Report says asbestos incident posed little risk to university community
A new report has declared that asbestos contamination from two buildings that were removed from
the University of Wyoming’s campus in Cheyenne likely posed little to no health risk to people on campus. However, the report was quick to point out that the incident could have been easily avoided. The report was compiled by a consultant for the university, Kenneth White, with IHI Environmental in Salt Lake City.
White’s report evaluated the health risks that might have been caused by this asbestos incident. When the buildings were hauled away from campus, asbestos was detected at the site. The asbestos came from fragments of old pipe insulation left behind. The buildings were removed in early spring, and were cordoned off since June when asbestos was first detected.
According to the White report, it is unlikely that anyone entered the contaminated area, and those passing by the blocked off area could not have gotten within 15 feet of the asbestos-tainted debris. In addition, the asbestos was not disturbed, and was dampened by wet weather conditions, minimizing the risk of the material becoming airborne. Inhaling or ingesting airborne asbestos particles may lead to the development of mesothelioma later in life.
Mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the abdominal cavity’s tissues and organs, often takes decades to develop. However, once symptoms emerge, the disease moves rapidly throughout the body.
“Wetting of asbestos material is known to greatly reduce fiber release, and wet removal is a requirement and standard practice in asbestos abatement,” White wrote in the report.
“The third-party purchaser apparently did not take steps to determine that the material was (asbestos-containing material) and did not follow legal requirements that would have assured the proper removal and disposal of these materials,” White added.