Audit Reveals Most Australian Schools Contain Asbestos

For millions of Australian parents, the biggest concern when sending their children off to school is what to pack in their lunchbox. This is hardly surprising, given their perception that schools are a safe place for children. Unfortunately, this could not be further from the truth. Many children are at risk of exposure to asbestos in aging school buildings. A recent audit of Australian schools revealed most contain some form of asbestos. In the southeastern state of Victoria alone, only 39 of the 1,440 state schools audited — or 3 percent — passed the test. Hundreds of schools in North South Wales contain asbestos, found mainly in fibrous asbestos roofing sheets, roof tiles, boiler flues and external window panels. All schools containing asbestos are ticking time bombs. Any damage caused by aging, the elements or human intervention can release deadly asbestos fibers. Inhaling or swallowing these fibers can result in mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases many years after the initial exposure. Dangers of Asbestos to Children Prior to a nationwide ban on asbestos building products in the late 1980s, the toxic mineral was used in the construction of 1 in 3 Australian buildings. Across the country, thousands of these asbestos-containing buildings are still standing, including a large number of schools. According to the United Kingdom’s Committee on Carcinogenicity, children are far more vulnerable to asbestos exposure compared to adults. Children are readily expo...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: asbestos abatement Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act asbestos in schools Australia Committee on Carcinogenicity Environmental Working Group Action Fund Health and Safety Act 2011 North South Wales Occupational Health and Safety Vict Source Type: news