In Eureka, California, a recent 6.5 magnitude earthquake has displaced the city’s designated art agency in a somewhat indirect fashion. The art agency, known as The Ink People, had been housed in a specific wing of the Eureka Municipal Auditorium for some time. The earthquake caused the collapse of several ceiling tiles in their space, which rose concerns about asbestos contamination. While the total damage to the auditorium is somewhat extensive, reaching around $500,000, the minor damage to The Ink People’s wing wouldn’t be expected to cause much concern. When asbestos contamination is involved, however, there’s always room for more concern. The Ink People have been moved to temporary offices provided by the Northern California Indian Development Council in order to avoid airborne asbestos fibers.
“There is asbestos,” said Gary Bird, the Eureka emergency response team spokesperson, “and because the plaster is loose, there could be airborne asbestos.”
Asbestos insulation was used fairly commonly just two decades ago, and in normal circumstances it doesn’t present a health hazard to a building’s occupants. More recent legislature has imposed strict regulations on its usage in all kinds of industries, due to the fact that it has been linked with several types of cancers. The substance can be incredibly dangerous when inhaled or ingested, and while that’s very unlikely in a building that’s in good condition, damage to a building’s walls, floors or ceilings could cause the asbestos to be exposed.
After entering the body, asbestos fibers can become lodged in a tissue which lines many of our vital organs called the mesothelium. The tiny, sharp, needle like fibers can cause extensive scarring in those tissues, which over time could contribute to the development of malignant tumors. Mesothelioma, the cancer indicated by malignant tumors of the mesothelium, is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure and claims some 20,000 people’s lives across the world every year. Mesothelioma is aggressive and incurable, generally claiming its victims within about 18 months of diagnosis.
While no steps have been taken as of yet, Gary Bird says that the City of Eureka plans to completely repair the auditorium. Libby Maynard, the executive director of The Ink People, says that her agency has helped the council in the past, and mentioned that “It all comes around.” At the present, however, all of The Ink People’s programs have been suspended due to their new offices being far smaller than the Eureka Municipal Auditorium.
