Asbestos News

Workers have begun to remove some of the debris from a deadly fire last month in Fulton, Illinois, that killed 41-year-old Charlene Sipe, KWQC News 6 reports.

Recently, a crew filled two dumpsters with the debris, some of which contained asbestos and needed to be wrapped in plastic prior to being put into the dumpsters, the news provider said.

Bill Blecha, who owns the building, said that this procedure was followed if there was any doubt to whether or not a material contained asbestos. He added that he will consider rebuilding the property after the clean-up, according to the news source.

An inspector from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is reportedly expected to examine the remainder of the building to determine whether or not all the asbestos has been properly removed.

After it is removed, the asbestos will be taken to the Upper Rock Island County Landfill, according to the news provider.

Asbestos exposure has been proven to cause a range of serious illnesses including asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that occurs in the tissues surrounding the majority of the body's internal organs.