Free Mesothelioma Information Packet
Enter your information to receive a comprehensive mesothelioma packet free of charge at your doorstep within 24 hours.
Demolition of former home delayed due to asbestos abatement
A former home located in Escanaba, Michigan will eventually be demolished due to poor conditions. However, demolition has been halted for the time being and cannot resume until after a hazardous materials remediation team has removed the asbestos in the home.
Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, and the majority of patients succumb to mesothelioma within 24 months of being diagnosed.
In addition to asbestos, mold, mildew, rats, and animal fecal matter are also causing problems within the former home.
"We have been working on this issue for the past five or six years," said Escanaba Township Treasurer Linda Trombley Robitaille. "We eventually had to have an attorney come in and assist with this issue due in part to back taxes being owed and the residence being considered non-homestead."
"The contamination within the residence was so terrible that [the widow of the former owner] was only able to retrieve five antiques. The cost of cleaning the remaining furniture and other items left would have been cost prohibitive," said Robitaille.
"It is really a shame that this home needs to be demolished...If it had been maintained its market value was established at approximately $102,975. It is costing the township between $10,000 and $12,000 in demolition costs because of the condition it is in."
Each year, countless homes test positive for asbestos. Commonly found within attic insulation, drywall, and flooring, asbestos was widely used up until regulations were put in place by the federal government. Older homes - those built before 1980, as a rule - typically contain asbestos products, which are not considered dangerous unless they are disturbed or damaged. A licensed home inspector can determine whether or not a home may contain asbestos, and may recommend asbestos abatement by a certified professional.