Many were surprised that such a modern looking building would be old enough to contain asbestos but asbestos mining and production continued unchecked until the 1970's when many products were finally banned and regulations were put on manufacturing such products.
The asbestos abatement going on in the Huber building is in the area of the exterior overhangs and driveway entrance underpass. The driveway and front door entrance were blocked from use all last week. Today the work shifted to the rear area of the building with the back main entrance now blocked from use and driveway still sealed off. Residents are being detoured through the Town Hall parking lot to reach their parking spaces behind the building.
The Edwin C. Huber building serves as subsidized low rent housing for elderly and the disabled and is managed by the Springfield Housing Authority. It has 60 apartment units with most all of them occupied at this time.
The reason the asbestos removal was done at this time was to make way for a complete overhaul and replacement of the building's plumbing system. Residents are without running water all this week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or later while workmen progress on replacing water and drain pipes.
Manufacturers of asbestos products were aware of the dangers of asbestos as early as the nineteenth century but chose to continue producing asbestos products. In fact, several companies in the 1920's and 30's joined together to fund scientific research to prove that asbestos was safe. Researchers, however, came back with a different conclusion. They warned that asbestos was highly toxic and caused respiratory diseases and cancer in lab animals. In reaction to this, asbestos companies decided to cover-up the evidence. Funding for research was stopped and lab reports and literature were edited and altered.
A few asbestos products are still made in America today, but such products must be clearly labeled.
Below: An actual advertisement from a November, 1981 trade magazine.
it's nasty stuff!
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