Cancer-causing asbestos still a huge issue for American schoolsLowell, Indiana - In Lowell, Indiana, the town's Unsafe Building Hearing Authority is considering a plan to condemn the aging, historic Old Lowell Grade School. State officials are confident, however, that even if the building is condemned, it could still be saved and put to new use. A decision will be made on February 23. Town officials had attempted on numerous occasions to work with the building's current owner, Maria Bodor, in order to repair the crumbling building.
The building is also thought to contain asbestos, which will likely need to be removed. However, town officials say that they will be unable to afford the costs associated with asbestos removal.
Asbestos removal can often be prohibitively expensive, as the work can only be legally completed by a licensed professional. There are a variety of state and federal laws that govern the handling and disposal of asbestos. These regulations are in place in order to protect people from the health risks associated with asbestos exposure, which include asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive cancer which can lie dormant for decades but kill within months of the onset of symptoms.
"A tough decision will have to be made at some point," said Historic Landmarks Vice President of Preservation Services Mark Dollase. "The Lowell School holds a special place for us," Dollase said. "We'll cherry pick that out as a special case if the town approached us on that."
"We would like to see the building saved and put back on the tax rolls," Dollase added. "It makes for better neighborhoods. If we can clear up the impediments to this I think someone will step forward and be the hero on the Lowell School."
