Asbestos work continues at New York school

In Massena, New York, an asbestos consultant working with the Massena Central School District says that the district is making strides in terms of asbestos issues. The consultant, Peter B. Schuyler, vice president of KAS Environmental and Geological Consulting in Williston, Vermont, has been working with the district for almost two years to identify asbestos risks. Schuyler has also helped to compile asbestos abatement plans for the district. According to him, most of the district's buildings are in good shape.

However, the high school still needs improvement. Of the 212 asbestos-containing areas originally identified, only 75 still have yet to be addressed. According to Mr. Schuyler, the remaining asbestos that is friable (likely to break down into small pieces that could be inhaled) exists only in maintenance areas and crawl spaces that are inaccessible to most people.

Exposure to asbestos can be life-threatening. Mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive form of cancer, is arguably the most serious health problem generated by exposure to asbestos-laden materials. Mesothelioma can develop slowly over the course of many decades, often going undiagnosed until it has reached the later stages of development. The cancer often causes death in patients within two years of being diagnosed. While there is no cure, treatments like chemo can help some patients if the cancer is caught before it spreads too far.

Schuyler believes that one of his primary goals is to find "issues that can't be foreseen," including asbestos hidden beneath floor tiles.

Asbestos materials in aging school buildings is a serious health concern across the country, as countless schools contain asbestos within insulation and floor and ceiling tiles. Unfortunately, due to strict budget restrictions in many school districts, asbestos removal is often put on the back burner, as the cost of abatement is generally quite high. Of course, following abatement the district must replace the asbestos materials with a safer option, which also generates a hefty bill.

Parents of school-aged children can obtain information regarding asbestos in their child's school, including reports of previous asbestos testing or abatement.