ASUCLA removes asbestos

Monday, August 17, 1998

ASUCLA removes asbestos

TREEHOUSE: Rules call for gradual clearing of hazardous
material

By Neal Narahara

Daily Bruin Contributor

Contractors hired by the Associated Students of UCLA (ASUCLA)
removed asbestos from the new Terrace Food Court (formerly the
Treehouse) to prepare for the student association’s new restaurant
tenants, Rubio’s Baja Grill and La Cucina.

The area, which has been walled off since construction began in
late spring, was posted with signs warning about the hazardous
material in July.

Although asbestos is a known carcinogen, its removal from the
food court was not strictly health related. Instead, its removal
was necessitated by the construction.

In 1962, when Ackerman Union was built, asbestos was commonly
used in construction materials due to its resiliency and its fire
retardant properties.

Since it was found to be carcinogenic, the federal government
began imposing restrictions on its use in the 1970s. In response to
these restrictions, asbestos-containing materials have been slowly
removed from campus buildings.

"Asbestos remediation takes place all over campus," said Rick
Greenwood, director of the office of Environmental Health and
Safety.

In the past few years, asbestos abatement has occurred in the
Kerckhoff, Dykstra, Young and Royce Halls, as well as the
University Research Library.

Abatement refers to the gradual removal of asbestos as buildings
are demolished or renovated. It does not mean that asbestos has
been completely eliminated in UCLA buildings, however.

"We’ve taken most of it out, but there may be spots left out
over the years," said Mike Otavka, ASUCLA facilities director.

During the major renovations of Ackerman and Kerckhoff in the
past two years, asbestos was removed from pipe insulation as well
as the floors.

In the new Terrace Food Court, asbestos was removed from the
walls and floors, where it was used in adhesive securing the vinyl
tiles.

According to most of the principals in the project, asbestos
under the tiles poses no risk to people simply walking on it.

"Casual exposure is not a particular threat," Greenwood
said.

According to Greenwood, the real threat from asbestos comes when
the material becomes airborne.

Once airborne, small asbestos fibers can be inhaled and cause a
number of health problems, including scarring of lung tissue and
cancer. When it is mixed with other materials and left undisturbed,
asbestos is harmless.

"Asbestos is a very good material under normal conditions," said
Sam Vergara, a supervising air quality inspector for the Air
Quality Management District (AQMD).

The AQMD is responsible for setting regulations regarding the
handling and disposal of asbestos.

During the renovation of the Terrace Food Court, tile had to be
torn up, increasing the danger of the asbestos becoming
airborne.

Although the likelihood of asbestos in the adhesive becoming
airborne was remote, the area had to be sealed off and carefully
monitored as the tile and adhesive were removed.

"The risk was so negligible, but we have to follow what the law
dictates," Otavka said.

Asbestos removal is an expensive process. According to Otavka,
the students’ association spent $9,000 on the abatement in the
Terrace Food Court alone.

Under air quality regulations, any disturbance of
asbestos-containing materials requires that an air-tight enclosure
be erected around the site. Materials with asbestos can only then
be handled by specially-trained, licensed contractors.

During the process, the air is continually tested for airborne
particles.

Any asbestos that may remain under the floor in Ackerman poses
no health risk, as long as it is covered by the tile, Otavka
said.

According to Greenwood, asbestos cannot be avoided. In addition
to materials in older buildings, people are exposed to airborne
asbestos every day from the brake pads on cars.

"On the scale of things you should worry about, it’s really
pretty low," Greenwood said.

DERRICK KUDO/Daily Bruin

Terrace Food Court renovations involve removing floor tiles
containing asbestos. Asbestos is a filler which, if inhaled, could
cause lung cancer.