In the November 11, 2006, edition of The Post-Standard-a newspaper run out of Syracuse, New York-there is an article that raises concerns about whether or not innocent bystanders may be having secondary exposure to Asbestos because their homes and travel routes are located near the Agway building in DeWitt, NY.
Although a fence currently surrounds the Agway building, the building is far from sealed. Federal prosecutors contend that a contractor permitted Asbestos to escape from the premises of the building, making
illness from secondary Asbestos exposure a possibility. The Asbestos has gotten into the sewage, trash bins, and surrounding area near the building, creating health risks for surrounding residents. Recent tests have found traces of Asbestos on the sidewalk near the building.
Forty-four year old Everett Blatche, who worked as a supervisor for Apex Environmental Services, was charged with violating the Clean Air and Water Acts.
Dr. Michael Lax, medical director of the Central New York Occupational Health Clinical Center at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, noted in the article detailing the
secondary Asbestos exposure that wind can carry Asbestos fibers a great distance. To illustrate how easy it is for Asbestos to be dispersed he observed that workers can "get in the car, [whereupon] the car gets contaminated…They go home, and there's contamination. They run the risk of contaminating their families and anyone they come into contact with."
To find out more about this story on Asbestos health risks and secondary Asbestos exposure, please follow this link to visit the website of The Post-Standard:
http://www.syracuse.com/
Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that occurs primarily in the lining of the lungs and the abdomen. Mesothelioma occurs not only in people working directly with Asbestos products but also in bystanders and family members who are secondarily exposed to Asbestos.
Illnesses from Asbestos exposure, such as mesothelioma, usually take more than fifteen years after the first exposure to Asbestos to show symptoms.
