Asbestos News
Australian police station to close due to asbestos concerns
The Lithgow Police Station in Australia will reportedly be closed down temporarily after asbestos was discovered in heating ducts this past winter, according to the Lithgow Mercury.The news source reports that the asbestos discovery meant the facility's heating system needed to be disconnected, which forced the police station to utilize small blower heaters obtained from rental companies.
According to the news provider, the Lithgow Police Station is just one of 400 stations across New South Wales that has an asbestos issue. The Lithgow station was reportedly built in 1976.
Asbestos abatement contractors will reportedly be on site this week to complete the work, meaning the building will be closed to police officers and the public.
Many older buildings are found to contain asbestos as the material was once prized for its resistance to fire and utility as an insulator. However, since the mid-1960s, it has been known that exposure to asbestos can lead to the development of a range of serious illnesses including asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.
8/8/11
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