Asbestos in Schools
An Iowa school district could be fined thousands of dollars for having employees work inside an asbestos-contaminated building. State records were recently released showing that the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the school district $70,000. The school district was also fined another $6,000 by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. This happened at…
Three teachers recently filed a lawsuit over their first amendment right to publicly demand answers about asbestos inside classrooms. They claim their rights were violated when they were punished for protesting in 2021. As part of a protest, they worked outside during teacher only workdays to protest their risks of asbestos exposure. Administrators told staff…
An Indiana warehouse fire led to asbestos contaminated debris falling onto the surrounding community. The debris landed on school yards, playgrounds, day cares, and private homes. Areas affected by the falling debris include Richmond, Indiana, and nearby areas in Ohio. Asbestos fibers are weightless, so smoke carried the fibers, which then fell to the ground…
A United Kingdom study is showing the dangers of legacy asbestos. Asbestos that remains in commercial and residential buildings can be more dangerous than previously thought. Researchers from the study found that two-thirds of the asbestos still in buildings was old enough or damaged enough to release fibers into the air. Around one million samples…
Under the Obama Administration, The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was updated to give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) more authority to ban asbestos completely in the United States. The carcinogen was originally banned in 1989, but by 1991 the ruling was over-turned. Anti-asbestos advocates have been fighting ever since to ban all uses of…
Cancer is the second most leading cause of death in the United States affecting over 500,000 people. However, is estimated that 1/3 of all cancers could be prevented through daily activities such as eating healthy, exercising, or simply applying sunscreen on a sunny day. Cancers caused by asbestos exposure are life-threatening, but perhaps the most…
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is specifically caused by asbestos exposure. The cancer affects the lining surrounding various organs and cavities within the body called the mesothelium. Asbestos fibers, which are nearly invisible, sharp, and easily inhaled, become embedded in this soft tissue. The body is unable to break down or expel the…
There was a time when asbestos was seemingly in everything. Among other things, it was used in building materials such as pipe covering, cements, gaskets, pumps, clothing, gloves, and shipbuilding materials. This was due to its durability and high resistance to heat and corrosion as well as the fact it could be so easily processed.…
Three recent verdicts represent the lack of care still associated with asbestos removal. In each case, the defendants either performed botched removal jobs or exposed workers to the deadly fibers without proper protection. During the demolition of a vacant public housing facility in Buffalo, New York, two city inspectors failed at ensuring asbestos was safely…
In 1996, Yale awarded Stephan Schmidheiny an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for his work in promoting stewardship for the environment. Many praised Schmidheiny based on his efforts to protect the planet and even referred to him as the Bill Gates of Switzerland. A verdict received in 2012 changed the public’s perception of this former…
