When we send our children off to school, we expect and hope
that they’ll remain safe throughout the day. When we buy our children toys, we
also expect a certain standard of safety from the manufacturers, and when our
children drink from public water fountains, most us don’t expect any harm to
come from it. Yet, schools, toys, and water fountains have all been associated
with asbestos use. Asbestos, a naturally-occurring mineral that was once used
in products, buildings, and appliances for its heat and fire-resistance, has
been linked to dangerous diseases such as pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal
mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Although most schools, toys, and water fountains
are safe, it’s important to understand about the dangers of asbestos and how to
keep children protected.
Asbestos in Schools
Thousands upon thousands of public and private schools that
were built prior to the early 1980s were constructed with asbestos-containing
materials. If your child’s school was built after this time period, then it
probably doesn’t contain asbestos. However, there are still millions of
children that go to school each day in buildings that are littered with
asbestos. As long as the asbestos is not disturbed in any way, these schools
are usually safe. Yet, in order to promote the highest standards of safety, the
Asbestos Hazards Emergency Response Act (AHERA) was created, which mandates
that any school that contains asbestos must follow strict regulations to ensure staff, students,
parents, and visitors are as safe as possible.
As a parent, you have the right to make sure that your school
is following the AHERA guidelines at all times. For example, schools must be
inspected regularly for asbestos disruption, and a management plan must always
be in place that details plans that will be taken in case of asbestos
disruption. In addition, parents must always be notified of these plans as well
as any activity that caused asbestos to stir. A qualified asbestos must also be
on hand when inspections occur, and immediate action must be taken if disrupted
asbestos is detected.
Asbestos in Water Fountains
Although rare, children can ingest asbestos fibers by simply
drinking from a water fountain. The EPA has strict regulations on the quality
of water, yet the asbestos typically does not come the water source. If an
older pipe that was sprayed with asbestos becomes corroded, there is a chance
that asbestos will become disturbed, resulting in the fibers breaking loose and
mixing in with the water. Since there is no way to detect asbestos fibers,
children can easily drink them without having any idea. The best course of
action is to always pack bottled water for your children and discourage them
from drinking from public water fountains.
Asbestos in Toys
Unfortunately, even though the EPA banned asbestos use in the
majority of products and at job sites, there are still some products that
contain asbestos, and a few children's toys have been linked to it. In 2007,
several parts of a popular CSI Investigation toy kit contained asbestos,
including plastic tools, glow-in-the-dark powder, and ink. The amount of
asbestos in the kits were so high that they were recalled indefinitely.
Crayons and certain clays were also found to contain
asbestos, including Rose Art and Crayola. Although some manufacturers claim
that the asbestos found in these products only contained the “acceptable”
amount of asbestos as regulated by the EPA, several physicians state that there
are no acceptable levels of asbestos exposure and therefore no toys should ever
contain even a slight amount. Fortunately, both companies listened, and began
making products without any trace of asbestos.
Additional Information on Asbestos
Unfortunately, asbestos use has been linked to all sorts of
occupations as well. Plumbers, welders, military personnel, mechanics,
construction workers, engineers, and more were exposed to asbestos by the
millions before regulations. This led to a plethora of lawsuits and
mesothelioma trust funds being set up to cover future cases. If you feel your
child or a loved one who worked in an industry may have been exposed to
asbestos, it’s crucial to get regular medical checkups. Additionally, you also
may be entitled to compensatory damages. For more information on your legal
rights, visit the Mesothelioma Lawyer Center.
No comments:
Post a Comment