How do I find out if my child’s school has asbestos in it?

Call your school administrator and request a copy of the school’s asbestos management plan. This report should detail when the last asbestos inspection occurred and if exposed asbestos materials were found. The plan will also designate an asbestos contact person and provide contact information. You may need to reach out to your school district’s main office for this plan.

How do I find out if the school was required to be inspected for asbestos?

First, you should find out when the school was built. If it was constructed before the 1980s, there’s high probability that some form of asbestos is within the walls, ceilings or floors of the facility. Next, find out if your state falls under federal jurisdiction for inspections, or if it is a waiver or non-waiver state. [See the Map] Implementation of AHERA falls to the EPA regional offices. You can contact your school or school district directly to see if inspections are required.

Is it dangerous to have asbestos-containing materials in my school?

Not necessarily. Asbestos is only dangerous when the mineral’s tiny fibers are disturbed and released into the air. According to the EPA, as long as asbestos materials are in good condition and properly maintained, they pose “relatively little risk to students and school employees.” However, inspections should identify and evaluate these materials to prevent disturbing the products during renovations or demolitions.

My child’s school has asbestos in it. Why aren’t they taking it out?

Sometimes, it can be more dangerous to remove asbestos from a building than manage it. According to AHERA guidelines, asbestos removal is necessary only when the material damage is “extensive and severe, and other actions will not control fiber release.” Schools typically respond to asbestos by either repairing, encapsulating or enclosing materials.

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How Asbestos Released into the Air on 9/11

When the North and South towers of the World Trade Center fell the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, the lives of 2,753 people…

Sean Marchese, MS, RN
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featured stories

The Future of Cancer Treatment: Using Technology to Find a Cure

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featured stories

High Cost of Cancer Treatment

Life-saving surgeries and the latest therapies are helping extend the lives of cancer patients — but only those who can afford them.

Karen Selby, RN
01/19/2023
Asbestos and Natural Disasters Guide

Natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, floods and tornadoes can damage asbestos-containing materials and lead to asbestos exposure among first responders, cleanup crews…

Michelle Whitmer
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Asbestos in Schools: A Guide for Parents & Administrators

Many of America’s students, teachers and school staff are at danger of asbestos exposure because the deadly carcinogen lurks behind walls, above ceilings and…

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featured stories

Women: The New Faces of Mesothelioma

Historically, mesothelioma is a cancer that mostly affects older men who were exposed to asbestos while serving in the military or working certain blue-collar jobs. But the gender gap is closing as mesothelioma incidence rates among women are on the rise. Women now comprise nearly one-fourth of all cases.

Matt Mauney
01/09/2023
featured stories

How Asbestos Kills America’s Veterans

The U.S. government never warned servicemen who fought for America about the deadly long-term effects of asbestos exposure in the military. Now, a broken VA health care system fails them a second time by abandoning veterans dying of mesothelioma.

Tim Povtak
03/01/2023

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