Asbestos News

The Peterborough Museum in the UK is in the process of multi-billion pound renovation project, part of which recently included asbestos abatement work, Peterborough Today reports.

According to the news provider, workers needed to remove the carcinogenic material from a majority of the rooms in the old facility in order to clear the way for the remainder of the renovation project.

It is crucial that asbestos is handled properly and removed prior to renovation or demolition projects as the deadly mineral fibers can become airborne when loosened during such work. The inhalation of such fibers can lead to the development of a number of serious illnesses including asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.

The next step of the project will call for museum staff to move out by April 4, the news source said. Approximately 250,000 artifacts have been removed and stored and staff members hope to return to the facility in September in order to move the items back into the museum.

The new museum is expected to be open sometime in spring 2012, the news source said.