Asbestos Problems Persist at Colorado University Campus

Students at Colorado University are still concerned about the presence of asbestos in some of the campus’ older buildings. It’s not the first time the university has had asbestos problems this year, as there were some minor asbestos issues back in April, 2008.

The problems center on the concern from students who reside on campus at College Inn. New residents are being asked to sign a waiver that indicates they are aware of the presence of asbestos in the walls. Signing the waiver also indicates the students are aware they’re safe as long as the walls aren’t broken or otherwise disturbed.

When asbestos-containing materials become damaged or disturbed, toxic asbestos fibers can be released into the air. If these fibers are inhaled, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases can develop over time.

In some cases, a person who has contracted pleural mesothelioma may not even know they have the disease until it has reached the advanced stages of development. This is because mesothelioma symptoms often take several decades to appear after the initial exposure to asbestos has occurred.

While many students aren’t concerned over the asbestos on campus, some are aware of the potential cancer-causing effects. Nineteen-year-old Evan Kriensky, for example, is well aware of asbestos effects having already lost his grandfather to an asbestos-related disease.

Director of Media Relations Bronson Hilliard points out, however, that there is no risk to students unless the walls are broken. Derrick Watson, the Colorado University director of environmental health and safety, says that as long as the asbestos isn’t disturbed, there shouldn’t be any health risks.

Some students are still concerned due to the fact that inebriated students have been known to kick holes in walls or otherwise break them.

Campus administration has encouraged students to report these types of incidents, and has said that any such issues are quickly repaired.

Michael Yanker, the industrial hygienist and asbestos coordinator for the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, says there are no firm plans to remove the asbestos.

In most cases, asbestos abatement is only carried out when renovation projects require asbestos removal. Yanker also says that air quality tests carried out in dorms several times a year have never shown harmful asbestos levels.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 13th, 2008 at 5:53 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.