The two dumpsters sitting outside Caldwell Lab with “Warning: Asbestos” signs might seem a bit scary, but officials say there is no need for students to worry.Steve Paynter, construction and renovation engineer at Ohio State, said the asbestos thrown away in the dumpster is completely enclosed with plastic bags. “It is safe as long as no one is trying to get into it,” he said. The dumpster will not be removed until it is full or until the renovation is finished.The biggest problem with asbestos is that it might have a persistent effect in the long run, said Don Tong, a hazardous waste specialist in the department of Chemistry.”Our bodies would automatically get rid of asbestos fibers,” said Clay Marsh, a physician in pulmonary critical care at OSU hospitals. There is a slight chance that it will cause people to get sick if they are consistently exposed to asbestos, for 10 or 20 years, he said. “You wouldn’t expect students to get sick if they are exposed for only several hours,” Marsh said. The dust from the asbestos trash would never be released into the air because the dumpster is locked said Chris Caldwell, supervisor of the Caldwell Lab renovation project. Contractors also seal them with double bags in enclosed areas, like the classrooms under renovation, before taking them to the dumpster.”Those contractors are all certified,” Caldwell said.The construction area contains only 1% of asbestos, which is the lowest percentage possible, he said. Four layers of plastic filtration are also set up at every exit to protect students. “I have been to other campuses, and OSU has a better safety project that takes care of students health carefully,” Caldwell said. The dumpster has been there since the construction began on Dec. 16. It will be removed when the renovation is complete, which is expected to be in late January.