Problems plague measuring equipment at New York factory containing asbestos and lead

Problems with measuring equipment at a factory containing asbestos and lead

Ithaca, NY - There are current concerns over the accuracy of testing equipment at a factory where asbestos removal is taking place.

Before the planned demolition at the Ithaca Gun factory can begin, the problem of asbestos in the building has to first be resolved. Target Group of Central New York, which was hired to remove asbestos from the property, has been working on the removal work for nearly six weeks. It is estimated that the company is 80 percent done, with only the roof and windows to be abated. Asbestos presence is a serious issue as exposure to the material can cause terminal illnesses to those affected, although the effects are not easily noticed for several decades.

Besides the asbestos problem, another harmful substance is causing concern on the site. Regional director Ken Lynch of the state Department of Environmental Conservation said there is an issue with one of the devices the company is using to test for lead in materials in the building. According to Mr. Lynch, the readings taken from the device do not even closely match the samples taken from the site which were tested in the labs.

While the DEC has required the company to reduce the amount of lead in the property's soil to 400 parts per million, the Community Advisory Group set up by the DEC is calling for an even lower level. The group is made up of Ithacan residents concerned that the property will remain badly contaminated once the project is over.

The DEC has stated that Target Group needs to prove that the device can produce accurate readings or it will have to significantly increase the amount of samples sent to the labs, which would require more time as well as money to do.

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