2 More Philadelphia Schools Close Because of Asbestos Contamination

Two schools in Philadelphia were abruptly closed last week because of asbestos contamination issues inside the aging buildings, bringing the total number of district school closures this year to six. The School District of Philadelphia closed C.W. Henry Elementary School on April 24 after flaking asbestos was found in some plaster ceiling tiles. The closure forced pupils to shift to virtual learning through at least May 5. Then, on April 28, the district shuttered Universal Vare Charter School, which uses a district-owned building, after asbestos was found during a three-year reinspection under the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. The building was closed indefinitely and students were shifted to virtual learning.  Asbestos Contamination Widespread in Philadelphia Schools Asbestos contamination is an ongoing and large-scale issue in Philadelphia school buildings. The Philadelphia Officer of the Controller database tracks the nearly 2,300 asbestos abatement projects at the schools.  Philadelphia School Board President Reginald Streater, whose children attend Henry Elementary, told Chalkbeat Philadelphia the issues are “a hundred years in the making” and “decades upon decades of disinvestment” has led to the district’s current issues with crumbling buildings. Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause a range of illnesses, from mesothelioma cancer to asbestosis. It is commonly found in floor and ceiling tiles as well as insulation ...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Asbestos Exposure Source Type: news