Many schools built before 1980 were constructed with asbestos containing materials. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that was widely used in construction for insulation and fireproofing. Some common products used in schools that most likely contain asbestos are:
* Pipe and wall insulation * Insulation around boilers and water heaters * Wall paneling * Various plasters, wallboard and joint compounds * Floor and ceiling tiles * Roofing shingles and adhesives
Asbestos is made up of microscopic, invisible fibers that can cause life threatening and serious illnesses, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and asbestos related lung cancers. When intact and contained, asbestos does not pose any hazard to health. However asbestos can become airborne and be inhaled when disturbed. If inhaled or ingested, toxic fibers enter the body and cause serous diseases.
Mesothelioma, a cancer that develops in the lining of the chest, lung or abdominal cavities, is the most serious and fatal ailment linked to exposure to asbestos. Symptoms of mesothelioma can take decades from the first time of exposure to develop, making diagnosis and treatment very challenging.
Occupationally, school custodial and maintenance employees are at a higher risk of contracting mesothelioma, which may not show signs until 10 to 40 years after first exposure. Repair, renovation and demolition activities to materials likely to contain asbestos all increase the risk of exposure.
Charles Street School in Palmyra, Philadelphia is one common example of this. First constructed in 1949, the school underwent major renovations over the past summer. Asbestos was discovered at the Charles Street School as well as two others after funding was assigned and therefore the additional costs were not included.
After renovations were underway, asbestos was discovered in the thin coating within the plaster walls at Charles Street School. However, because a lack of financial resources and time, a decision was made to paint the walls with a thick layer of paint, thereby encapsulating any asbestos. Measures like this prevent asbestos from becoming airborne until plans for further removal in the future can be made.
Charles Street School will stay on schedule for opening September 14 and a plan has been established that will notify workers in the event any repairs need to be done involving the walls to prevent any asbestos from becoming friable. Friable is a term referring to asbestos containing materials that, when dry, can be easily crumbled or reduced to dust by hand. Any material that contains more than 1% of asbestos and is friable must be regulated according to federal and state laws.
The school, despite wishes to be asbestos free, will encapsulate materials to ensure the safety of students and school workers until time and funding becomes available for safe removal. Medical screenings have been offered to all current employees, certified asbestos specialists have cleared all affected areas, and all air quality tests have yielded negative results for asbestos. The measures taken to date should keep everyone at school safe from exposure until removal efforts can begin next summer.
* Pipe and wall insulation * Insulation around boilers and water heaters * Wall paneling * Various plasters, wallboard and joint compounds * Floor and ceiling tiles * Roofing shingles and adhesives
Asbestos is made up of microscopic, invisible fibers that can cause life threatening and serious illnesses, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and asbestos related lung cancers. When intact and contained, asbestos does not pose any hazard to health. However asbestos can become airborne and be inhaled when disturbed. If inhaled or ingested, toxic fibers enter the body and cause serous diseases.
Mesothelioma, a cancer that develops in the lining of the chest, lung or abdominal cavities, is the most serious and fatal ailment linked to exposure to asbestos. Symptoms of mesothelioma can take decades from the first time of exposure to develop, making diagnosis and treatment very challenging.
Occupationally, school custodial and maintenance employees are at a higher risk of contracting mesothelioma, which may not show signs until 10 to 40 years after first exposure. Repair, renovation and demolition activities to materials likely to contain asbestos all increase the risk of exposure.
Charles Street School in Palmyra, Philadelphia is one common example of this. First constructed in 1949, the school underwent major renovations over the past summer. Asbestos was discovered at the Charles Street School as well as two others after funding was assigned and therefore the additional costs were not included.
After renovations were underway, asbestos was discovered in the thin coating within the plaster walls at Charles Street School. However, because a lack of financial resources and time, a decision was made to paint the walls with a thick layer of paint, thereby encapsulating any asbestos. Measures like this prevent asbestos from becoming airborne until plans for further removal in the future can be made.
Charles Street School will stay on schedule for opening September 14 and a plan has been established that will notify workers in the event any repairs need to be done involving the walls to prevent any asbestos from becoming friable. Friable is a term referring to asbestos containing materials that, when dry, can be easily crumbled or reduced to dust by hand. Any material that contains more than 1% of asbestos and is friable must be regulated according to federal and state laws.
The school, despite wishes to be asbestos free, will encapsulate materials to ensure the safety of students and school workers until time and funding becomes available for safe removal. Medical screenings have been offered to all current employees, certified asbestos specialists have cleared all affected areas, and all air quality tests have yielded negative results for asbestos. The measures taken to date should keep everyone at school safe from exposure until removal efforts can begin next summer.
About the Author:
Sally Clapper is a representative for Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason, asbestos attorneys that have been representing people with mesothelioma for over 25 years. As experts in the field of mesothelioma, the firm's attorneys are recognized as some of the leading plaintiffs' mesothelioma lawyers in the nation.
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