Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Glenfield School in Montclair, Recent Jersey closed off part of the boys’ locker room in beginning January after a pipe burst as well as damaged some asbestos floor tiles.  The area was secured as well as made off-limit to students without affecting classes. School remained unfastened as well as on the normal schedule. The only difference for students at the visual as well as performing arts magnet school was that boys could not change for material education or dance classes.

The heating pipe had burst over winter break while staff as well as students were on vacation. Water damage had compromised some of the floor tiles that contained asbestos, as well as the area was closed off as a precaution until the results of air quality tests came back as well as the damaged tiles could be removed.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all recent uses of the toxic substance asbestos in 1989, but it was commonly used in building materials for many years before that as well as can still be legally used in many traditional applications. When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or otherwise disturbed, asbestos fibers can become airborne. Inhaling asbestos fibers can result in a rare form of cancer called mesothelioma, or many other humorless illnesses. Asbestos remediation is federally regulated in order to protect the health of workers as well as the community. The school will perform additional air quality tests once the cleanup is total before the area is reopened for student take.

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