November 11th, 2007

Renovations that should have been easy and quick for an Iowa auditorium are now on hold until more funds can be scrounged up. When asbestos was detected in a few areas, bids were opened for testing and abatement in the building.

The city of Wapello, Iowa had to stop renovations on a local auditorium after preliminary test results showed the possibility of asbestos. Bidding was opened for contractors to come in and take air and material samples in the building, and to conduct asbestos abatement if needed. Work on the building has stopped until test results come back, delaying other parts of the project and increasing the budget for the work. Though there is no danger at this time, officials are keeping workers and the public safe by halting work until after the test results are released.

Though asbestos is normally an innocuous material that was used for insulation in older buildings, continuing work on the auditorium may stir up the substance. If asbestos is disturbed, it can crumble and become airborne, becoming a potential health threat. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to emphysema and mesothelioma among other respiratory illnesses. Mesothelioma, a fast, aggressive form of cancer, has been directly linked to asbestos exposure.