ASBESTOS IN SCHOOLS

Most of the nation’s schools contain dangerous levels of asbestos, says the EPA

Tons of asbestos construction products used to build U.S. schools during the 20th century have contributed to a high rate of mesothelioma among school teachers, reports the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Asbestos in schools

June 25, 2010 – Prior to the 1970s, when asbestos was not yet recognized in the public consciousness as a deadly carcinogen, it was used pervasively in the construction of public buildings and schools across the nation as an effective fire retardant and heat insulation material.

Unfortunately, asbestos in schools has killed more people than its fire-resistant properties have ever saved. Job-related asbestos exposure occurs in many industries and leads to fatal diseases, like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, that kill 10,000 people every year in this country.

Asbestos in schools is killing our teachers

The majority of school buildings in the United States were built with asbestos ceiling and floor tiles, asbestos-based wall insulation (like wallboard), and asbestos insulation on boiler systems and steam pipes.

Most disturbing of all, government agencies report an elevated mesothelioma mortality rate among elementary and secondary school teachers – the result of spending their professional years in aging (and in some cases, deteriorating) school buildings laden with asbestos.

The situation is so dire that Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) in 1986 to protect children and school employees from asbestos exposure inside older school buildings.

EPA confirms asbestos dangers in schools

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is no minimum safe level for asbestos exposure. In a 2003 report titled “The ABCs of Asbestos in Schools,” the EPA disclosed that “there are asbestos-containing materials in most of the nation’s primary, secondary and charter schools.”

Another government agency, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), confirmed the situation in a 2003 study on work-related health hazards titled “Section 7, Malignant Mesothelioma.” This report identified “Elementary and Secondary Schools” as the No. 3 industry in 1999 that most frequently cited mesothelioma as the cause of death on death certificates.

Seek compensation for mesothelioma

If you once worked as a school building employee and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be eligible for financial compensation by filing an asbestos claim to recover medical expenses, lost wages and suffering.

Weitz & Luxenberg specializes in asbestos litigation. Protect your family’s financial future today by obtaining a free legal consultation with an accomplished asbestos cancer attorney via the form on this page.

There are no obligations and the information is provided free to help you make important and informed decisions during this difficult time.