Asbestos is a deadly fiber that was once considered a miracle mineral for its insulating and fireproofing abilities. After many decades of use, the public became aware of long-hidden facts – asbestos is a cancer-causing agent.
Countries began banning or monitoring the mining and use of asbestos in an attempt to keep residents safe from the residual effects. Unfortunately, in some places asbestos looms as a deadly threat.
Buildings constructed prior to the 1970s have increasingly high chances of asbestos within the walls. Many abatement programs commenced to remove asbestos from the different structures, but buildings are missed or rooms skipped.
Older schools have an increased risk of asbestos exposure to children given the age of the buildings. In fact, recent discoveries in Orange County, Calif., schools have displaced more than a thousand children while tests are completed.
The students’ parents are outraged given the presence of asbestos and the lack of information from the various schools. Many don’t know the full extent of the exposure to children, but a forum is being held to go over the risks with the parents.
Exposure to asbestos can cause many different cancers, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer and colon cancer. Most diagnosed with mesothelioma live less than one year and the disease goes unnoticed for decades before becoming symptomatic.
Asbestos continues to be a threat to the public today, based on the mistakes of the past.
Source
- CBS Los Angeles, “Angry Parents Demand Answers as OC Schools Remain Closed for Asbestos Testing,” Local (Oct. 13, 2014). [Link]
