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Asbestos Complicates Demolition at NC Tobacco Plant
Outside of Greenville, North Carolina, demolition at the Imperial Tobacco plant has been hindered by asbestos removal.
The historic tobacco plant was partially destroyed by fire in April of last year. The final phase of demolition is slated for completion as early as next week.
Most of the major structures have been razed.
Workers faced a series of unique challenges during the demolition process, which began last October.
After the fire, the plant and warehouse complex was covered with deadly asbestos, which contaminated the steel, bricks and timbers that needed to be removed by workers. Asbestos was once a common component of building materials such as insulation, tiles, roofs, and siding.
When inhaled, asbestos can lodge in the soft tissues of the body, leading to diseases such as pleural mesothelioma. Although rare, mesothelioma is very aggressive and is always fatal. Most mesothelioma sufferers lose their battle with this disease in less than two years.
The asbestos removal project was overseen by state environmental inspectors and professional consultants. The site was monitored during the cleaning process, which was done by a company approved for such environmentally sensitive projects.
Greenville, North Carolina is a small town centered around East Carolina University.