It is a sad time for many residents of Chattanooga, Tennessee, who have witnessed the demolition of the old Central Baptist Church. The church, located at 800 McCallie Avenue, was demolished because of numerous problems including:
- Significant roof damage
- Floor damage making them structurally unsound
- Extensive fire damage from a fire a few years ago
- Extensive presence of lead based paint
- Extensive presence of asbestos
As a result of these numerous problems, experts determined that it would be more cost-effective to tear down the existing structure rather than attempt to repair all of these problems.
The latter two problems associated with the church—lead-based paint and asbestos—prove the most dangerous in terms of human health. Lead-based paint has been connected to:
- Brain and nervous system damage
- Hearing problems
- Stunted growth in children
- Digestive disorders
- Muscle and joint pain
- And high blood pressure.
Asbestos, an invisible fiber used extensively in building materials, is even more deadly. This material, when airborne can be inhaled or ingested by those who have attended the Old Baptist Church in the past decades. Once in the body, asbestos can cause serious harm, including:
- Asbestosis—a disease characterized by scarring of the lung tissue
- Mesothelioma—a deadly cancer that targets the lining of the heart cavity, abdomen, or lungs.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is difficult to diagnose and treat. Moreover, this disease can lie dormant for up to 50 years following asbestos exposure before symptoms manifest. Tragically, most victims of mesothelioma die in less than two years after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Approximately, 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer every year.
The last time the Central Baptist Church had been used for services was in 1958, though people who attended the church at this time, as well as those in close proximity to the church since that time, may have been exposed to these serious health dangers.
