Older Television Station to be Demolished

A television station in Sioux City, Iowa is taking bids from asbestos abatement companies to remove the carcinogen from the building prior to demolition.  The structure, originally constructed in 1917, used to be the home of KD Station. When the building was first contrasted the use of asbestos in materials for fireproofing and insulation was widely popular. It was not until the 1970s that the dangers of asbestos were known and regulations began to be put in place.

Exposure to asbestos can lead to a number of diseases including asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma. These diseases are caused when airborne asbestos fibers are inhaled and become lodged in the lung tissue. The difficulty with diagnosing the diseases is that it can take up to fifty years for symptoms to appear and at that time, it is often too late for any effective treatments.

The city has designated between five and six million dollars for the abatement procedure and is hoping to demolish the building by the end of the year. The project is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2010.

City Manager, Paul Eckert says that there has been a great response to the city’s request for bids. Around a hundred different companies have shown some interest in the project, and with that level of competition, the estimated price could significantly drop.

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