The Crispell student dormitory on SUNY’s New Paltz campus is undergoing renovations to its roof. But although signs warn that there is danger at the building from asbestos, dust is coming off the building and not being contained. Students, still living in the dorm, had been told the top floor would be draped. The rooftop is fenced, but it is not enclosed in any way that would prevent dust from escaping. Students were also warned to keep their windows closed, but during a recent heat wave, some students opened their windows to get relief from the heat. A campus spokesman insists that the students are safe. The school says that the dust is from the removal of concrete that does not contain asbestos. The school also says that the asbestos on the roof is in glue and is not expected to become airborne. The New York Dormitory Authority inspector and SUNY environmental staff have found no problems. However, others still wonder about the possibility that asbestos could be released from the glue if it has broken down in the extreme weather changes on the roof or it is mechanically broken down by cutting, sawing, sanding or crushed. Inhaling asbestos fibers creates a risk of developing mesothelioma, a serious cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs or abdomen, as well as other types of cancer decades later. Some families remain concerned that they are not getting all the information, and protection, that they need.
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