A Syracuse health clinic may soon provide asbestos examinations at county cost to individuals who claim they were exposed to asbestos in Cayuga County's Board of Elections building in February.

During Wednesday night's Legislature meeting, Gregory Siwinski and Michael Lax, of the CNY Occupational Health Clinic in Syracuse, presented a proposal with offers for individual asbestos examinations and asbestos-education seminars.

County legislators unanimously approved a straw ballot to adopt the proposal.

The straw ballot shows the Legislature's support for what will become a proposed resolution at the Oct. 24 Legislature meeting.

Elane Daly, director of the county's health and human services, was surprised legislators did not ask more questions throughout the presentation.

“They know it's the right thing to do and they have to do it,” County Attorney Fred Westphal said.

Free health examinations provided to exposed individuals are one part of the county's multi-point plan requested by the state to ensure the health, safety and peace of mind of county employees and members of the public that may have been exposed to asbestos.

Prior to the presentation, Daly explained that the health clinic comes highly recommended in dealing with occupational exposure to asbestos.

Lax, a medical director at the clinic, part of SUNY Upstate Medical University, explained the step-by-step procedures of what each $800 examination includes.

Lax said the examinations will serve as a medical surveillance for earlier exposure this year.

“The purpose of the exams will make a baseline for each individual so we know their health status at the time of exposure,” Lax said.

Because the incubation period for asbestos disease is normally 15 years, Lax said that probably nothing will show through the examinations if the only time exposed to asbestos was in February.

“It will also reassure people of their current health status,” Lax said.

Examinations will include medical and occupational history surveys, a pulmonary function test and other preliminary tests to check for developing diseases. Lastly, doctors will take an imaging survey, a computerized image of the lungs, to check for any scarring from asbestos inhalation.

Each individual examination will cost $800, $550 of which, pays for the imaging survey. According to the plan, the county will pay for individual medical expenses not paid for by personal insurance. Westphal is still finding more information whether the county's health insurance or worker's compensation will cover the medical expenses.

Following the first set of examinations, both doctors and county officials will discuss what kind of follow-up testing is necessary for each person.

Frequency of testing will depend on the individual's age and level of asbestos exposure, Lax said.

“If the person is significantly exposed, they should be evaluated yearly,” Lax said.

Siwinski, the clinic's industrial hygienist, proposed his idea for educational seminars, another part of the plan created to relieve the fears of people exposed to asbestos.

Siwinski's seminars will provide the basic understanding of asbestos diseases. Siwinski said the purpose of the seminars will be to gather people in one place and provide enough information so they can walk out the door and know what risks they have and what they can do for themselves now.

Each seminar will cost the county $250.

“Some people are losing sleep over this and some may think that there is no chance of disease,” Siwinski said.

Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net