As the sun sets on the once-thriving industries of Central New York, a lingering shadow remains - the enduring dangers of asbestos. This mineral, once a cornerstone of the region's economic growth, now poses a silent threat to the health of its workers and veterans. As Jordan Cade, an attorney at Environmental Litigation Group, P.C., highlights, the history of asbestos in Central New York is a tale of both progress and peril. The very industries that fueled the region's development - manufacturing, construction, transportation, and military operations - also exposed countless workers and veterans to the deadly fibers of this mineral.
What makes this issue particularly insidious is the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases. As Cade points out, exposure can occur decades ago, with diseases manifesting 20 to 50 years later. This means that many affected individuals are only now facing the dire consequences of their past exposure. The challenge is further compounded by the fact that reconstructing exposure histories is incredibly difficult. Workplace records, designed for regulatory compliance and short-term tracking, often fall short of preserving the decades-long occupational histories needed to understand and address these late-onset illnesses.
Cade's article underscores the plight of veterans, who, due to the widespread use of asbestos in military installations, are at a higher risk. Facilities like the Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, built or expanded during the 20th century, utilized asbestos-containing materials without a full understanding of the health risks. This puts a significant portion of the nearly 40,000 ex-military personnel in the region at risk, as many transitioned into civilian jobs where asbestos exposure remained a constant threat. The statistics are alarming: between 1999 and 2017, Onondaga County alone saw over 405 asbestos-related deaths, with the surrounding counties accounting for nearly 400 more. Across New York, the toll was even higher, with over 15,200 related casualties, and the national trend is equally concerning, with a 20.2% increase in asbestos-linked mortality from 1990 to 2019.
The crux of the problem lies in the inability to reconstruct exposure histories. While workplaces maintain record-keeping systems, they were not designed to preserve the long-term occupational histories needed to understand and address these diseases. As a result, workers and veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses face the daunting task of piecing together their exposure histories from incomplete employment files and records from agencies that may no longer exist. This fragmented approach to record-keeping limits medical understanding, research, and prevention efforts, hindering the ability to protect those who built the communities that depend on them.
Cade's article calls for a comprehensive solution, advocating for the empowerment of OSHA to enforce long-term retention of occupational asbestos exposure records among employers. This would ensure that even after businesses close or change ownership, and throughout the latency period of associated diseases, critical information remains accessible. Additionally, the CDC, NIOSH, EPA, state licensing boards, trade associations, and trust funds should develop resources to aid in reconstructing past contact, even decades after exposure. By building a lasting record of this crisis, we can better protect the workers and veterans who built the communities of Central New York, ensuring a safer and healthier future for all.
In the end, the story of asbestos in Central New York is a cautionary tale, reminding us of the enduring impact of industrial practices on public health. It is a call to action, urging us to address the legacy of asbestos exposure and to build a more resilient and informed future.
