Asbestos News

A 50-year-old Woodbridge, New Jersey man was recently arrested and indicted by a state grand jury for allegedly performing unlicensed asbestos removal work at a number of homes and schools, according to a release from the office of Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa.

William T. Muzzio Jr. was charged with 10 counts of unlawful release of a toxic pollutant, as well as 36 counts of violating the Asbestos Control and Licensing Act, according to the release from the Attorney General.

The state reportedly began to investigate Muzzio and his company, Citadel Environmental Consultants, in March 2012 following the firm's removal of asbestos from a daycare center in Union Township. Following the abatement, it was discovered that Muzzio and the company had not been licensed to complete that work, the release said.

"By allegedly performing unlicensed and unsafe asbestos removal at a daycare center, this defendant could have put young children and staff at risk," Chiesa said in a statement. "Fortunately, state officials discovered the problem and it was quickly addressed. Muzzio was well aware of the dangers posed by asbestos and the fact that a licensed professional must remove it, but we allege that he repeatedly ignored those dangers and risked exposing school children and residents across New Jersey in order to enrich himself."

Ensuring asbestos abatement is completed properly is critical, as the inhalation of the carcinogenic mineral fibers can cause a number of serious illnesses, including asbestosis lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer.