Illinois Nursing Home Fails to Follow Asbestos Removal Requirements

The environmental and building science consultants from EC2 provide air and bulk asbestos sampling to ensure building occupants are safe from exposure.
 
 
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Oct. 10, 2011 - PRLog -- Last month, the Pekin Daily Times reported about a local nursing home that is under investigation by the Illinois Department of Public Health.  The Illinois nursing center failed to follow state requirements to check for asbestos before removing old floor tiles from the facility following a water leak that damaged the area.  The floor tiles did contain asbestos and the health department requires that a licensed inspector test for asbestos before any repairs and renovation work begin in these types of older facilities.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, “Asbestos was once a commonly used building material because it is not affected by heat or chemicals and does not conduct electricity. Now, however, it is considered a serious indoor air pollutant with links to such serious respiratory diseases as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Asbestos was used in many products that were installed in Illinois' schools and commercial buildings for decades.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the major health effects associated with asbestos exposure include:

•   Asbestosis -- Asbestosis is a serious, progressive, long-term non-cancer disease of the lungs. It is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers that irritate lung tissues and cause the tissues to scar. The scarring makes it hard for oxygen to get into the blood. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and a dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. There is no effective treatment for asbestosis.

•   Lung Cancer -- Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. People who work in the mining, milling, manufacturing of asbestos, and those who use asbestos and its products are more likely to develop lung cancer than the general population. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing and a change in breathing. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness, and anemia.

•   Mesothelioma -- Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining (membrane) of the lung, chest, abdomen, and heart and almost all cases are linked to exposure to asbestos. This disease may not show up until many years after asbestos exposure. This is why great efforts are being made to prevent school children from being exposed.
 
EC2, a leading Illinois-based asbestos testing consulting firm, recently sponsored a public outreach video about asbestos that can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCpQYuK8ge8



To learn more about asbestos, environmental, mold or indoor air quality (IAQ) issues please visit http://www.4ec2inc.com, email info@4ec2inc.com or call (815) 703-9000.

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About EC2, Inc.
EC2 is a leading provider of environmental consulting and inspection services for clients across the United States. Based in the Chicago area, the company provides their services to clients ranging from local companies and institutions to International Fortune 500 Corporations.
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