Olive Branch Intermediate School in Olive Branch, Missouri has, in a flyer sent home with students, informed parents of the existence of the school’s asbestos policy. The policy is available to anyone upon request and insists that schools with asbestos are monitored every six months, air quality is checked regularly and that use of asbestos-containing materials is prohibited in any addition to schools.
Asbestos is a toxic mineral that was used regularly in construction throughout the 19th and 20th century. It is known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the heart, lungs, chest and abdomen. The aforementioned policy claims that all asbestos-containing material that can be crushed by hand has been removed from every local school and that every school built since the late 1980s is completely asbestos-free.
The presence of asbestos in schools puts staff and students at risk of exposure and the possible development of asbestos cancers. Cancers, such as mesothelioma, take decades to develop and only become symptomatic around stage three or four. Mesothelioma treatment requires some combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Sadly, there is no known cure for mesothelioma.
“When I saw that our policy wasn’t in the handbooks this year I sent out this flyer because I wanted to follow the letter of the law,” said Director of Physical Plants Robert Phillips, who also admitted that the schools built before 1988 still have some asbestos in the floor tiles. According to Phillips the asbestos that exists in hard floor tiles does not pose any risk, as they do not release asbestos fibers that can later be inhaled.