March 15th, 2008

A misfiring boiler in a Colorado high school gave parents reason to worry when, five weeks after the small explosion, the school was closed down due to asbestos. Parents wonder if their children were exposed to asbestos during that time.

When a boiler was being tested to find out why it wasn’t firing, the tiny explosion did not really concern anyone. A few weeks later, a report was filed and the school remained open. When the report was reviewed, asbestos tests were taken, and found to be positive. Five weeks after the scheduled maintenance, the school was shut down for three days. After the building reopened, parents were concerned that their children were exposed to asbestos during the five-week lapse. School officials said there is no way to know if students were exposed to asbestos, but that test results closed the school and updated test results showed the school safe to reopen.

Asbestos is normally a dormant material, often used as a fire retardant. But when the substance is disturbed it can become airborne, making it a hazardous substance. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to respiratory diseases like mesothelioma, a type of aggressive lung cancer. Mesothelioma can take years to develop, and is usually in an advanced stage when it is diagnosed. School officials say there was little danger of contracting asbestos-related diseases considering the small amount of asbestos found.