After discovering asbestos materials that had not been properly removed, state health inspectors in Chicago stopped renovation and closed nine floors of a 38-floor landmark building in Chicago’s downtown Loop. Tenants on these floors were immediately evacuated and not allowed to return for any possessions. Tenants remaining on the open floors, including a number of doctors, expressed concern about possible health risks in the building. Although air samples have not yet been taken, inspectors found asbestos-containing materials that had been disturbed during the renovation, which could have released asbestos fibers. Even low level exposure to asbestos fibers in the air increases the risk of developing asbestos-related cancer, such as mesothelioma. The building owner is working with state officials to develop a cleanup plan so the nine floors can be reopened.
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