November 15th, 2006

Residents, workers, and visitors have been expressing their concerns over possible health issues after learning about an asbestos investigation that is to take place at the former Agway building in DeWitt.

Although those at highest risk are those that were hired to clear the asbestos, there are concerns that other workers, visitors, local residents, and even the families of workers could be affected.

Dr. Michael Lax, medical director of the Central New York Occupational Health Clinical Center at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, stated: "Workers are the ones who are clearly most at risk. If I'm somebody who has just walked across that area a couple of times, I wouldn't worry about it. But if they are playing there all summer and they are getting months of potential exposure on a daily basis, that's something I would be more concerned about."

Prosecutors have stated that asbestos was allowed to contaminate public areas after it was allowed to seep down drains and into public areas by contractors. Testing confirmed that there were illegal levels of asbestos contamination in these public areas.