Asbestos News

The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced the awarding of a $500,000 grant for the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, part of which will be used to remove asbestos from an old building.

According to New England Cable News, Craig Blais, president of the Worcester Business Development Corporation, says that $200,000 of the grant will be directly used for the asbestos abatement work.

The building in question, which is located on Front Street, was formerly the home to the Telegram and Gazette, a local newspaper. The grant money will help to revitalize the city, added Congressman Jim McGovern.

"It enables us to make these businesses usable again, so we can attract new jobs, new businesses in Worcester which is a benefit to everyone in the city," McGovern said.

McGovern noted that the grants are the first step in the process to establish a theater district in the city, according to the news provider.

Asbestos removal is a key aspect in the renovation work of older buildings, as the exposure to the carcinogenic substance poses a number of serious health risks, including the development of malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.