February 21st, 2008

One Pennsylvania high school is being phased out of use, and will be closed by no later than 2010. The closure is due to asbestos in the building, and the inability to remove the dangerous substance while the school remains open.

An inner city high school in Pennsylvania will be phased out of use starting in 2008, with the plan that the school will be defunct by 2010. The school building contains asbestos, and abatement cannot be started until the building is closed down. Though district officials say the asbestos in the building is not a health concern at this time, some faculty wonder if their health problems are linked to the presence of the dangerous substance. Many of the schools faculty has complained of sinus and respiratory problems before the presence of asbestos was made public.

School officials say that the asbestos, found in fireproofing materials in the roofing, is not airborne so it does not pose any risk of leading to mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. But faculty point out that there are many leaks in the roof, which can disturb the material and cause it to become friable. Asbestos is only a hazard if it is disturbed and becomes airborne, although diseases like mesothelioma can take years to manifest.