Asbestos Found At School -- MesoLink.org -- 11-07-05

Students have been moved off two floors at a school after asbestos was found during plumbing maintenance work that was being carried out. The asbestos was found in the attic space of the Masterman School in Philadelphia, and resulted in around 200 students having to be moved from two floors.

Sixth graders from the school were sent to a nearby school until the asbestos issue could be dealt with. Other students from the school were moved on to lower levels that were not affected by the asbestos exposure. Officials for the school and city have stated that anyone that feels they were exposed to asbestos as a result of the incident should seek medical assistance and be checked up by a doctor. However, officials also stated that the risk of any problem stemming from this incident was minimal.

“I would say there is very little risk of any significant disease process evolving from this level of exposure,” said George T. Hayes, director of employee medical services for the city Health Department.

Asbestos is a substance once widely used in a number of trades and is known to cause cancer and other health problems when airborne fibers are breathed in or swallowed.