The Potsdam Civic Center in Potsdam, New York has undergone several asbestos removal, cleanup and remediation efforts after Sharon LaDuke, a former employee, died of an asbestos related cancer called mesothelioma that is incurable and incredibly aggressive. Most of the Civic Center’s upstairs courtroom, basement and front office were cleared of the dangerous substance last week, with some work remaining to be done on the upstairs courtroom’s ceiling, according to Michael D. Weil’s, the Village Administrator.
Mesothelioma is a dangerous disease whose importance has been waxing in the public’s eye in recent years. The disease effects the mesothelium, a special lining that protects our body’s organs, causing internal tissue scarring and eventually the development of malignant tumors. The cancer is caused by asbestos, a material used abundantly throughout the twentieth century in the construction, mechanical, and manufacturing industries. Asbestos is a natural material that is incredibly heat resistant, has amazing insulating properties, and can be easily pressed into boards or woven into fabrics. Its potential health hazards have been noted since the 1930′s, but its actual effect on the health of industrialized nations has just become apparent in last few decades. Lawsuits demanding retribution for the contraction of mesothelioma in the workplace are becoming more and more commonplace, which is contributing to more actions being taken to prevent further exposures.
LaDuke was an employee at the Civic Center for a very long time before developing the fatal cancer. While asbestos containment and removal projects were undertaken before LaDuke’s contraction of the disease as early as the 1980′s, her untimely death and the complaints of other employees have created a renewed focus on asbestos remediation.
The Civic Center has been tested for the presence of asbestos fibers since the removal process was completed. More than one hundred tests were conducted, all of which uncovered no signs of asbestos contamination. The Civic Center, however, is not completely rid of asbestos construction materials. According to Michael Weil, asbestos materials still exist in the building’s basement.
The existence of asbestos in a building does not in and of itself constitute a danger, though. Asbestos becomes dangerous once it is inhaled or ingested into the body, which requires there to be airborne asbestos fibers in areas where employees could be exposed to them. Asbestos used inside of sealed, solid walls or between floors and ceilings is far less dangerous than asbestos insulation in say, air ducts or ventilation systems. Asbestos can become more dangerous with age, though, as the material becomes less stable in its woven or pressed forms and is more likely to release breathable fibers into the air.
Sharon LaDuke’s family has claimed that LaDuke was exposed to an unsafe work environment that resulted in her death, and has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the village. Another former employee, Shelley A. Warner, is suing the village as well, alleging that the termination of her employment was due to her expressed concerns in regards to asbestos contamination of the workplace. Officials claim that she was terminated for unrelated reasons.
