Asbestos News

The Ralph A. Worley Observatory in Shreveport, Louisiana, has been temporarily closed because of potential health and safety issues including asbestos in floor tiles, the Shreveport Times reports.

According to the news provider, the facility was closed after representatives from the state fire marshal's office and the state Department of Environmental Quality inspected the property and discovered the asbestos as well as faulty electrical wiring.

The observatory reportedly opened in 1964 and is leased to the Shreveport-Bossier City Astronomical Society, the news source said.

Steve White, director of new construction projects for the owner of the facility, Caddo Parish public schools, told the news source that renovation proposals would need to be put before the school board after an asbestos abatement project is completed.

It is critical that asbestos be properly handled and removed prior to renovation projects as the dangerous mineral fibers can become airborne when loosened during such work. Inhaling these fibers can lead to the development of a number of deadly diseases including malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.