UN headquarters in NYC contains cancer-causing asbestos New York, New York - In New York City, New York, the headquarters of the United Nations has been undergoing renovations for over a year, and it has been announced that the renovations will likely continue through 2013. According to Michael Adlerstein, the man who is supervising the renovation project, the project is long overdue.
The 58-year-old building has not had a single major remodeling since it opened back in 1952. The hulking facility on the banks of the East River spans 39 floors, and was suffering from damaged roofing that caused leaks, outdated HVAC systems, and asbestos.
Asbestos-containing material can be dangerous when damaged, as tiny asbestos particles can be knocked into the air. Exposure to these particles may ultimately lead to the development of the rare cancer mesothelioma in some people. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and 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 two years.
Adlerstein told reporters that the ultimate goal is more of a restoration than a massive update: "We are going back to the old coloring of the glass that has the film on there that was done for blast protection several years ago...Basically the UN will look exactly as it did when the ribbon was originally cut."
The project is budgeted at $1.87 billion and is scheduled to finish in 2013. According to Mr. Adlerstein, when the project wraps up, the energy consumption of the UN should decrease by more than half and the water consumption should also decrease by at least 45%.
