October 1, 2007

The director of an elementary school in Georgia is recommending that one school undergo asbestos abatement. He said that the asbestos in ceilings tiles there is starting to decay.

Decaying asbestos can cause all types of health problems, a situation that one personnel director in Georgia knows. After searching his districts school for more than three years, the director is recommending that one elementary school get its asbestos containing ceiling tiles removed, and quick. The tiles are starting to fracture, mostly due to the removal of an old heating system and leaks in the existing roof. The fragmenting asbestos needs to be removed as soon as possible, since the tiles contain seven percent asbestos, a level that can be dangerous.

As asbestos breaks down, it can fragment into airborne particles that can be breathed in. The fibers can become trapped in the body, leading to asbestosis, emphysema and mesothelioma. A particularly aggressive form of lung cancer, mesothelioma occurs when the particles are trapped in the lungs, keeping the tissue there from working. Though the director says that no one is at an immediate risk, the risk does become higher as time goes on.