Asbestos at JMU

Asbestos is a group of minerals composed of tiny fibers that if inhaled can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer and other lung disease that may not appear until many years after exposure. Asbestos is found naturally in soil and ultramafic rock formations which can expose a population if the soil or rocks are disturbed. Manufacturing companies began including asbestos in over 3,000 different building materials including floor tile, linoleum, cement siding, roofing material/sealants, pipe insulation and adhesives after witnessing its resistance to fire and heat.

            Several countries reported early on that exposure to asbestos can be a major health risk. France was responsible for the first study of mortality among asbestos workers and suggested that asbestos was responsible for the death of fifty employees who worked closely with asbestos related products.  

            James Madison University was built in 1908 before there was much evidence that linked asbestos to cancer therefore several of the original buildings at JMU were built with materials that contained asbestos. A 1981 Breeze article reports on the renovations of different JMU buildings because of the presence of asbestos including Garber and Gibbons Hall. The article outlined the procedure for removing asbestos and how they continued operations of dining hall during asbestos removal. https://mdid.cit.jmu.edu/media/get/162282/r-2394950/254669/the-breeze-1981-07-21-volume-58-issue-57/

           I have lived in the AST sorority house on campus in the treehouses for the past three years. Recently, the house went through minor renovations to replace the carpeted floor. During the renovation, it was brought to my attention that there may be intact asbestos containing material in the foundation of the house indicating that major renovations to the structure of the house would expose the asbestos and present a major health concern. Intact asbestos-containing material is not likely to pose a health risk. However, if the material is damaged, asbestos fibers can be released in to the air. It is recommended that  major repair or removal of asbestos containing material only be performed by trained asbestos professionals. JMU should consult trained professionals in the removal and repair of buildings on campus that contain asbestos related products.