Famous Buildings with Asbestos Put Visitors at Risk for Mesothelioma
Asbestos, the deadly mineral which can cause several diseases such as mesothelioma, was used widely in construction projects throughout most of the 20th century all over the world. The material was prized for its ability to reduce the risk of fires and act as effective insulation in large buildings.
Many of our nation’s greatest landmarks were built with asbestos products. While some of them have had the asbestos materials removed over time, many still contain some products that still may pose a health risk to the people who work in and visit these structures.
The United States Capitol complex is connected by a series of underground tunnels, many of which are lined with asbestos. In 2006, during maintenance operations in these tunnels, workers were exposed to the asbestos materials.
“The Happiest Place on Earth” used asbestos as part of its numerous indoor building projects before the park opened in 1971. Much of this material was removed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It is rumoredthat asbestos still in the Polynesian Hotel.
3. Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, built in the early 1960s, was found to contain asbestos materials in the early 1990s. Those materials have since been removed.
When Lady Liberty was under construction in France, Gustav Eiffel used asbestos to try to limit the long-term wear on the world-famous statue.
5. The Pentagon
It should come as no surprise that the headquarters of the American military would contain asbestos as theshipbuilding industry supporting the U.S. Navy in the middle of the 20th century was one of the largest single causes of asbestos exposure domestically.
In the boiler room of the iconic Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park, employees were subjected to deplorable conditions including loose asbestos insulation.
7. National Air and Space Museum
One of the most popular tourist attractions in the nation’s capital, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum has asbestos materials built into its walls.
Little known to most visitors, the Lincoln Memorial has a large basement where pipes are insulated with asbestos materials.
The site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution was forced to close temporarily in 1997 to remove asbestos.
Asbestos was used in several construction projects at the launching point for the American space program, which was largely developed in the 1950s and 1960s.
These monuments, complexes and buildings represent only a small sampling of the buildings across this country that used asbestos as a construction material for one reason or another.
Individuals whose lives have been touched by mesothelioma may have various questions and concerns. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos cancer and need help, call our convenient toll-free number 888-360-4215 to speak with a mesothelioma consultant.