City Hall Closed Over Asbestos

Article Added October 27th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

A California City Hall hat was closed last week due to asbestos has still not been opened. Though the building was set to reopen this week, air ample test results are still not in, and the city is taking no chances.

More than 50 workers showed up for work at the Bakersfield City Hall building this week, only to be sent home once again. City Hall had been closed since the middle of last week as a result of asbestos being found during routine maintenance. Though preliminary tests did not detect airborne asbestos, the building remained closed until full test results were returned. City workers were told that the results would be in by October 4^th; they were all told that the building would not reopen, since the results had not come in yet.

City officials are confident that the asbestos, verified in insulation removed from the building, did not enter the air ducts, nor did it disperse in the building. The approach is now cautious, since asbestos exposure can lead to many different types of medical conditions, most notably those affecting the respiratory system. People can develop asbestosis, emphysema and mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer, if exposed to high levels of asbestos over time.

Article Added October 27th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story