Asbestos is known to cause mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. Since this was discovered older buildings including my high school have had it removed to reduce the risk of inhaling the toxic compounds from Asbestos as it is taken off the walls. Just as a background to everyone who doesn't know, Asbestos is a really really good insulator but after it is applied and dried the asbestos can break apart causing the toxic chemicals in the asbestos to go air born.
Small correction: it's not chemicals--it's near-microscopic fibers that get lodged deep in the lungs and cannot be expelled. Which makes one wince when you see images of people mining the stuff long ago--they were supposedly breathing clouds of the stuff.
I've seen asbestos panels in some of the old trolley and subway cars at one of the museums I was once active at. Instead of going through the expense of having it removed, they simply put several layers of paint on it to keep it sealed and prevent it from becoming 'friable' (shedding fibers), then covered it up so it wouldn't suffer any impacts.
---PCJ
Interesting thanks!
