Asbestos exposure in schools may be a serious risk for students and staff in older schools that may have been constructed before asbestos regulations were implemented. In one Massachusetts technical high school, four teachers have filed lawsuits alleging that they were injured by asbestos exposure in schools.

The lawsuits were filed by four teachers at Greater Lowell Technical High School who claimed that asbestos dust and debris left in the school during a renovation a few years ago resulted in serious injuries. One teacher was even permanently disabled.

According to the lawsuits, contractors who renovated the school in 2014 and 2015 left asbestos-containing materials around. Small asbestos particles were then allowed to roam free, thus causing asbestos exposure in schools to those nearby the dangerous material.

Interestingly, the contractors targeted in the asbestos lawsuit have already been hit by another lawsuit filed by the Attorney General’s Office, which ended in a $195,000 settlement with no admission of wrongdoing.

One of the teachers who filed suit alleged that asbestos dust was left in her classroom when she arrived at work, which she personally had to clean up before students arrived. Unfortunately, she alleges that she has since suffered from serious and disabling respiration injuries. The medical expenses have been costly—reaching almost $67,000, the lawsuit notes.

Three other staff members have already filed suit, mostly over respiratory conditions, and still others may soon join the growing litigation.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used for commercial purposes such as electrical or building insulation, as well as countless other uses. The microscopic fibers of asbestos can accumulate in a person’s lungs.

Asbestos exposure has been linked with a number of serious asbestos diseases, including respiratory issues and lung cancer. It can take decades for lung cancer and other asbestos diseases to present symptoms, but it can then spread rapidly to organs all across the body. This rapid rate of development often means that asbestos lung cancer isn’t diagnosed until it has reached a later and therefore more dangerous stage of development.

Asbestos exposure in schools could be an extremely serious issue, especially after construction in an older building structure. Teachers, staff, and students could all suffer from asbestos exposure in schools which could lead to some very serious issues.

Filing a Lawsuit Over Asbestos Exposure in Schools

According to many lawsuits filed over diseases like lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure, including asbestos exposure in schools, companies that fail to follow proper asbestos disposal regulations and allow construction workers and those who work or live nearby to be exposed to the toxic substance should have been aware of the dangerous nature of their asbestos-containing materials.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with or died from lung cancer or other asbestos issues after suffering asbestos exposure in schools or elsewhere, you may be able to file a lawsuit or seek an asbestos fine. While filing a lawsuit cannot undo the damage done by asbestos diseases, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages that too often go hand-in-hand with diseases from asbestos exposure.