Health Officials Warn Public about Health
Risks at Sugar Mill Site
Thursday, October 22, 2009 -
Boulder County, Colo - The former Great Western Sugar Mill
site, located at 11939 Sugarmill Road near Longmont, has
been confirmed to be contaminated with asbestos and other
potentially hazardous materials. In addition, the property
has many physical dangers such as structurally unsound
buildings, open pits, and wells. Health officials recommend
that anyone who is authorized to enter the premises should
wear a respirator and protective clothing.
Being on the property without the owner’s permission is
trespassing and violators have been recently ticketed by the
Boulder County Sheriff’s Department. Public Health officials
warn the public to stay away from the mill site to avoid
injury or damage to their health.
“People have been seen in the sugar mill over the past
few months, said Joe Malinowski, Boulder County Public
Health Environmental Health Division Manager. “This is a
tremendous concern to us since we know that the site is both
a physical and health hazard.”
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been
used in products for centuries. A growing number of health
studies have linked disease to environmental asbestos
exposure. If disturbed, asbestos material may release
asbestos fibers which can be inhaled into the lungs.
Breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an
increased risk of:
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest
and abdominal cavity
- Asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with
fibrous tissue
Great West Sugar Company manufactured sugar from sugar
beets for approximately 75 years at the site. In 1977, Great
West Sugar Company filed bankruptcy and closed the mill. The
site was purchased by a private investor in 1980.
Although the Sugar Mill is located near Longmont city
limits, the facility sits in unincorporated Boulder County
and is under Boulder County’s jurisdiction. |
