Students from a Kansas school with asbestos have been evacuated and won’t be returning until after winter break and the asbestos problem has been resolved.

The Yates Center Elementary and Middle School sent students home early on December 19, after it was discovered asbestos-containing materials were found falling from the ceilings by the cafeteria.  The asbestos materials were also found throughout the floor in the lunch room and multipurpose room.

School officials acted immediately, evacuating students to a nearby high school and placing caution signs in the contaminated areas.

District Superintendent Greg Brown reported that the incident is a major concern and that he will be scheduling a consultant to help create a plan to manage the asbestos.  He also noted he would be contacting the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Asbestos Dangers and Hazards

Asbestos is a mineral with long, strong, flexible, threadlike fibers that are relatively indestructible, heat resistant and chemically stable. These properties led it to be used in more than 3,000 different products, but particularly in insulation and fireproofing.

An estimated 3.5 million tons were installed in schools and public buildings before being banned in 1970.  If asbestos fibers are firmly bonded or compacted within other material — such as a plaster wall — it’s considered relatively safe.

If water damage, abrasion or sloppy repair work occurs, microscopic fibers can be released into the air where it can be inhaled, swallowed or attached to clothing. This form of asbestos poses the greatest health risk.

Is Your Child at a School with Asbestos?

In a school with asbestos, the carcinogenic material is most frequently found in plaster, spray-on insulation, insulation on pipes and boilers, and floor and ceiling tiles.

There are no immediate health effects from exposure to asbestos.  Asbestos is tasteless and odorless. It does not cause allergies, headaches, burning eyes, sore throat or skin problems.

When inhaled in high concentrations, asbestos poses a potential health concern but the precise risk of disease from low-level, short-term exposure to asbestos is unknown.

There is no scientific evidence that casual exposure to asbestos — such as the amounts typically found in a school with asbestos — will cause a problem. However, the EPA reports that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and “the risk of school children being exposed to even low levels of asbestos is a concern.”

Indeed, there may be cause for concern since when breathed, microscopic asbestos fibers can lodge in the lungs and other internal organs. Because of their strength and chemical stability, the body cannot break them down.

Filing an Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit

Some people who have had prolonged, heavy exposure to large amounts of asbestos may develop rare and potentially fatal lung diseases such as lung cancer or mesothelioma.

If you worked or attended a school with asbestos problems and later developed lung cancer or mesothelioma, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit.  An experienced asbestos injury attorney can review your case for free and advise you if pursuing legal action is right for you.