EPA fines 3 Arizona schools over mesothelioma-causing asbestos
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has levied fines against three Arizona charter school operators, alleging that the schools have failed to adequately follow federal guidelines for asbestos management. EPA officials say that the violations date back to 2008, and as of this year, the three school operators all have EPA-approved asbestos management plans in place to protect both students and staff.
According to EPA officials, “Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber, once widely used in building materials for its thermal insulating properties and fire resistance. Although the removal of asbestos from school buildings is an option for schools, many schools and local education agencies have chosen to manage some asbestos-containing building material in place. Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk… [however] these materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged.”
Inhaling these tiny asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, a rare cancer that kills some patients within just a few months of being diagnosed. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure. The majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years following diagnosis.
The three schools fined were as follows:
-Career Success Schools was fined $12,580 for failure to conduct asbestos inspections at four Phoenix schools.
-Precision Academy System, Inc. was fined $9,700 for failing to create an asbestos management plan.
-Vail Unified School District was fined $5,200 for failure to conduct asbestos inspections, as well as failure to create a management plan for asbestos located in the school.
