The city of Chicago wants to buy the campus of Michael Reese Hospital to construct a $1.1 billion Olympic Village for the 2016 event it has landed. Mesothelioma attorneys, knowing the hazards of asbestos removal, wonder if the city can borrow the $85 million to start construction.  The biggest obstacle is contamination of the site.

Borrowing is hampered by the estimated cost of demolition and environmental cleanup. Already 60% higher than anticipated, the demolition faces the prospect of asbestos and other toxins on the site. Costs may exceed $32 million for cleanup. The 27 buildings of the Reese campus are known to contain lead paint, asbestos and some potentially hazardous underground storage tanks. 

Removal of asbestos is hazardous and expensive because of safety precautions required in handling. When asbestos fibers are inhaled they can become lodged in the lungs and over the years lead to asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a potentially terminal cancer that is usually not diagnosed until the late stages. It is resistant to treatment.

The Olympic Committee is reportedly trying to renegotiate the purchase price for the campus so that plans can move forward.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 11th, 2008 at 12:37 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.