Appearance of Asbestos Warnings Frighten Buffalo Residents

Notices that read “Danger. Asbestos Cancer and Lung Disease Hazard” popped up in various places at the Marine Drive Apartments in downtown Buffalo last Friday, prompting concern from residents who were given no explanation as to why the signs were posted.

According to an article in The Buffalo News, the city Housing Authority received a mandate from the Office of Public Employee Safety and Health telling them where to post the signs and ordering that they be posted immediately. That meant there was no time to meet with residents before the signs appeared. Hence, when the signs were spotted on elevators and on the front and back doors of each of the seven buildings in the complex, questions arose and tempers flared.

“I received a dozen calls and people coming to my door asking are they safe: ‘What do I do now?’ ” said Joseph Mascia, a Marine Drive resident who also serves as a  tenant-elected commissioner on the Housing Authority board.

The article noted that asbestos concerns first arose last August when contractors removed asbestos around some water pipes that were leaking. It was found that these individuals did not follow proper guidelines for asbestos abatement, including posting warning signs while they worked in the area. A state investigation into that incident also prompted the discovery of more asbestos in floor tiles, linoleum and plaster ceilings, wrapped around heating pipes, and in all exterior and interior caulking.

Residents immediately became worried that their individual units also contained asbestos but because the signs went up just before the weekend, they were unable to obtain answers to their questions. “BMHA was cruel and irresponsible in posting these warning signs on a Friday evening without any further explanation about our health risks, safety,” explained one tenant, who later found out that only the common areas, boiler room, and maintenance room are affected.

Dawn Sanders, executive director of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, says they weren’t trying to “inflame” residents. Instead, they were trying to avoid fines that could have resulted from the violations if they did not comply immediately. She noted that normally they would meet with residents first. The building manager was informed of the goings on, but was not provided with enough information in order to meet with residents to provide an accurate assessment of the situation.

Whenever asbestos warning signs are posted, there is immediate concern about the inhalation of asbestos dust, which can cause a variety of lung-related diseases to develop, usually later in life and decades after exposure occurs. This long latency period makes asbestos-caused cancer – mesothelioma – difficult to diagnosis and tough to treat as it is often not diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage.