A Co Mayo community is opposing a proposal to build an asbestos recycling facility on part of the former Asahi site in Killala.
More than 1,000 people packed the community centre in Killala to voice their strong opposition to the proposal by Irish Environmental Processes Ltd (IEP).
A statement read to the meeting and signed by 20 family doctors in a region stretching from north Mayo to south Sligo expressed their concern about the carcinogenic effects of asbestos.
The statement, read by Dr Joe Gilvarry, said there were no safe levels of exposure to asbestos and the dangers associated with it were well documented.
The statement said that asbestos was a human Class A carcinogen which meant it was extremely toxic as described by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The doctors highlighted the nature of asbestosis. Asbestosis causes inflammation of the lungs which can be chronic and can take up to 30 years to present itself.
The acting coroner for north Mayo, Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald Loftus, told the meeting that asbestosis was difficult to diagnose in a living person.
Post-mortem results had shown that microcosms caused a lot of chronic lung disease which was not treatable or detectable in a live person.
The managing director of IEP, Mr James Cahill, denied that there would be any emissions of airborne asbestos from the proposed facility, and claimed there was "scaremongering" on the health issue.
Mr Liam Caffrey disputed the claim by the company that only asbestos originating in the State would be treated.
He also disputed the projected job numbers, claiming there was a system in Germany treating 20,000 tonnes every year with just two employees.
He claimed that economics would oblige the company to chase new business.
Dealing with consequences, Mr Caffrey said that PCBs, dioxins, heavy metals and other contaminants would be present, and would be formed in the waste.
Such contaminants would find their way into the environment, and public health would be affected in the long term.
A working group of 19 was formed to fight the proposal, and a further public meeting was fixed for January.