Asbestos has been removed from a barn used as a school gymnasium on the grounds of the East Limestone High School located in Athens, Alabama and demolition of the building is now complete. The cost of the asbestos removal to the school district totaled $3,800 and was required to be completed prior to the buildings demolition in order to prevent possible exposure to asbestos fibers.

Exposure to asbestos fibers has been known to result in a number of asbestos-related diseases. Such diseases tend to have a considerably long latency period which often means very limited effective treatment options for the diagnosed. Diseases which can be caused by asbestos exposure include mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. In many cases such a disease is already in its advanced stages of development by the time diagnosis occurs.

Asbestos was used in the construction of many buildings that date back to the early to mid-twentieth century. The dangerous nature of the substance wasn’t realized until the 1970’s. It was around this time that congress formed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and use of the dangerous substance began to become regulated by the government.

The fifty year old building was used as a gym for the school and was shut down in October upon the determination that it was dangerous. School district officials have said that a replacement is in the near future.

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