October 9th, 2007

Sioux City has come to an agreement with a property manager over a pile of asbestos left in town. The asbestos was the remnants of the demolished Livestock Exchange Building that was damaged in a fire.

A company that is no longer in business was hired to demolish the old Livestock Exchange Building in Sioux City after a fire damaged the majority of the building. Six years after demolition, a pile of debris left behind was found to contain asbestos, and the city wanted restitution. This week, Sioux City has negotiated a deal with the management company that contracted the demolition work; the management company will pay $7,500 in damages to have the asbestos safely removed.

The asbestos pile was causing a health concern as the material broke down. When asbestos deteriorates, it breaks into airborne fibers that can be breathed in. Inhaling asbestos particles can lead to many forms of respiratory illnesses, including emphysema and mesothelioma, a type of deadly lung cancer. Mesothelioma results from asbestos fibers becoming stuck in the lungs, and is usually terminal at the time of detection. The funds awarded to Sioux City will be used to safely remove and dispose of the deadly material.