DUST TO DUST: AN INVESTIGATION INTO ASBESTIFORM MINERALS IN STRONG HALL AT EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

Today, as a result of persistent media coverage, most people have heard of the potentially hazardous group of minerals known collectively as asbestos. Fifty years ago this was not the case. Between the 1950's and 1980's, asbestos was used extensively in building materials throughout the United States. Properties such as resistance to heat, electricity, rot, and fire made it an ideal substance for use in the construction industry. One building that was constructed during this time was Strong Hall. This building is located on the campus of Eastern Michigan University and has not undergone major renovations since its original construction in 1956. As such, it likely contains asbestos. Decay of the building over time may have caused this material to become exposed and potentially airborne. If inhaled, asbestos minerals lead to a number of health problems including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Although not all asbestos minerals are carcinogenic, concern about the risks associated with exposure has led us to take a more thorough look at our building. We are collecting samples of various materials including floor tiles, ceiling tiles, insulation, and wallboard that students and staff are exposed to on a regular basis. We will analyze them both qualitatively and quantitatively for asbestos minerals using optical microscopy techniques. We are interested in what materials, if any, are producing the most asbestos dust, as well as the mineralogy of those minerals.