Road crews working on a number of streets in the Toronto area need to wear haz-mat suits and residents in the area have been warned to take precautions because the asphalt used to pave the street was found to contain trace amounts of asbestos.

According to the North York Mirror, Ministry of Labour regulations maintain that the work crews must wear hazardous material suits because the asphalt contains 1 to 3 per- cent asbestos, above the legal limit of .5 percent. The city has also passed out fliers telling residents to keep their doors and windows closed while work is in progress.

Water trucks constantly spray the streets where work is being done in order to minimize the amount of dust circulating through the air. Residents are also informed by police, who are stationed near the construction, not to return home during construction time.

Bill Mason, the city’s superintendent of technical operations in the Etobicoke/York district, says he believes the public health risk is minimal. “There is not a lot of dust involved in this operation,” he said, adding health and safety officials have tested samples to ensure the asbestos is not a threat.

However, the project has continued to upset a number of area residents. One woman was alarmed because she and her neighbors were not notified before work began. Others believe the city is taking all the necessary steps to avoid contamination.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds. They’re just resurfacing the roads,” said one resident. “We’re keeping our windows closed. We don’t go walking during the day. I think by night the dust should have settled. Right now, the water truck is going down the street so they are taking precautions.”

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