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Toxic concerns in Chelsea: residents near asbestos pile say state put their health at risk

CHELSEA, Mass. — Residents of a public housing complex on Exeter Street in Chelsea gathered for a public meeting Wednesday to figure out what to do next after learning toxic waste was dumped not far from where they live.

These residents just found out a couple weeks ago about this dumping site off Rt. 1 for a bridge project.

The materials disposed there contain asbestos, which could cause cancer.

“Health concerns, environmental concerns and just, this is a civil rights violation, this is a low income community – community of color – and the state is literally dumping toxic waste in our backyard,” said Roseann Bongiovanni, executive director of Greenroots in Chelsea.

Greenroots is working to help these residents after this potentially harmful exposure.

Bongiovanni says when they complained to the state, they immediately covered up the materials. Since a few days ago, crews in hazmat gear have been clearing it all, but it will take about 30 days to do so.

“But as they’re picking up and dumping the material right into the trucks, that’s really cause for concern because then it has another opportunity to become airborne, really moving a lot of soil around every single day is really concerning,” said Bongiovanni.

In a statement to Boston 25 News, MassDOT said the debris pile largely consisted of excavated soil with a “low volume” of non-friable asbestos, which is found in concrete, tiles, pipes and other solid items.

“This type of asbestos is not airborne and is contained in concrete, tiles, pipes, or any number of common construction materials that can’t be crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder by hand pressure. These types of non-friable asbestos containing materials are stable but nonetheless are regulated, requiring extra precautions for disposal,” the agency said.

Removal began last Friday, May 13. MassDOT said “at no point was the health of the public at risk.” Ongoing air monitoring efforts have not found any “reportable limits of asbestos,” according to the agency.

Bongiovanni says the state should have notified residents nearby about this potentially toxic waste, and now they’re hoping state leaders apologize and take action to help them.

“The long term plan is to get the state to commit to some mitigation agreements with the residents to come out and talk to and face the residents to face up to their violations essentially,” said Bongiovanni.

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