October 12th, 2007
The asbestos found in Cayuga County official buildings in New York is still posing problems. The buildings are undergoing abatement to remove the deadly asbestos, and displacing many county employees.
When abatement on county buildings in Cayuga County was approved in April, many county officials thought that the worst was over. But now that the asbestos removal has begun a new problem has emerged. County workers have to be moved around while the abatement is conducted in order to protect the safety of those in the buildings. The result is a form of musical chairs, moving employees from one building not undergoing removal, then moving them back to that building when done in order to work on the other.
The inconvenience is necessary, since asbestos can be deadly when disturbed. While licensed professionals have been contracted to remove the hazardous substance, employees cannot be present while it is being removed. Asbestos can break apart when removed, causing particles to become airborne where they can be breathed in. Inhaling asbestos can result in emphysema and mesothelioma, a form of deadly lung cancer. Mesothelioma can take years or decades to become noticeable, and is often deadly at the time of detection.
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