Mesothelioma and Asbestos

The School Facilities Committee in Chicopee, Massachusetts voted unanimously to spend $69,000 to correct an error in Comprehensive High School’s recent science labs as well as to replace the aged cafeteria floor in the Edward J. Bellamy Middle School.

A majority of the money, to the tune of about $41,000, is being spent on replacing the cafeteria floor, which still contains the building’s original floor tiles. Those floor tiles are made of asbestos. Installing the recent floor will cost $19,000, but removing the aged floor tiles will cost even more. Certified asbestos contractors possess to be hired to remove the asbestos floor tiles, monitor the site for safety as well as eliminate the hazardous waste safely. It will cost $22,400 for the removal. Asbestos was commonly used in building materials for much of the final century. Incase asbestos fibers become airborne, they can be inhaled as well as cause humorless asbestos-related illnesses similar mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive form of cancer.

The recent high school science labs were built with enough stations for 16 students to work at the alike time, but a majority of the science classes possess 20 students in them. A total of $27,485 will be spent to add a recent lab station to each of the two science classrooms in order to accommodate all of the students in each class.

Funding for the projects will be used from the school’s maintenance fund. Work is expected to take place over Christmas vacation.

For the filled story, go to MassLive.com.