Asbestos Dust Worries Students

Article Added November 21st, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

Dust from renovations at a Pennsylvania school is causing more than just a little discomfort. The dust contains low levels of asbestos, making students wonder if their health is at risk.

Renovations at the Waynesboro Area Senior High School were anticipated, with the $46 million job promising a bigger and better school. After the floor tiles were removed, dust started flying resulting in a dirty environment. Students did not become overly worried, however, until air tests showed that the dust contains low levels of asbestos. Though officials and workers on the site stated that the level of asbestos is next to none, and therefore does not pose a health threat, some students feel that their school has become a hazard.

Asbestos is a normally safe material, often used as a form of insulation. It can become a health hazard, though, if it is disturbed during renovations or construction. Asbestos can break into airborne fibers, which can be inhaled and then settles in the lining of the lungs. This can result in emphysema or mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer that can develop over years. School officials maintain that the students and staff are at no risk, but are offering facemasks to people that request one.

Article Added November 21st, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story