Parents often worry about their child’s education and the last thing any parent wants to worry about is whether their child’s school might be making them sick because of of asbestos.
The material was commonly used in school construction throughout the United States between the 1930s and 1970s. Some of the more common sources for asbestos in schools include fireproofing, insulation, adhesives, cement and asbestos tile. Due to the high costs of removal, it is still present in many schools throughout the nation but it may or may not pose a risk to students.
We’ve put together a guide which will tell parents what questions they need to ask to find out whether their child’s school contains asbestos and whether their children could come into contact with it.
We want to stress that if you discover your child’s school does contain asbestos it does not necessarily mean your child is at risk of developing an asbestos related disease. The cost of removal is very expensive and often there isn’t enough room in school budgets to make that a priority, in most cases if asbestos is discovered it will be sealed or encased. (GAO study results on asbestos in schools). Schools are required by federal law to inspect areas that have been sealed to insure they are in good condition.
Next: Basic Information About Asbestos
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US College and University News
Asbestos Cleanup Well-Planned at Grandview Campus of COCC
Winona State University Faces Fines for Asbestos Violations
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International School News
Australia: Asbestos found in school playgrounds
Australia: 769 Schools in western Australia contaminated with asbestos
Canada: Montreal school board announces $5 million plan to deal with asbestos
UK: HSE reports 179 teachers died from asbestos exposure between 1980 and 2000
UK: Welsh leaders demand asbestos checks after teacher dies from mesothelioma
UK: Teacher union asks for assistance in asbestos removal
UK: Ireland removing asbestos from schools at rate of 450 per year
