PLATTSBURGH,
N.Y.— When walking past the Moffitt Residence Hall construction site, it's hard
to miss the bright red caution tape that reads “Danger Asbestos”. Plattsburgh
State students aren't strangers to construction on campus but unlike the Hawkin’s
pond renovation, could this project have potentially harmful effects on
students?
When
asked if moffitt residence hall contains asbestos, Steve Matthews director of
housing for Plattsburgh State said, “It's in the ceilings; it's in the adhesive
for floor tile, the adhesive for dry wall.”
“There's
asbestos in almost every building built before the year 2000” Matthews said,
“Your home is probably filled with asbestos”
How does exposure affect your health?
After
speaking to the Clinton County Department of Health, Sr. Public Health
Samaritan Judy Ross provided information about asbestos exposure directly from
the New York State Asbestos Control Bureau.
According
to the New York State Asbestos Control Bureau, asbestos, in its several varieties,
is a naturally occurring mineral, formed of very strong fibers that are both
heat and corrosion resistant. Because individual asbestos fibers are so small
and light, they cannot be seen with the naked eye and can easily become
airborne.
According
to The Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, Significant exposure to
any type of asbestos will increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma,
nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders, including asbestosis, pleural plaques,
pleural thickening, and pleural effusions.
Dr. David Sugarbaker, mesothelioma specialist, world-renowned doctor and
certified thoracic surgeon, says long terms survival with this cancer is
possible.
“With
help from new technology, we're making vast improvements but at the end of the
day it's still a struggle.”
With
serious side effect such as cancer, how would students feel about being exposed
to this dangerous substance?
“It
makes me very upset” Diana Moore said. The sophomore, and former biology
student, has learned a lot about the toxic substance, “With Asbestos, once you
breath it in it sticks to your lungs,” Moore said. “After being exposed for
extended periods of time you can develop cancer”
Moore
lived in Whiteface Hall last year but spent most of her time with friends that
lived in Moffitt Hall. She said that after seeing the red tape she “definitely
didn't feel very safe”
“It's
definitely a little worrisome” Sabrina Santos said when asked how she felt
after seeing the caution tape outside of the building that she lived in last
year.
Santos,
a sophomore biology student, didn't understand why students weren't informed
about the presence of the asbestos in the room where they spend the most time.
Why wasn't something done about this issue
sooner?
Matthews
said that the campus hired a consultant to “Look at the conditions of our
buildings, see what needed to be done and how much it would cost.”
According to Matthews, the list of renovations
was scheduled out over a ten year period.
“We're trying to finish one side of the street
at a time” Matthews said.
Talking about the safety of students, Matthews
explained that asbestos is a naturally occurring substance,
“It's
perfectly fine until it's called friable” he said, “which means it's airborne.”
Was the building renovated because of the
asbestos?
“During
the renovations we're removing all of that material from any place that
students would have access to”
Matthews said that the construction crew is
working floor by floor.
“Have
you seen the plastic?” Matthews said. The plastic coverings are to insure that
none of the airborne asbestos is released from the building. After the
demolition, the hazardous material is “removed from the building and properly
disposed of” Matthews said.
With
that said, during the removal process are students passing by the building
being exposed to the toxic substance?
“The
construction site can't be safe for students to be around” Santos said,
“Students are still going to breathe it in.”
Matthew's
said that students aren't at risk for exposure because of strict guidelines set
in place by the federal government.
“The
requirement from the federal government is that you have to have a 25 foot
radius around the spot” Matthews said, “To let people know that asbestos is
being removed”
Even
after learning about the safety precautions that PSUC and the construction crew
are making,
Santos said, “Still, a warning or heads up
would have been nice,”
Matthews
said that PSUC pays a separate company to “Sit on the construction site with a
monitor,”
“They
test just to be sure that absolutely none of it getting out of the containment
area,” He said.
Matthews reiterated how important student
safety really is very to PSUC.
“It's not flying around in the air, for you to
breathe in, at all” Matthews said.
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