Asbestos News
Massive amount of asbestos removed from buildings in Rwanda
Nearly 63,000 square meters of asbestos-containing roofing materials were removed from public and private buildings in Rwanda recently, an official from the Asbestos Eradication Project told The New Times.According to the news source, civil engineer Alfred Byiringiro said that the project began in 2010 and has led to the disposal of a significant number of asbestos roofs in the small African country.
Thus far, a number of government buildings have been cleared of the carcinogenic material, in addition to schools, hospitals and other structures.
"Our target is to remove all the asbestos building materials from houses before 2015. Though people and institutions are injecting in their own money towards asbestos eradication; the process is not as fast as we wish it to be," Byiringiro told the news provider.
Taking action to remove asbestos from buildings that contain the carcinogen is a positive step for the people of Rwanda, who could face health risks if they inhale the dangerous mineral fibers. These risks can include the development of lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer.
12/30/11
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