Asbestos Removal Project Delayed at Bristol Township, PA School District

In June 2009, the Bristol Township, PA School District announced that asbestos-containing tiles would be removed at one of the district’s elementary schools over the summer vacation.

The asbestos remediation project is part of the District’s five year plan to remove asbestos materials from the District’s elementary schools and middle school.

Another elementary school was scheduled to undergo asbestos abatement over the summer, but the project was pushed back to summer 2010. The District cited issues regarding the proposal to perform the asbestos removal at the second school, as well as concerns on whether the maintenance staff would be able to put down new floor tiles in both buildings before classes commence in the fall.

Exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer or asbestosis.  Teachers and other school employees are at increased risk to develop an asbestos-related illness because of the number of asbestos-containing products used in the construction and insulation of older school buildings.