March 28th, 2008

A California school district has included almost $25,000 in the budget to acquire a new building just for removing asbestos. The old building will be used by district administration, and needs to undergo abatement before it can be used.

A California school district needed a new building to help serve as swing space for the administration team during renovations of the current building. A new building was found, and almost $25,000 of the budget to purchase the building is going towards removing dangerous asbestos. The district said that removing asbestos, along with renovating the building to ready it for occupancy, is all part of acquiring a new building, and that the building does not currently present a health risk.

School bodies have become stricter in renovations and building when it comes to asbestos. Taking care of asbestos after renovations have begun can lead to exposure, a dangerous situation to workers and the public. If asbestos is mishandled or improperly removed, it can break apart into airborne particles that can be breathed into the lungs. Inhaling asbestos particles can lead to respiratory illnesses and cancer. Mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer, has been linked to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers become trapped in the lungs, keeping the tissue from absorbing oxygen. The large budget is to be used to hire a licensed abatement specialist.