Asbestos Contamination Necessitates $1.5 Million Demolition at University of Colorado

After a health audit exposed high levels of asbestos in the College Inn building, which was used as an overflow dormitory to house students on the University of Colorado campus, the school has decided to demolish the building.

The College Inn was constructed in 1964, when it was common practice to use construction materials containing asbestos. Because of its insulating and heat-resistant properties, asbestos was once a popular material in the construction industry and was used in piping, floor tiles, cement, paint, and insulation—to name just a few.

Because of the health risks linked to asbestos exposure, and the high costs associated with asbestos abatement, university officials decided to demolish the building. The demolition is scheduled for the summer of 2013 and is estimated to cost $1.5 million. The building will be vacant until the scheduled demolition next summer.

Asbestos becomes dangerous after building materials begin to break down, and the asbestos fibers become airborne. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to the development of potentially fatal respiratory cancers, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Symptoms may take up to fifty years to present themselves after the initial exposure to asbestos fibers.

“EMSL laboratories have been performing analysis on suspect building materials since 1981,” says Ed Cahill, Vice President of EMSL’s Asbestos Division. “Each of our 31 locations is equipped and accredited to test for the presence of asbestos in the air, soil, water, or bulk building materials.”

For more information regarding EMSL’s asbestos services please call 800-220-3675 or visit www.EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical, Inc. is a full service testing company providing quality lab services under the same private ownership since 1981. Including the corporate lab facility in Cinnaminson, NJ, EMSL Analytical operates over thirty laboratories nationwide in the US and Canada. We provide analytical services for environmental, indoor air quality (IAQ), industrial hygiene, forensics and materials science, consumer products, food safety, PCR, pharmaceutical, asbestos, lead, and radiological samples. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations, as well as state and federal regulating bodies. Please see our website for a complete listing of accreditations.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior VP of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com