Asbestos Discovered At Ithaca, NY Gun Factory
A group of Ithaca residents known as the Ithaca Gun Community Advisory Group are pushing for additional testing at the highly contaminated Ithaca Gun Factory after a plan to remove asbestos and other contaminants was revealed.
The factory is laden with a number of contaminants, including asbestos, lead, and trichloroethylene, a harmful chlorinated substance. Lead has long been regarded as having negative effects on the neurological system, and both asbestos and trichloroethylene are cancer-causing carcinogens.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an estimated $4.8 million dollars has already been spent on decontamination at the factory, but the levels of contamination remain dangerously high.
The revised decontamination plan calls for asbestos abatement and cleanup and removal of all other harmful substances. The current structure will eventually be torn down to make way for condominiums that will be built by a local contractor. Although residents are thankful that the building will be decontaminated and demolished, many - including Mayor Carolyn Peterson - are concerned that debris and soil that will remain on the site may be contaminated, and have ordered the testing of all remaining sediments to ensure that they are safe and will not pose a threat to nearby residents.
Exposure to asbestos has long been linked to the development of mesothelioma, a fatal type of cancer. Former Ithaca Gun Factory workers should consult with a physician immediately to determine their risk of developing this or other serious diseases.
