarded grant will help the state of Ohio do away with an old hospital building that is falling apart and revealing asbestos. The grant, approved through the Clean Ohio Assistance program, will allow developers to safely removed the asbestos in the building, and then demolish it down to the foundation. The lot will be used in the future as a place to build new homes. The abatement is the first, and most expensive single step, in the demolition process.

The abatement must take place first, since exposing and disturbing asbestos can lead to many different health concerns. Asbestos particles can be breathed in when the material has been disturbed, and can become lodged in the lungs. Inhaling asbestos particles can lead to asbestosis and mesothelioma, both diseases directly tied to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma, a form of deadly lung cancer, results from the lining of the lungs dying after asbestos particles become stuck there. In all cases of demolition where asbestos is present, licensed professionals must first remove, and then safely dispose of, the asbestos before any other work can start.