Precautions are being taken by cleanup crews and investigators entering the buildings in downtown Austin, Texas that were burned as a result of the recent fire that broke out. Officials are worried about asbestos exposure and are requiring anyone entering the building to wear the proper protective face masks and respirators.

Asbestos exposure has been widely known to lead to the development of a number of asbestos-related diseases. Such diseases include asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma all of which typically have a long latency period lasting up to fifty years. For this reason finding treatment options for the diagnosed is often very difficult. In most cases such a disease will already be in its advanced stages of development by the time it is found.

Crews began to remove debris from the buildings yesterday and investigators are in the process of trying to determine the cause of the fire. Due to the age of the buildings officials are assuming that asbestos is present.

Asbestos was used in a number of building supplies during the early twentieth century. It wasn’t until the 1970’s when congress formed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that use of asbestos began to become regulated by the government. Today those who work closely with the substance are required to wear protective equipment in order to avoid inhaling dangerous asbestos fibers.

Damages caused by the fire are estimated at approximately $1 million.

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