Students are at Risk of Asbestos Exposure in School
Posted on: September 30, 2024School children of all ages are at risk of asbestos exposure in schools. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) highlights that children are particularly vulnerable to asbestos fibers. This heightened risk is due to several factors: children are more likely to breathe in fibers through their mouths, are more physically active, and have a faster breathing rate compared to adults. Additionally, they tend to spend more time on the floor where asbestos fibers can settle and are more prone to putting objects like toys and crayons, which might contain asbestos, into their mouths.
The EPA’s Office of Inspector General emphasizes that this risk is concerning for younger children. The combination of their behaviors and physical attributes makes them more susceptible to inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. Asbestos, once disturbed, can linger in the air and on surfaces, making it easy for young, active children to come into contact with it unknowingly. This concern is not limited to any specific age group but spans the entire range of school-aged children, with younger children being at the highest risk due to their exploratory nature and close proximity to the ground.
Moreover, the relatively young age of students adds another layer of concern. According to an OIG report, childhood exposure to asbestos could significantly increase the risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases later in life. The latency period for these diseases can be decades long, meaning that exposure during childhood could result in serious health issues emerging many years down the line. This underscores the importance of stringent asbestos management and removal protocols in schools to safeguard children’s health both in the present and future.