Mohawk New York School Board Gets Update on Asbestos Removal Project

New York School Board Gets Update on Asbestos Removal Project

Mohawk, NY - On Feb. 24, 2009, members of the Mohawk Board of Education gathered to hear an update on upcoming renovations planned for the Fisher Elementary School. Board members heard from Kerry Barrett, who is a representative of King and King, the architectural firm that is primarily responsible for the planning and oversight of the work at Fisher. Ms. Barrett apprised school officials of the nature of the work, as well the estimated time frame for completion of the project. For the most part, Ms. Barrett's report focused on the critical issues surrounding the planned removal of numerous asbestos-containing building materials from the structure.

Asbestos is a known cancer-causing agent, and all ears were tuned to Barrett's comprehensive report on the asbestos-abatement procedures that will be performed at the school. Barrett informed the board that asbestos removal would be confined to several areas of the building where non-friable, organically bound (NOB) asbestos materials had been identified. Non-friable is a term that refers to asbestos-containing materials that cannot be pulverized by hand-the NOB nature of the materials in the Fisher school would reduce the likelihood of a crushed asbestos release of microscopic asbestos fibers into the air. Barrett explained that these NOB asbestos materials were primarily located in floor tiles in several classrooms and the cafeteria, as well as in some of the mastic behind a number of blackboards in the school.

Asbestos is an organic, naturally occurring mineral that can be found in countless countries around the world. The material may be located in the soil or in
above-grade outcroppings that are equally common. Asbestos exists in a variety of colors, types, and chemical compositions, though, all forms of the material are considered to pose a significant risk to human health. Once widely utilized by a broad spectrum of industries, asbestos is now largely banned in most of the countries where it can be found.

In the early 1970s, medical and scientific researchers confirmed the fact that exposures to microscopic, airborne asbestos fibers could lead to serious respiratory and other diseases. Once inhaled into the lungs, asbestos fibers become imbedded in soft tissues where the fibers can remain undetected for up to 50 years before causing the onset of diseases such as asbestosis (severe scarring of the lungs resulting in reduced lung function), as well as the highly aggressive, incurable, and fatal form of cancer known as malignant pleural mesothelioma. No safe level of exposure to airborne asbestos fibers has ever been established, and as a result, asbestos abatement procedures at Fisher Elementary will have to be performed in accordance with strict federal regulations that ensure compliance with the nation's Clean Air Act.

Due to the extremely hazardous nature of asbestos abatement, Barrett told school officials that the work was scheduled to be performed as soon as classes were dismissed on April 9th, when students would begin their weeklong spring vacation. Several board members wanted to know why the work couldn't be performed after school was let out for the summer. Barrett explained that the planned work at the Fisher school was one of the smaller-sized asbestos abatement projects the district had scheduled for the year-work that could best be performed in the spring by specialized personnel who would not be available during the busy summer season.

When queried about the safety of the asbestos abatement procedures, Barrett assured school board members that air quality experts will be stationed within the building where they will conduct an ongoing series of tests to be certain that safe air quality standards are met during the asbestos removal process. Additionally, subsequent air quality and environmental surfaces tests will be performed prior to the return of any students to the school.

To receive a FREE Mesothelioma Web information packet** or to make a request, please fill out the following form :

**For a FREE information packet including treatments, clinical trials, and specialists, please complete the form above or call a Mesothelioma Web coordinator at 1-877-367-6376.

News

Resources

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here

If you would like to receive a FREE information packet or have questions about mesothelioma, call us at:

Toll-Free 1-877-367-6376