Asbestos Fears Confirmed for Residents Living Near Partially Demolished Hospital

North Carolina’s WSOC-TV recently broadcasted a report about a former hospital in Statesville, North Carolina that has sat vacant and partially demolished for years. In addition to being an eyesore for the community, some nearby residents have worried about the possibility of asbestos in the area due to all the debris and the decrepit condition of the property.

According to the news story, a recent report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed those fears and stated that neighbors were indeed at risk. Similar cases that involved neglected and abandoned old institutional or manufacturing facilities that contained asbestos occured nationwide. This is due to the fact that asbestos-containing materials were frequently used in constructing countless buildings up until the late 1970s.

“Each year, thousands of old buildings are torn down and left to rot and decay,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “When these buildings come down, it results in huge amounts of demolition waste and debris. While much of this waste is inert or nonhazardous, some of it may contain hazardous materials. This waste, and the demolition process itself, can in some circumstances create exposure concerns for the project workers and nearby residents as wind and manmade actions can aerosolize any asbestos fibers. Without proper containment, this creates a hazard for anyone who enters the property and even for nearby businesses and residents. In addition to asbestos, other hazardous materials, such as lead and even polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), may be present in some cases.”

EMSL Analytical, Inc. works to identify exposure risks associated with demolition projects caused by hazardous materials, chemicals and microbial contaminants. They offer environmental testing services, sampling supplies, test kits, air monitoring instruments and a wide range of personal protective equipment (PPE). EMSL has even sponsored an educational video about demolition projects and air quality concerns that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/iEc924Xq3ds.

To learn more about testing for asbestos, lead, PCBs or other air quality, environmental, occupational, health and safety issues, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com . For access to test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.  


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 45 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail