December 2nd, 2007

An elementary school in Maryland that hosts an after school recreation program sent notices home last week with students, notifying parents that asbestos has been found within the building.

An elementary school that runs an after hours recreation program in Maryland was closed briefly last week after asbestos was found in the gym. The floor tiles, which are old and cracking, were found to contain asbestos, and the children were sent home with notices of the situation. School officials stated that the asbestos was not a concern since the tiles were still intact, and were not crushed. Some parents were comfortable with sending their children back to the school, other felts that the building should have remained closed.

Asbestos is only a concern when it starts to break down and is disturbed. Old asbestos can break into airborne particles, which can be inhaled. Respiratory diseases including asbestosis, emphysema and mesothelioma may result from breathing in asbestos fibers. Though school officials state that there was no danger to students, asbestos-related diseases can take years or decades to manifest, and are often terminal when diagnosed. Officials are discussing a plan to remove the tiles from the gym, though it is not yet known if the work will be done while summer activities are in session.