Asbestos News

Renovations are underway at Texas State University to clear asbestos from a dorm building after the facility recently tested positive for the carcinogenic material, the University Star reports.

According to the news source, there are a number of buildings on campus that were built while asbestos was still widely used in the construction industry, including other dorms. However, Don Compton, associate director of facilities, planning, design and construction, told the news source that this is not new information.

"While we are well aware of asbestos, that does not mean people are being exposed," Compton told the news provider.

Though it was not clear whether the asbestos-containing tiles had been damaged or if the glue had become exposed, Kyle Estes, associate director of housing and residential life at the university, told the news source that asbestos had been removed from the dorm, Elliot Hall, in the past.

Ensuring that asbestos is properly removed and disposed of is critical, as the inhalation of the carcinogenic mineral fibers has been proven to cause asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.