Q: What level of asbestos exposure can lead to future health problems?
A: There is no exact threshold for what level of exposure can lead to the development of mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases.
Q: Are children more vulnerable to asbestos exposure than adults?
A: Mesothelioma is a very rare disease and there is no data to support whether children or adults are more vulnerable to the effects of asbestos. However there have been recent cases where people in their mid-20s have been diagnosed when the disease normally affects older people.
Q: Have there been cases of children exposed to asbestos at school who later developed mesothelioma?
A: There is no known case but some speculate that may have happened in a recent case in England where a woman died at age 28 and is suspected of coming into contact with asbestos at her school.
Q: If my child’s school has asbestos what can I do?
A: We recommend you speak with a school administrator and ask:
1. Where is the asbestos located?
2. Has the material been treated in any way? (sealed, encapsulated)
3. Does the school have an asbestos management plan?
Q: How are teachers affected by asbestos exposure?
A: The UK Health and Safety Executive which monitors occupational safety revealed that between 1980 and 2005, some 450 teachers had died from asbestos related diseases. While some of these men and women had professions that involed coming into contact with asbestos, the agency believes that for the most part contamination in schools is what caused them to develop the disease.
