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Asbestos-riddled post office to be demolished next month
In Atlantic City, New Jersey, officials have announced that a planned demolition project will be delayed slightly in order to give asbestos removal experts more time to complete their work. Demolition of the old post office has been pushed back until March, according to the state agency overseeing the project.
The removal of asbestos is expensive, painstaking work. This is because of the many precautions that must be taken when handling, removing, and disposing of the carcinogenic substance. There are a variety of state and federal regulations that govern asbestos removal. Generally speaking, asbestos must be removed from buildings prior to demolition.
This is to prevent the material from becoming airborne. If accidentally inhaled or ingested, asbestos particles can ultimately prove lethal to some people. Asbestos exposure is linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, as well as a multitude of respiratory ailments. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, and the majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than 24 months.
The 75-year-old post office was originally slated for demolition this month, in order to make way for the widening of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. According to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, additional time was needed when unexpected asbestos was found in a crawl space.