Grand Central Station

Technically, the name of this magnificent structure is Grand Central Terminal, but most people refer to it as Grand Central Station. The original building was constructed in 1871 by Cornelius Vanderbilt and was called the Grand Central Depot. It was first built to service steam locomotives. However, due to the number of accidents caused by limited visibility from the steam and smoke, the original depot was torn down in stages. Between 1899 and 1900, extensive demolition and remodeling took place to ease congestion and meet new regulations.

Construction began on the new terminal in 1903 and lasted ten years. It was designed to service the newer electric trains that were being used at the time. The area around the terminal was being developed and improved as well, including The Chrysler Building, the Commodore Hotel and the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. In addition, several services and attractions were added to the terminal. It housed offices, shops, a movie theatre and a post office. Traffic was good and the electric trains ran well underground. The terminal even provided a few studios for CBS until 1964.

After World War II, business began to decline as more people were moving to the suburbs and buying cars. The terminal fell further into disrepair until plans were formed to tear it down and build something different on the site. In 1978, the Supreme Court upheld New York's previously made decision to label it an historical landmark and plans to demolish the building were abandoned. In 1983, Metro-North purchased the building and began a long series of improvements and renovations. The work, which was finally completed in 1998, returned the terminal to its former grandeur. It now houses numerous shops and restaurants and plays host to gala events year around. It's estimated that over 400,000 commuters a day pass through this historic landmark.

Unfortunately, asbestos was used extensively in and around Grand Central Station. The dust that falls from asbestos-laden materials has been one of the main hazards at the station. This dust contains millions of microscopic asbestos fibers that anybody in the area can inhale. Asbestos was used as an insulator for the pipes and boilers in steam engines and would often be shaken free during the train's operation.

Once inhaled, asbestos fibers tend to remain lodged in the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen because the body is unable to expel them. It can take as long as 20 to 50 years for the symptoms of asbestos exposure to finally arise. The three primary asbestos-related diseases are asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

As Grand Central Station progressed through its various incarnations, many workers were exposed to asbestos dust. The dust was so heavy that a nickname for the pipefitters who worked under Grand Central came into use. They were often called "Grand Central Snowmen." They would leave their work sites so coated with the dust that they appeared to be covered with snow. In an effort to relieve the poor ventilation and the heat found in the tunnels, ducts and fans were installed. However, these fans spread the dust even further.

Asbestos is still an issue in the tunnels under Grand Central Terminal. In July of 2007, a steam pipe near the station exploded and asbestos was found in the dirt and debris that erupted from the street. Although there are many rules and regulations in place by the Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos will continue to be a health hazard as older buildings such as Grand Central Station still contain the toxic substance.