By Noah Grand
Daily Bruin Reporter
Parts of Powell Library tested positive for asbestos Friday, but
potentially hazardous areas were not evacuated until Tuesday.
A construction site on the third floor’s east wing was
tested Friday for asbestos as part of a regular Environmental
Health and Safety test. When positive results came out Tuesday, the
media lab on the second floor and instructional media library
““ directly below the construction site ““ were evacuated
and closed as a precaution.
“I got a call first thing this morning from them because
they got their test results,” said Patricia O’Donnell,
manager of the instructional media library and east wing building
coordinator. “As soon as we realized there was an issue, we
acted immediately.”
Tests on the areas were conducted Tuesday with results expected
today.
The sign posted read: “The media lab will be closed today
so that Environmental Health and Safety can perform required
maintenance.”
The rest of the library will be tested for asbestos in the near
future, O’Donnell said.
Powell Library was built in 1929 ““ before asbestos was
deemed dangerous.
Asbestos is a mineral that was used in the early 1900s for
insulation, after World World II and for the next 30 years before
it was determined hazardous, according to the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
Splinter-like asbestos fibers, when inhaled or ingested,
aggravate tissues and may cause cancer over long-term exposure.
Health risk increases with the length and frequency of exposure,
though contact with skin may cause a rash similar to that caused by
fiberglass, and inhalation may result in shortness of breath or a
crackling noise when breathing, according to the EPA.
The media lab and media library will re-open if tests return
negative. O’Donnell expects they will be deemed safe, but
said that the asbestos will be cleaned up if the results are
positive.
The EPA only requires asbestos to be removed “in order to
prevent significant public exposure to asbestos,” citing
examples of building renovation and demolition.
Rick Greenwood, director of environmental health and safety,
said the third floor construction began after an initial test
revealed there was no asbestos danger. A second test turned out
positive.
A third test will be conducted, and if positive, construction
will continue, but workers will wear respirators and additional
safety measures will be taken, Greenwood said.