Why is asbestos such a problem in schools?

During the middle part of the 20th century, the United States went on a building spree of new schools. This was in response to the explosion growth after World War II. The growth started to slow down in the 1980s as the population boom began to flatten out. While new schools are always under construction somewhere, that is more in line with moving populations that a quickly growing one.

In 2010, there were almost 99,000 public schools in the United States. The number of schools containing asbestos is hard to calculate. However, Colorado estimated that between 63 and 89 percent of their schools had some asbestos in them. Taking that figure and applying it to the rest of the country creates a staggering figure. There could be between 62,370 and 88,110 schools in the US with asbestos contamination.

Do schools have to manage their asbestos materials?

In October 1986, Congress passed a law known as AHERA, or Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. According to this law, all schools were required to inspect their buildings for asbestos containing materials. These inspections require each school to have a qualified person inspect the premises at least every three years to identify and map where asbestos containing materials may be found. For materials in question, the inspector needs to see if the material is friable or not. Friable means it breaks apart easily. Friable asbestos is the one that poses the most danger as it can become airborne quickly.

Why do schools need to have an asbestos management plan?

Part of the AHERA law required schools to formulate a plan for managing the asbestos in their buildings. The plans had to identify the problems, recommend steps to manage the problems, prepare cost estimates on handling the problems, and set out a timeline for the process. Three options a school can take include abatement, confinement, or encapsulation. Abatement requires the asbestos removed completely. Confinement means the asbestos is non-friable and the area of contamination is marked. Encapsulation involves encasing an asbestos material with an outer product that will not allow the asbestos fibers to escape.

Are there regular inspections for asbestos?

After the initial inspection, schools are to have inspections by qualified people at least once every three years. These inspections verify that the school is managing their asbestos issues according to guidelines. It is also a chance to see if any prior inspections failed to find a source of contamination or if new materials have come into the school. These inspections are required by the AHERA law.

Do newer schools have issues with asbestos?

Schools built after the 1980s have a much lower chance of asbestos being present. However, many modern building materials still contain asbestos. While most school districts carefully select their products, some may miss the fact that asbestos may be present in newer schools. Parents need to be vigilante with their school district. Saving money is always a factor in building contracts. Taking a short cut and buying an asbestos laden material to save money may end up costing someone in the long run.

Lawrence Reaves writes about health, education, and the risks of asbestos like a mesothelioma prognosis and small cell carcinoma.

Lawrence Reaves writes about health, education, and the risks of asbestos like a mesothelioma prognosis and small cell carcinoma. http://www.mesotheliomapage.com.

Author Bio: Lawrence Reaves writes about health, education, and the risks of asbestos like a mesothelioma prognosis and small cell carcinoma.

Category: Education
Keywords: asbestos, asbestos in schools, dangers in schools, mesothelioma, lung cancer, small cell lung cancer