| Claim of asbestos exposure from mining discounted
There is no asbestos associated with mining operations in the Agua Fria River bed, a research geologist says. Mimi Diaz of the Arizona Geological Survey addressed concerns at a Maricopa County Mining District Recommendation Committee meeting that sand and gravel mines may be sending asbestos into the air. Diaz said Tuesday that six kinds of minerals that form long, fibrous crystals fall into the category of asbestos and "not all are bad and cause lung cancer." .
Tenant freeze out prolonged a week
The tenants of a Wyandotte Street East building will have to spend another week out of their homes because of complications with the building's broken-down boiler. "We have an asbestos problem," said Bob Bayley, 62, the building's manager and one of its residents. "Around the boiler pipes. In order for them to do anything, they have to remove all that asbestos first." The company hired to do the repairs, ProTrades Mechanical Inc., said specialists are expected to begin removing the asbestos on Monday. .
Home inspections: More intricate, more valuable
Buyers are getting pickier about the condition of the houses they'll consider, understandable given the number of possibilities available for them to choose from. But their concerns go much further than overgrown hedges or chipped paint on the front porch. Buyers are again asking about lead in the paint and water, asbestos, radon, indoor air quality, and mold - questions many appeared to put aside when competition for houses was the stuff of bidding wars. Avoiding things that might cause chronic illness doesn't always seem to be the prime motivation. "I really don't think that buyers are more concerned about environmental or inspection issues, per se, than they were three years ago," said Myrna Malkin, an agent in Weichert Realtors' Fort Washington office.
Hospital demolition contract awarded
The Ironton Port Authority has awarded a contract to begin demolition of the former River Valley Hospital.During a public meeting on Wednesday morning, the IPA awarded the contract to the Michigan-based firm J&L Management. The contract amount is $675,000 for asbestos abatement and demolition of the building."They specialize in demolition, they only do demolition," said Bill Dickens, the IPA chairman. He added the firm has done demolition of hospitals and factory sites throughout Ohio. "They did Mercy Hospital in Hamilton, which was a much larger project than this."The company will turn the site into a greenfield and the IPA will have to do work to meet city code, including rerouting an alley, sewer work and curb repair. .
Removing asbestos very tricky
Question: My condo kitchen floor is vinyl, installed in 1979. I am told the vinyl contains asbestos. Now it needs replacing. How do I safely remove the vinyl and what are some green choices for a new floor? Answer: Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that can be used in a variety of industrial applications due to its strong flexible fibers, its resilience to heat and chemicals, and the fact that it does not conduct electricity. From the late 1800s through the 1970s, asbestos was used extensively in the U.S. and elsewhere in everything from pipes and insulation to siding and flooring, including vinyl tiles. The problem with asbestos is that its microscopic fibers can become airborne when materials containing it get worn out, damaged or disturbed. Inhaling these airborne fibers can lead to a variety of health problems including a variety of cancers.
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