Asbestos still causing problems across state

A report from the Environmental Working Group says asbestos-related illnesses already kill more people than skin cancer, and are expected to continue going up. Brian Button of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says many people are still putting themselves at risk for inhaling the deadly asbestos fibers — despite the warnings.He says there are routinely projects across the state where asbestos should’ve been removed or controlled, but it isn’t and the asbestos fibers are released into the air. Button says you should check for asbestos in any commercial or home construction project.He says they’ve had cases of churches or schools that have children breaking up tile that has asbestos in it. Button says you should check to find out the regulations before you proceed on a project. Button says you may think you’re saving money by doing the demolition yourself, but he says that may not be the case with asbestos. He says it can be more expensive if you don’t take the appropriate steps beforehand and get caught with a big pile of debris. He says the whole pile then has to be considered contaminated with asbestos. He says it can cost a lot less to remove a small amount of asbestos than you think. He says depending on the type and amount and where the asbestos is located, it can be inexpensive to remove. He says they may be able to encapsulate the asbestos, or pull a bag over it. Button says the asbestos is kept wet after it is removed and then safely discarded in a landfill.