In the Crescentville section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an asbestos threat has required a group of school children to be relocated. Benjamin Franklin Elementary School has been using space at nearby Pilgrim Baptist Church since 2003. Regularly tested for asbestos levels, the annexed church facility has been considered safe until now.
Asbestos has been used in America since early last century for all forms of building and production. Perhaps most heavily used in shipbuilding and munitions manufacturing, asbestos was also relied upon for various residential and commercial construction components. Known for its fire resistance and durable qualities, asbestos earned the nickname, ‘backbone of American industry.”
However, in the 1980s health threats associated with asbestos exposure could no longer go unnoticed. Asbestos fibers were considered the cause of several respiratory illnesses including rare cancer mesothelioma. Mesothelioma growth begins when asbestos fibers are inhaled into he lungs. A mutative process ensues, leading to an irregularly patterned web of malignant tumors. Mesothelioma is categorized into two specific types: pleural mesothelioma, which is specific to lung lining, and peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects lining of other organs such as the heart or diaphragm.
Mesothelioma patients often have no idea they were exposed to asbestos and therefore have no reason to seek medical counsel. Symptoms demonstrate following a decades-long latency period. Mesothelioma treatments consist of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines asbestos regulations in its Clean Air Act. Now, asbestos use is strictly monitored. Safety precautions are a must when handling or working around asbestos.
After so many decades of use, asbestos is present across the US in countless homes, commercial facilities, municipal buildings and other structures. Over time, inevitable wear and tear can release asbestos fibers from its containing material. What was once a safe and sound floor tile or plumbing element can now be contaminating the air with cancer causing dust and fibers.
In light of this growing threat, asbestos abatement companies have sprung up throughout the nation, and around the world, to safely remove asbestos containing materials. Companies qualified to remove asbestos go through specific training and must adhere to high standards for disposal of the toxic debris and cleanup of the worksite.
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School’s church annex may necessitate just such a job. Asbestos level test results have not been released as of yet. Necessary or suggested changes to the premises will then be decided. Until safety can be guaranteed, students and faculty will use space in another nearby building.
