Asbestos on our campus
From the common cold to STIs, the Covid-19 Pandemic and the dreaded “frat flu,” maintaining your health as a college student can feel impossible. Asbestos is just the cherry on top to the list of health risks you want to avoid while at school. You may have seen a notice sign in your dorm or in one of the academic buildings informing us of the presence of asbestos in that building. Geneseo’s Environmental Health and Safety Specialist, Frank Blasioli, answered many questions that have been troubling college students about living and going to class in buildings with asbestos in them.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber that is found in rock and soil. Before people were very aware of its dangers, it was often used in construction because of its fiber strength. Asbestos is a very effective insulator and fire retardant. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to asbestos can result in a development of a lung disease. These include lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. It takes up to several years for the disease to develop.
According to Blasioli, “asbestos [at Geneseo] is in good condition and does not pose a risk to the public.” Asbestos can only be dangerous when it’s disturbed because the particles become airborne; disturbances are typically caused by demolition work, flooding, and home repairs.
The use of asbestos in construction was banned in the 1980s, meaning that many buildings constructed before 1980 contain asbestos. According to Blasioli, the buildings on campus that contain asbestos are Milne Library, Sturges Hall, MacVittie College Union, Onondaga Hall, Nassau Hall, and a few others. Just a few weeks ago, the MOSAIC in the College Union flooded, and there was a ceiling leak in one of Onondaga’s bathrooms. These issues are either in the process of being fixed or are already fixed, but the potential contact with airborne asbestos is certainly anxiety-inducing. According to Blasioli, however, these recent events should not be particular causes for concern.
Blasioli stated: “Most people with asbestos-related diseases work with asbestos as part of their occupation. Though members of the public are likely exposed to some asbestos fibers during their lifetime, they do not come down with asbestos-related diseases.” Asbestos is definitely dangerous, but the likelihood of developing an illness from it is quite slim.
Geneseo is working to remove all of the asbestos on campus. According to Blasioli, asbestos is being actively removed in big renovations, such as the projects in Sturges, Milne, and Red Jacket Dining Hall. They also remove asbestos when doing smaller-scale projects. The timeline of these renovations typically takes longer than expected because the construction teams must follow state and federal regulations to ensure the workers’ safety. These restrictions can make asbestos removal particularly complicated:
“New York State has strict rules for removing asbestos, including closing the area off to pedestrians and containing the space—sometimes, under negative pressure,” said Blasioli. “The material is wetted down with water or a surfactant and removed. Workers must wear personal protective equipment during the removal process, and the waste is contained in specialty plastic bags and sent to a landfill that accepts asbestos.” Geneseo’s construction team is taking the necessary steps in making sure workers are safe during construction, and the residents and staff are safe post-construction.
Finally, Frank Blasioli stated: “The College cares about the health and safety of all people and is our top priority.”
EPA website: https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/learn-about-asbestos#asbestos