Asbestos, Other Safety Problems Plague Plans to Demolish Abandoned Building in Syracuse, NY

Government leaders in Syracuse, NY consider payment strategies to remove asbestos and demolition of a blighted property. Concerns about the amount of contamination, the building’s structural safety and asbestos exposure risks in the area have caused considerable concern.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer or asbestosis caused by asbestos exposure, please complete the form on this page to obtain important information from our asbestos attorneys about your legal rights.

During March 2010, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the City of Syracuse, NY were working to determine the best course of action to demolish a structurally dangerous abandoned property near Interstate 81. The blighted property will require asbestos abatement the removal of other environmental hazards at the building site.

The building, which is adjacent to a section of 1-81, had partially collapsed on February 26, 2010. A debris spill near the shoulder of the highway has kept a 1-mile section of the highway closed since the collapse.

Area Asbestos Contractors Concerned About Building Safety
Bids to perform the asbestos abatement and demolition were scheduled to close on March 10, 2010.  News reports indicated that several contractors were declining to bid because of concerns about the structural safety of the building and the volume of hazardous wastes at the building site. Two contractors interviewed for a Post-Standard news story indicated that the bid documents indicated the site was contaminated by asbestos, solvents, batteries and mercury.

Contractors also offered opinions on the expected costs to perform the work. Before the partial collapse, the city had received an evaluation from an engineering firm estimating the costs to remove asbestos-containing materials (ACM) debris and other contaminates and to complete the demolition would be $485,000. Once the collapse occurred, those costs may now reach over $2 million.

Asbestos Exposure Health Risks
The city and state have been working on options to ensure that the building is demolished safely to prevent any asbestos present in the building is properly removed and taken to a DEC-approved location for disposal.

If asbestos becomes airborne, all those who live or work in the area can be at risk to inhale asbestos fibers, placing them at lifelong risk to develop asbestos disease.

The time between exposure to asbestos and when symptoms of an asbestos-related illness can be over 30-40 years long (known as “asbestos latency periods”).

This decades-long latency period is due in part to the microscopic structure of asbestos fibers themselves. The tiny fibers have sharp, jagged edges which cause them to attach to the lungs when they are inhaled instead of being expelled by coughing or sneezing when we breathe in other airborne irritants.

Over the years, the asbestos fibers will cause healthy lung tissue to scar. If the scarring becomes significant, asbestos disease patients will begin to experience breathing problems and may eventually be diagnosed with chronic illness such as emphysema, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), pleural plaques disease or asbestosis.

Tragically, the scarring can also cause the lungs to begin to produce abnormal cells. When abnormal cells reproduce, they eventually cause asbestos lung cancer or mesothelioma tumors to develop.

How Weitz & Luxenberg Can Help
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we may be able to help you to seek justice for your illness and file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Please complete the form on this page for a free and confidential review of your potential asbestos lawsuit or request a free copy of our asbestos sourcebook. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.