Jesus christ, I know that it's expensive to remove asbestos, but doesn't the municipal commission know how deadly it is?
Does NYC have any utility tunnels? It seems like a wise investment for the city to make, especially if a simple pipe explosion can contaminate an entire neighborhood.
Asbestos is actually relatively safe provided it doesn't fracture or start to abrade. There are plenty of old buildings insulated or fireproofed with the stuff and the consensus is essentially "please nobody break this shit and we'll all be fine." Like you said asbestos remediation is expensive as hell.
Now in this case obviously it has both fractured and abraded so not good by any means. But asbestos merely existing in a location is not in and of itself a threat. Also mesothelioma typically doesn't come about by small quantities of inhalation. Most people diagnosed today were industrial workers or their immediate family who were exposed to the fibers and dust daily for years.
The teacher (read: legend) in my Year 12 Earth & Environmental Science class had a glass windowed cabinet full of all sorts of rocks/minerals, and there was a small piece of asbestos. When we had the microscopes out, I asked if we could bring it out and have a look at it.. vividly remember how bloody pointy it looks when you zoom in.
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