Officials at Madison Square Garden were forced to postpone a scheduled matchup between the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic over concerns that asbestos materials had been accidentally released into the arena. The Garden remained closed for several days to allow health inspectors to test for possible asbestos contamination before being reopened later that week.
According to a report in the New York Times, debris from the building fell into the arena during overnight cleaning of “asbestos-related materials.” After air monitors revealed elevated levels or airborne fibers, the building was temporarily closed to allow health inspectors to determine whether the debris contained asbestos particles.
Subsequent inspections by New York’s Department of Environmental Protection and independent air monitors revealed that no asbestos fibers had been released into the building. After they were given clearance by environmental experts, Garden officials announced that the arena would re-open, allowing all other events in the building to proceed as scheduled.
While it is fortunate that Madison Square Garden’s asbestos scare did not create a health hazard in the building, the incident highlights the ongoing health risk posed by the presence of asbestos-containing materials in some older structures. Like many buildings constructed during the 1960s, Madison Square Garden was built with asbestos-containing insulation that was designed to act as a fire-retardant.
Most builders discontinued the use of these materials after the link between asbestos and cancers such as mesothelioma was widely publicized in the 1970s. However, asbestos materials can still be found in already existing structures, putting construction workers, school teachers and other individuals who work in older buildings at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.
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