Overview
- The Newton Health and Human Services Department shut the store at 33 Austin St. at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to allow a state investigation into a possible release.
- Commissioner Shin-Yi Lao said demolition inside the grocery may have created an imminent health hazard, triggering the closure and inspection by MassDEP.
- A worker said the location was expected to reopen Thursday afternoon, though Star Market has not confirmed any timeline.
- The company said store safety is a top priority and it is coordinating closely with city health officials as it works toward reopening.
- Built in 1960 over the Massachusetts Turnpike, the site could contain legacy materials; the CDC warns asbestos fibers increase risks of lung disease and cancer.