School Gym Has Asbestos

Article Added November 16th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

A high school gym tested positive for asbestos after a dusty substance was discovered during construction. Students and faculty are being kept away from the area until further tests can be done.

The new gym at Lincoln High School in Stockton, CA was going to have more room for the growing number of students, as well as offering outlined areas for volleyball and wrestling. The new gym plans were put on hold this week, though, after dust from the construction site tested positive for asbestos. Now the new gym area has been closed off, keeping student and faculty from the area until more tests, and possibly abatement, can be completed.

The asbestos in the gym poses no direct threat, although if construction had continued longer there could have been a possibility that a problem could have arisen. If asbestos dust is breathed in over a period of time, it can result in respiratory problems, including asbestosis, emphysema and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos is breathed in and the fibers of the material keep the lungs from working. One of the most aggressive and untreatable forms of cancer, mesothelioma is often terminal at the time of detection since it can take years to manifest.

Article Added November 16th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story