Hazardous Materials Removed From Campus Buildings
Nicholas Francis
Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: News
Once renowned for its fireproofing abilities, asbestos was banned in the United States in 1989 because of public health concerns.
Studies have shown that asbestos has been known to "increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma (a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen)," according to the National Cancer Institute.
Augusta State's recent renovation project on one of the rear warehouse buildings on campus has focused primarily on the removal of the building's roof, which is made up of panels that are formed from a composite product made of cement and asbestos.
The project, which cost the university $194,605, is the third asbestos removal project to be completed on campus in recent years. Some of the latest buildings in which asbestos has been removed include the Public Safety building, the ceramics warehouse and the maintenance warehouse.
"We went in order of which buildings had the most people in them for the longest number of hours," Rosier said. "Public Safety was first because it is a 24-hour building. The ceramics building was chosen next because we have students in there."
For the upcoming years, plans have been made to remove the remaining asbestos from the campus' warehouse buildings.
According to Rosier, one asbestos-containing building gets renovated every year. This means that by 2012, Augusta State will finally be asbestos-free.
Studies have shown that asbestos has been known to "increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma (a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen)," according to the National Cancer Institute.
Augusta State's recent renovation project on one of the rear warehouse buildings on campus has focused primarily on the removal of the building's roof, which is made up of panels that are formed from a composite product made of cement and asbestos.
The project, which cost the university $194,605, is the third asbestos removal project to be completed on campus in recent years. Some of the latest buildings in which asbestos has been removed include the Public Safety building, the ceramics warehouse and the maintenance warehouse.
"We went in order of which buildings had the most people in them for the longest number of hours," Rosier said. "Public Safety was first because it is a 24-hour building. The ceramics building was chosen next because we have students in there."
For the upcoming years, plans have been made to remove the remaining asbestos from the campus' warehouse buildings.
According to Rosier, one asbestos-containing building gets renovated every year. This means that by 2012, Augusta State will finally be asbestos-free.
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