A group of Michigan high school students got more than they bargained for when they volunteered to help restore a Detroit landmark. In the face of mounting pressure to restore the station, a volunteer restoration project seemed like a good deal for all involved. Unfortunately, their good deed went bad when asbestos was found at the site of their latest volunteer project.
Billionaire Michigan resident Matty Maroun owns the historical Michigan Central Train station where volunteers were exposed to asbestos. The teens involved were part of a suburban Detroit volunteer group called Summer in the City. Summer in the City had over 1000 student volunteers last summer and the organization has completed over 75,000 volunteer hours.
As part of the train station renovation, the teens were lifting concrete, shoveling and dragging debris, and sweeping dust. The renovations are now a concern after state inspectors discovered asbestos at the site. The asbestos was found in duct work that had been dragged to a dumpster. Asbestos fibers can become airborne and could have been inhaled by volunteers sweeping the dust.
Several experts have stated that the teens should not have been allowed to participate in the building clean-up. The restoration project was halted immediately after the state’s unfortunate discovery. The investigation is still underway and the owner of the building may be penalized.
The teen volunteers are being encouraged to undergo pulmonary function testing and a physical exam in order to establish a baseline before any potential respiratory problems appear.
Tags: asbestos
