Asbestos found in floor tiles of university-operated apartments

Lindsay Porter / Copy Editor

Sixteen College Manor residents met with Residence Life officials and a representative from Physical Plant Feb. 11 to discuss concerns over asbestos-laden floor tile found in the apartment building. Although officials from Residence Life and Physical Plant stress that the asbestos content in the tiles is of little or no immediate hazard to College Manor residents, they said they are working to help correct the problem.

“What we’ve tried to do is talk to students and address their concerns,” said Doug Searcy, director of Residence Life.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber commonly found in building products and used for heat insulation and fire-resistance, according to information from the Environmental Protection Agency. It is not uncommon to find evidence of asbestos in school buildings or insulating pipes in homes. However continued exposure to the chemical agent can cause fibers to embed themselves in lung tissue, which could potentially lead to lung cancer, asbestosis or mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer found in the lung, chest or heart.

Physical Plant Director Ed Eng said signs of asbestos became a concern after two apartments in College Manor flooded in December 2003. During the clean-up process, it was discovered that an internal component to the floor tile used in the apartments contained asbestos particles. If airborne, the particles could potentially be inhaled. Searcy said although there were a couple tiles broken in the eight-apartment building, he feels certain there is little risk involved.

“There are not tons of airborne asbestos particles,” he said. According to College Manor landlords, Searcy added, the asbestos is limited to the flooring.

Eng said that despite the asbestos content, the tiles are not considered hazardous.

“The risk is none. It’s only a hazard when you’re removing the tile,” he said. “There is no danger unless you break it in front of your nose and breathe it in.”

Elon leases the College Manor property, located at 214 West College Ave., through Burlington Rentals. The university has leased the property since 1998. Because it does not own the property, Elon is not contractually responsible for correcting the asbestos problem. Calls to Burlington Rentals were not immediately returned.

Searcy said members of Residence Life are working with student residents to help voice concerns to the landlord in an effort to remedy the tiling problem as well as aging hot water heaters — which caused the December flood — and other maintenance issues.

“The property owners have said they will recover the surface beginning this summer,” Searcy said. “We want to make sure student concerns are addressed.”