WATERTOWN, Conn. -- School officials in Watertown said that more than 70 students who take part in a summer weightlifting camp may have been exposed to asbestos.

Matt Hadley told Eyewitness News that he has spent the last several summer vacations lifting weights at Watertown High School, preparing for upcoming sport seasons. He said that as of last week, he wasn't allowed inside the school.

"I was supposed to go in there a couple of times. I heard they had problems with something that causes cancer," Hadley said.

School officials said that asbestos was found in the basement where the weight room is located.

"Last Thursday during routine maintenance, we noticed a tile with asbestos had been dismantled in the basement, which is occupied by the weight room," said the school's operations manager, Todd LoFrese.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Teresa Labarbera reported that the weight room is one of the only rooms in the school that is occupied by students in the summer.

School officials said that while more than 70 students were exposed, health problems are unlikely because only trace levels were found.

"This is something we took very seriously," LoFrese said. "We've been informed by health officials that any exposure is probably very low and that long-term health risks are also very low."

Because state law mandates that asbestos must be removed, Brooks Laboratories of Norwalk was called to monitor the contractor removing the asbestos.

Labarbera reported that the air in the weight room is being vented out and then tested.

"Most of the schools in the area were built using asbestos. Once we realized it was unsafe, we removed the tiles and material," said Steve DiNapoli of Brooks Laboratories.

While the asbestos was removed, parents were notified of the situation.

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