Chicago office building partly closed

CHICAGO, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Illinois health officials have closed nine floors of a landmark Chicago office building because of a possible asbestos hazard.

The 38-story Art Deco Pittsfield Building, which dates from 1927, is home to many doctors and dentists and to the Friends of the Parks. While most of the building remains open, tenants wonder about asbestos dust, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The Illinois Department of Health inspected the building Aug. 3 and then closed floors 13 through 21, sealing off elevators in the process. Tenants and asbestos removal workers were told to leave immediately.

A spokeswoman for the department said building owners did not have an asbestos inspection before beginning renovation work.

John O’Connell, who works at Friends of the Parks, said employees had to leave files and computers behind.

“We can't even get our e-mail," he said.

Asbestos, once used heavily in construction because it is fire-resistant, is carcinogenic.