Anyone working or going to school in a building damaged after a storm or post-maintenance should be aware of potential asbestos concerns. A natural occurring mineral, asbestos is a known carcinogen that was popular for its insulating and fire-retardant properties.

Issues from asbestos exposure can go undetected for decades, but the tiny fibers embedded in the body, most often the lungs, are irritating and encourage tumors. Lung cancer and mesothelioma cancer are the two major asbestos concerns.

When storms damage buildings, especially those built before the 1970s, the chance of asbestos exposure from damaged roofs, ceilings and insulation increases. Asbestos is harmful when it’s disturbed and becomes airborne.

Before the 1970s, asbestos was used in home and building construction because the fibers are strong and fire resistant.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report last week that shows that deaths from mesothelioma cancers increased from 2,479 in 1999 to 2,597 in 2015.

Especially worrying is the fact that 682 people ages 25 to 44 died of mesothelioma. Another 16,914 people ages 75 to 84 passed way of mesothelioma-related issues, and the largest increase was recorded in the population more than 85 years old.

Vinyl sheet flooring, vinyl floor tiles, ceiling tiles, texture for walls and ceilings, joint compound, oil and coal furnaces and home siding could contain asbestos. Potting soil that contains vermiculite is apt to contain asbestos, too.

Asbestos Concerns and Children

An EPA risk assessment study from the early 1980s estimated 1,000 early deaths related to asbestos would happen over the next 30 years, and 90 percent would be people exposed as schoolchildren who would have no knowledge of asbestos concerns in their environment.

A five-year-old child’s lifetime risk of developing mesothelioma is five times greater that of a 30-year-old adult who has been exposed to asbestos, according to a 2013 study from the U.K.’s Committee on Carcinogenicity.

Asbestos Exposure Problems in Schools

Asbestos concerns in U.S. school buildings is a real concern because nearly half of all schools were built between 1950 and 1969, when asbestos materials were most popular in construction.

Asbestos deteriorates over time, allowing asbestos dust to enter the air and be inhaled. When maintenance work is done, asbestos particles can be disturbed and distributed throughout the air.

Teachers and students are at risk for asbestos exposure problems such as an increased risk for mesothelioma, lung cancer and other serious lung conditions.

In one recent case, parents and teachers in Huntington Beach, Calif. were in disbelief when they found out contractors had carelessly removed asbestos materials from many schools in 2014.

The Ocean View School District seriously violated EPA regulations by not using proper safeguards to prevent asbestos exposure to students and teachers. The district failed to warn parents and teachers of asbestos concerns prior to the removal, which is another EPA violation in and of itself.

Two elementary school classrooms were found to contain asbestos levels that exceeded federal safety standards. The district closed the school while the asbestos problems were being addressed.

As a result, the district is facing a lawsuit from families of students who hold the district’s elected leaders, other school officials and contractors accountable for failing to protect children from asbestos concerns during the removal.

If you have been working in a building that has undergone renovations, causing you to have asbestos concerns, speak with a lawyer regarding your options.