April 6th, 2005

State officials have held a meeting regarding the asbestos exposure caused by the W R Grace & Co plant between 1948 until 1990. The Zonolite plant was located on Industrial Drive, and many Hamilton residents turned out to find out more about their possible exposure, although the meeting comes a little too late in the opinion of some, with one attendee stating: “Why did it take 10 years after Grace closed for this meeting to happen?”

The meeting was attended by over 100 people, a combination of former employees and families as well as local residents that were concerned about their possible exposure to asbestos. One attendee stated: "I have lived in Whitehead Manor for 10 years and I want to know what might be in my yard. Can I let my children play in my yard? I have no idea what was brought back there before I lived there. You know more about this than I do. Would you let your children play in the yard?"

Another attendee lost her husband to cancer caused by asbestos exposure from the plant, where he worked for 17 years. She stated: "They should have done this a long time ago. If they had, there would be a lot more workers left alive today. We were married for 30 years, and it's hard. I'm concerned now. I pray to God I'm not exposed because I would like to live a long, healthy life."

At the meeting, officials had to field questions thrown at them by the attendees with regards to the possible exposure. The recently released heath consultation on the plant was also discussed at the meeting.