Fire Causes Asbestos Concern
Article Added November 8th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story
A fire that swept through the Indianapolis Power and Light Plant caused even more alarm when it was found that asbestos was loose in the building. Material that had been used to contain the asbestos was the cause of the fire.
The Indianapolis Power and Light Plant was undergoing normal renovations when tragedy struck. A fire started in the basement when some material lay against a hot boiler and caught fire. The situation was made worse by the fact that the material was shielding the rest of the building from exposed asbestos. Firefighters were forced to wear HAZMAT suits as they put the fire out, only to later learn that a very small amount of the hazardous material was left in the building, and was not enough to pose a threat.
If asbestos is disturbed, it can break into fibers that can be breathed in. This is the only time that the material can become a hazard, although asbestos is brittle enough that it breaks apart easily. Once breathed in, the fibers become stuck in the lungs, prohibiting the lungs from absorbing oxygen. The lung tissue dies, causing the victim to suffocate to death. This condition, a form of cancer called mesothelioma, often times is not detected until the condition is advanced and cannot be treated.
Article Added November 8th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story
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