In Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson, citizens are concerned about public health issues arising from the illegal demolition of a jewel of modern heritage, the Domaine-de-l’Estérel. Could asbestos and microdust affect the lives of nearby residents?
“I wonder about the little regard we have made, for the past week, of the public health of citizens. For days, they demolished, as if nothing had happened, without even warning the neighbours,” laments Pierre Richard. His residence is located near the site where a major Art Deco building stood, in principle protected by the state.
Doors and windows were closed at Mr. Richard’s. The air conditioning system in the house stopped working. “We filmed a lot […] to document what is happening there. We weren’t even informed of the work,” says Pierre Richard.
Mr. Richard relies on city documents that indicate the presence of asbestos in the destroyed building. Several tanks of petroleum products, he said, could still be on the site. Demolition is deemed to have heavy environmental costs.
When the heart of the building was razed, it was for him the bouquet. “They climbed on it with cranes until evening to crush it. Everyone has sounded the alarm for this building. But on Saturday, they continued the same! On Monday, the workers were still there and they continued. Meanwhile, the dust kept coming from all over our house for a week! Are we just collateral victims that nobody cares about? There are people, families who live close to where this event happened. »
Silence of the owner
Mayor Gilles Boucher notes that there is complete silence on the owner’s side. “In the city, we tried to call Richard Stern”, the president of Olymbec. They also tried to contact its architect, Robert Libman. The latter is known to the public for having, in politics, sat in Quebec as leader of the Equality Party. “This world reminded us of before. There, nothing at all. The mayor fears that part of the public facilities, including the beach, may not be accessible to the population this summer.
Nothing has been done, says Mr. Richard, to contain the dust emanating from the site. ” Not later than [mardi]westerly winds at more than 60 km/h passed through this debris for long hours…” On Wednesday, The duty found at the scene that no mitigation system was in place. A specialized team was finally busy, in the afternoon of May 19, installing tarpaulins over the rubble.
The day before, the Laurentians Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) issued a press release. “A CNESST inspector suspected the presence of asbestos fibers in the demolition materials,” it says. This presence of asbestos is “strongly suspected” because of its presence which “would have already been confirmed in the past”, continues CISSS.
“They tell us to wash the surfaces and floors with a damp cloth when we suspect it’s asbestos and to avoid using the sweeper,” summarizes Pierre Richard. “Asbestos dust, how are we supposed to recognize it? »
Exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to a risk of cancer or chronic lung disease. Outside, the exposure decreases, however supports the CISSS.