Despite recent abatement efforts in Philadelphia, asbestos in schools may still be threatening the safety of both students and teachers.

Recently, the Philadelphia school district made headlines with its aggressive clean up efforts regarding lead paint. Over half a dozen schools have been cleaned of lead with 38 more schools planned. These prudent efforts aim to protect students from exposure to dangerous lead paint, but city lawmakers and advocates are urging the school district to tackle asbestos in schools with the same fervor.

“We know it’s a big issue. Let’s start working on a plan,” said Philadelphia councilman Derek Green, according to Philadelphia newspaper The Inquirer. “Just like we did with lead, let’s be proactive with asbestos as well.”

In May 2018, The Inquirer released their “Toxic City: Sick Schools” investigation which reported that asbestos in schools is a serious problem for the Philadelphia school district. Following this investigation, the school district spent the summer cleaning up asbestos in schools at seven locations. The district reportedly tested the air for asbestos fibers and recleaned if the air tests failed.

This should mean that the schools are safe for occupancy, as was accounted by the school district in September. However, this may not be true, according to the investigation.

At two of the seven cleaned elementary schools, new asbestos contamination was found. In mid-September, district officials allegedly found damages asbestos insulation in a school auditorium shortly after the area was cleaned and reopened for students. In October, a building engineer trainee reportedly littered the floor with asbestos debris after stripping insulation from a steam pipe. These new incidences of asbestos in schools may seem isolated, but even small incidences of asbestos exposure can have lasting effects.

“It is very important to not underestimate the very real cancer exposure that could happen for children who are exposed in a school and perhaps repeatedly over the course of being there for six years or more,” said Marilyn Howarth, according to The Inquirer. Howarth is not only a doctor, she is also the director of community outreach and engagement at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which can be pulled into thin fibers. These fibers are naturally resistant to heat, electricity, and corrosion, which made them popular additives to construction materials. However, it was discovered decades ago that asbestos can be extremely toxic. The material has been linked to life threatening diseases including lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Advocates for abatement argue that asbestos in schools is increasing children’s chances of deadly diseases and also poses serious risks for adult teachers in affected schools.

Luckily, advocating for removal seems to be working. The school district recent announced that it would hire 40 additional cleaning workers and 10 environmental staffers for the district by this time next year. These changes may get the ball rolling on wide spread abatement of asbestos in schools.

“The kind of cleaning efforts that we’ve talked about in the lead arena would really be very helpful for asbestos as well,” Howarth said, according to The Inquirer.