About 10 people were exposed to asbestos at the Boston University School of Medicine, sparking an investigation by multiple federal, state and local government agencies.
The asbestos was discovered during a renovation project in the locker room on floor two-and-a-half of the Robinson Building, said Joe Ferson, a spokesman from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP received a complaint on March 10, and inspectors from the department investigated the building the next day.
Construction has since been shut down indefinitely, Maria Pantages, spokeswoman for MED’s Boston Medical Center, said in an email.
None of those exposed have any adverse effects, Pantages said, adding that the general public was not at risk.
Asbestos was once used for insulation and fire resistance, but because it can lead to cancers and lung problems, it is now considered a hazard by the Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the EPA, one of the most common causes of asbestos exposure is the demolition and renovation of buildings.
The Massachusetts DEP, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Boston’s Inspectional Services Department are investigating the exposure, said Pantages.
She said the Boston Public Health Commission and the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety have also requested information.
Pantages said that the agencies investigating the asbestos exposure would determine if the hospital violated the law in its use of the toxic chemical.
OSHA spokesman Ted Fitzgerald said that the federal agency would determine if BMC violated the agency’s rules, but he could not speak for other agencies, like the DEP.
“That would be part of the inspection,” Fitzgerald said.
Ann Scales, a Boston Public Health Commission spokeswoman, said the commission was informed about the incident, but is not conducting any investigations.
“It would be redundant for us to be involved,” she said “The Department of Environmental Protection is looking into this case.”
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