Watch Out for Asbestos!

I added article to my library because my brother would kill me if it wasn’t included. He works in a lab where he tests various schools and other buildings for asbestos or lead or other hazar... See More

I added article to my library because my brother would kill me if it wasn’t included. He works in a lab where he tests various schools and other buildings for asbestos or lead or other hazardous materials. Many of our schools are older buildings and many of them have asbestos. As the article states, we have to know where to look to find it, and we also have to handle it with care. There are many health risks to having asbestos in our homes and schools. This article can be used to lead into discussions about health and other illnesses. We can also use this article to begin discussing healthier and greener options when construction new buildings.

Knowledge is Power

For school building older than 1975 building materials contained asbestos used for insulation. Over time these materials dried and flaked resulting in the following statistic: More than 8,5... See More

For school building older than 1975 building materials contained asbestos used for insulation. Over time these materials dried and flaked resulting in the following statistic: More than 8,500 schools had friable asbestos. In the years since this material has been banned for use in public buildings, contractors and school districts were required to remove these dangerous materials from their buildings. In 1986 the Asbes¬tos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) became law. This legislation requires public and private nonprofit schools to inspect their buildings for asbestos-contain¬ing building materials. The EPA devised a plan to remove asbestos. Some districts did this during the summer when personnel were not around. Some districts renovated while school was in session. This article describes the changes and the health problems associated with asbestos inhaled into the lungs. Yes, it is probably still out there but reading this article will help the reader understand and act on the issue.