An unknown quantity of dust containing lead leaked into the Corning Museum of Glass on 8 April 2008, Corning Inc. has informed.
The dust came from a glass tank construction project at the Steuben Gla..
An unknown quantity of dust containing lead leaked into the Corning Museum of Glass on 8 April 2008, Corning Inc. has informed. The dust came from a glass tank construction project at the Steuben Glass factory, which is attached to the museum. The dust was found in the area of the Hot Glass Show. Corning Inc., in a news release, said it does not believe that anyone who was in the hot glass area or the museum was exposed to excessive levels of lead. As a precaution, however, the company advised all visitors to the museum on 8 April 2008 to “thoroughly wash their hair and body and to wash the clothing and shoes they wore to remove any dust particles that may have settled on them”. Corning Inc. said environmental testing has begun and the results will be published. “Surrounding areas of the museum do not appear to have been directly affected”, the company said in the news release. “As a precaution, the impacted area was closed and air samples have been taken and sent out for environmental testing”. The museum remains open. According to the most recent figures from the federal toxics release inventory, the Steuben Glass factory generated 27,890 pounds (12,650 Kg) of lead compounds in 2006. Corning Inc. spokesman Dan Collins said workers were replacing a glass melting tank in the Steuben factory when the incident occurred mid-afternoon. “There were some construction workers and workers in the museum who were exposed briefly”, Collins said. “They have been communicated to and understand the precautions they need to take. We don“t think there are any serious risks”. Clothing and air samples were sent to an independent laboratory for testing, Mr. Collins said.
