A building owned by the National Guard and located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island has been cited for demolition and will soon be rid of asbestos-containing materials. The National Guard is in the process of accepting bids for both the removal of the dangerous materials as well as the demolition of the building.

Asbestos-containing materials were used in the construction of many buildings before the 1970’s, as the dangerous nature of the substance was not discovered until well into the later part of the twentieth century. Use of asbestos did not become regulated until congress formed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Despite usage regulations (current law states that products cannot contain more than 1% asbestos) the carcinogenic material is not banned in the United States.

Materials containing asbestos are required to be removed before demolition can occur in order to limit the risk of exposure to harmful asbestos fibers.

Such exposure may result in the development of potentially deadly diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Such diseases are very difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat due to the significantly long latency period of such ailments. Often a disease caused by exposure to asbestos will have already reached advanced stages of development by the time it is diagnosed. There is no known cure for asbestos cancer, and treatment methods are simply palliative and temporary.

According to officials, the building is located in close proximity to an area school, but the National Guard has stated that signs are posted acknowledging the presence of asbestos and that the building is secure.

There is no word yet as to when the asbestos abatement and subsequent demolition are expected to take place.

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