Asbestos, a group of naturally occurring minerals historically used in products such as roofing materials, cements, floor tiles, patching and spackling compounds, and furnaces and furnace doors, can lead to serious health problems. Children risk coming into contact with airborne asbestos in older homes and school buildings. To protect our children from harmful asbestos exposure, the substance should be removed from older buildings or appropriately contained to ensure no child encounters it. If a child inhales harmful asbestos particles, he or she becomes at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. If you or a loved one developed an asbestos-related illness after being exposed to asbestos as a child, discuss your case with an experienced asbestos attorney today.
EPA Regulations for Schools
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires schools to protect children from asbestos exposure, as mandated by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). According to the EPA website, AHERA’s regulations for schools are based “on the principle of ‘in-place’ management of asbestos-containing material (ACM).” This means that schools generally are not required to remove asbestos, except for when ACM is severely damaged or will be disturbed by demolition or renovation. Instead, schools are taught to recognize asbestos-containing materials and to actively monitor and manage such materials without removing them. Per AHERA regulations, education agencies must:
- Perform an original inspection of ACM
- Re-inspect ACM every three years
- Develop, maintain and update an asbestos management plan
- Annually notify parent, teacher and employee organizations about the availability of the asbestos management plan, including information about asbestos abatement actions taken or planned to be taken
- Designate a contact person to ensure the school takes all required actions
- Periodically survey known or suspected asbestos-containing building material
- Have properly-accredited professionals complete inspections, response actions and preparation of management plans
- Provide asbestos-awareness training to custodial staff
Your child’s school may have asbestos in the roofing, flooring or walls. If your child has developed a serious respiratory illness and you suspect it may be the result of asbestos exposure at his or her school, have your case evaluated by a qualified asbestos lawyer.
Asbestos In The Home
Some older homes have asbestos-containing material in the:
- Walls
- Ceilings
- Insulation around pipes, stoves and furnaces
HealthyChildren.org, sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics, suggests the following guidelines for protecting your child from asbestos exposure in the home:
- Have your home inspected by an asbestos professional to determine if asbestos is present
- Keep your child away from exposed or deteriorating materials that might contain asbestos
- If asbestos is found in your home, have a properly-accredited professional remove any asbestos-containing material that is deteriorating or might be disturbed by planned renovations (if the material is in good condition and will not be disturbed, you may be able to leave it)
The local health department or the EPA should be able to provide you with information about finding a certified asbestos contractor in your area. If childhood asbestos exposure caused you to develop mesothelioma or another serious illness, a dedicated mesothelioma lawyer may be able to help.
You can develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases decades after exposure to asbestos. If you develop cancer of the lung, throat, kidney, stomach or gastrointestinal system and suspect asbestos exposure may be to blame, contact a mesothelioma attorney to learn about your legal rights.