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Asbestos in the House: New York School Closed for Remediation
By asbestoshub | August 8, 2008
The Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology, an elementary school in the Albany School District in upstate New York, will be closed this school year because the school requires considerable asbestos remediation before it can open again.
Work began on the Academy and its parent school, Giffen Elementary School, when the school year ended in June 2008, as part of a general improvement project. The Academy was shut down, and a small asbestos remediation project was begun.
However, when the crews began their work, they discovered there was more asbestos located at the Academy than previously thought. Asbestos was found in places where it was thought to have been removed in the late 1980s. Does that mean the school’s 500 students plus the school employees have been breathing asbestos dust all these years? We will find out in about 10 years if asbestos health problems start appearing.
Asbestos is an increasingly prevalent problem in schools across the country. It was once heavily used in construction materials of many different types, but due to its toxicity, the asbestos is now becoming a serious problem, particularly as these buildings age and the asbestos they contain becomes more exposed and begins degrading. Asbestos contamination in schools is especially disconcerting, as children are more susceptible to developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.
Federal law requires that all schools adhere to Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) guidelines, which require schools to create and maintain asbestos management plans. The plans must include details of the location of any asbestos, as well as all measures taken to prevent exposure risks. Inspections must take place every three years, and asbestos management plans must be available for public review by staff and parents.
After the discovery of the extra asbestos at the Thomas O’Brien Academy, air samples were taken in school buildings, but showed there were no elevated asbestos levels present.
The school estimates it will reopen for the 2009-2010 school year, and will meet with parents this week to discuss the temporary closure.
Topics: Exposure |
