Pro Environmental Abatement Inc. is in the process of removing asbestos-containing materials from the Polk County Courthouse located in Iowa. The building was constructed approximately 102 years ago during a time in which asbestos was widely used in a number of building materials.

It wasn’t until the 1970’s that the government began to regulate use of asbestos upon the discovery of its dangerous nature. At that point congress formed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and certain regulations were set out in order to avoid exposure to the dangerous substance.

Exposure to asbestos-containing materials has been known to lead to the development of a number of asbestos-related diseases. Such diseases include asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Because asbestos-caused diseases typically have such a long latency period it is very difficult to find effective treatment options for those diagnosed. In many cases such a disease will already be in its advanced stages of development by the time it is discovered. Often victims of such diseases will only live a short time following initial diagnosis.

Officials have pointed to the fact that the asbestos materials present in the building pose no threat at this time but if they were to become disturbed they could be released into the air and inhaled by those in close proximity.

The project is expected to cost approximately $200,000 and should be complete within the next few months.

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