Asbestos Clean-Up In Senate Rooms -- MesoLink.org -- 07-15-04

Earlier this month a piece of asbestos fiber was found in a Washington Senate room’s ventilation chamber following the end of an asbestos abatement project. Tests were carried out in the room, and the cloakrooms and press gallery also had to be closed off as a precaution.

The discovery was made at the Capitol architect’s office in Washington, and resulted in the closure of the affected room, and later on the closure of other rooms that shared the same ventilation duct, where the fibre was found.

Following thorough cleaning, all rooms have now reopened and business is being conducted as usual. When tests were carried out prior to closure, the readings indicated a significant asbestos presence, hence the hasty evacuation and closure of the affected rooms.

All rooms that were closed off shared the same ventilation duct, where the asbestos fiber was located. The cloakrooms, which were closed as a precautionary measure, are normally used by officials who wish to meet up, make phone calls and generally relax. The press gallery on the third level was also closed as a precaution.

Asbestos fibers are the known cause of a deadly cancer known as mesothelioma, and ingestions of airborne or loose fibres can put people at very high risk of contracting this disease.