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Car crash at government building may have released asbestos dust
In Crown Point, Indiana, a car crash may have released asbestos, according to Lake County officials. When a car crashed into the Lake County Government Center cafeteria last week, officials believe that asbestos may have been released. After the incident occurred, crews hung plastic sheeting to seal off the south half of the lunchroom to prevent possible asbestos contamination.
The asbestos particles would have emanated from damaged ceiling tiles, said John Dull, attorney for the County Commissioners. "We had someone out there looking at it within a few hours of the accident," Dull said. "We've done what we needed to do. Is there asbestos in some of those ceiling tiles? Probably. That's why we closed off that section."
Exposure to asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the heart, lungs, or abdomen. The cancer can take decades to develop, but once symptoms have emerged, a person can die within months. Mesothelioma affects under 3,000 new patients each year in the United States, as well as thousands more worldwide. Asbestos exposure can also lead to asbestosis and pleural plaques, a scarring of lung tissue.
Dull believes it is likely that the collision may have knocked the ceiling tiles loose. The asbestos in the tiles was considered safe unless disturbed, which it certainly was during the crash. The county has not yet conducted air quality tests.