Asbestos Problems Continue at Massachusetts Church
The demolition of two garages and a rectory at a Brookline, Mass. church has continued to cause concerns with neighbors who are worried about residual asbestos dust during demolition. And now that more asbestos has been found, those who live nearby say their anxiety has increased.
According to an article in the Brookline Tab, demolition work at St. Aidan’s Church had to be halted on Wednesday when contractors found new asbestos-containing material under the roof shingles.
According to developer David Armitage, a worker found an unfamiliar substance around noon on April 9 and alerted his superiors. The material was tested and determined to contain asbestos.
“They’re currently evaluating where it’s located and how to proceed with the abatement,” he said.
Armitage said demolition could still begin as early as tomorrow, depending on how much abatement is required.
In the meantime, local residents like Susan Feinstein are frustrated. On Monday, she moved her family out of their home and into a hotel until demolition was complete. Now the Feinstein family will have to extend their hotel stay. Feinstein said she was concerned that if her family remained in the area, they would be subject to inhaling dangerous asbestos dust and other toxic substances.
Town and development officials have said that all asbestos-tainted materials will be removed before demolition, and that none of the work poses a threat to neighbors. The contractors have used two air monitors that would detect asbestos and lead particles in the air, the article points out.