Signs in buildings across campus warn of the presence of asbestos, but UF officials say it’s not a health concern.
Asbestos, a building material used as a fire retardant, is still present in older buildings on UF’s campus, but all visible asbestos on campus was removed from buildings that are more than 25 years old. It originally cost $25 million to get rid of it, said William Properzio, the director of environmental health and safety at UF.
When inhaled, asbestos fibers can get trapped in a person’s lungs and cause scarring and inflammation. It can also increase the risk of lung cancer. Students are not at risk at the moment, because the asbestos is contained within the walls and carpets of the buildings, he said. UF has a strict policy on renovations to buildings that have been built using asbestos, he added.
“It is required that we go in on a regular basis and inspect the known asbestos,” he said.
UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes said the university would take immediate action if the asbestos became a concern.
“If there’s any indication that asbestos is visibly present, then UF would send a team to remove it from the area,” she said.
The signs warn readers to refrain from hitting walls, pulling up carpets or beginning renovations on any sections of the buildings unless a specialist is contacted, Properzio said, adding that 120 buildings on campus contain asbestos.
The Music Building, which was built in 1971 and is undergoing construction, has always been an area of concern for Properzio because of its previously open roof.
“If we were to start cutting out walls and changing things, we would have to go in and investigate the walls for asbestos,” Properzio said. “But unless that material is broken, it’s not causing any exposure.”
Renovations on the building could be costly, because it would require a team of specialists to remove building materials with asbestos, said Kevin Orr, the interim director of music at UF.
He said he made sure students in the buildings would be safe before allowing any renovations to proceed. Recently, the open atrium of the Music Building was covered as part of the ongoing construction at the school.
“Old roofing materials were tested for asbestos by UF and passed prior to the start of work, or the roofing project would have never moved forward,” Orr said.
Jason Jones, a UF music education senior, said he first noticed the signs when he began taking classes in the Music Building as a freshman. Initially, he said he was concerned, and the ongoing construction has made him worry about the amount of time he spends there.
“While I do understand that asbestos is not the worst thing in the world, it still can be very harmful, especially to musicians,” the 21-year-old said.
