Asbestos exposure is a concern across the country, but it hit particularly close to home for some residents in an east Detroit neighborhood where a dumpster marked with asbestos warnings was left in the middle of the street for weeks.

Detroit news channel FOX 2 reported the dumpster was put there by a city contractor several weeks ago, when residents were put on notice.

Neighborhood residents were concerned about possible asbestos exposure. According to a neighborhood homeowner, there were warnings posted on the residents’ doors warning them to keep windows and doors shut, but the dumpster remained sitting in the street for weeks.

The dumpster had reportedly been placed there as a means of prevention, after a house containing asbestos was torn down.

“In instances where the presence of asbestos is determined, highly trained workers go into the house prior to it being knocked down to remove the asbestos and place it into a specialized and sealed container to protect neighbors from any exposure,” Director of Special Projects for the Detroit Building Authority Brian Farkas said.

Even though the asbestos contaminated house was removed, questions were raised about why the dumpster remained behind.

According to city officials, the asbestos dumpster should have been removed by the contractor sooner. City officials removed the dumpster after FOX 2 and social media images brought the issue to light.

Overview of Asbestos Exposure

Thanks to its chemical and fire resistant qualities, asbestos was commonly used for construction and insulation purposes in homes built before the 1970s.

The U.S. banned asbestos in 1977, after officials discovered the severe health complications linked to asbestos exposure. To remove asbestos today, certain procedures must be followed and protective gear must be given to the workers.

Even though asbestos is harmless when left undisturbed, it becomes a hazard when the fibers are disturbed and released into the air. If the fibers are swallowed or inhaled, they can become embedded in a person’s lungs or stomach. This can ultimately result in asbestos cancer, asbestosis, and other deadly diseases.

Asbestos diseases like asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma can take decades to develop, taking up to 30 years before showing any symptoms. Oftentimes asbestos cancer is diagnosed at a latent stage, leaving patients with few treatment options and shortened life expectancies.

A number of asbestos victims or their loved ones have taken legal action against asbestos manufacturers who allegedly failed to warn them against the health hazards of the fibrous substances.