2. 184 elementary, middle and high schools
were thoroughly verified and the
inspectors only found 11 buildings that
had complied with the recommendations.
Michael Bartlett
3. Did you know?
In 2013, Chicago Public School (CPS) officials hired inspectors to identify all the
buildings that represented a risk of asbestos exposure.
In 2016, a report showed that hundreds of students and school employees had been at
risk due to exposure to deadly asbestos in nearly 200 Chicago public schools.
184 elementary, middle and high schools were thoroughly verified and the inspectors
found only 11 buildings in compliance with the recommendations.
4. 132,000 primary and secondary schools
in the U.S. used asbestos as a construction
material.
ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION GROUP P.C.
5. ASBESTOS EXPOSURE HEALTH RISKS FOR TEACHERS:
In 1999, statistics showed that people who worked in an elementary or secondary
school ranked second for mesothelioma deaths, topped only by construction workers.
Mesothelioma affected teachers more than it did other workers from other industries
known for frequent asbestos exposure risks, including electricians, industrial workers,
or railroad workers.
Studies have shown that approximately three teachers died each year in the 1980s,
while the death rate rose to approximately 19 deaths per year by 2012.
6. ASBESTOS EXPOSURE HEALTH RISKS FOR STUDENTS:
In 2013, researchers found that children and adolescents are much more sensitive to
asbestos exposure than adults are.
They concluded that a five-year-old's lifetime risk of developing asbestos-related
conditions can be five times greater than that of a 30-year-old.
A study from the 1980s estimated that around 1,000 premature deaths caused by
asbestos would happen over the next 30 years, with 90% of these cases being people
who were exposed as schoolchildren.
7. Where can
asbestos be
found in
schools?
Old paint;
Soundproofing material;
Steam pipes or boiler insulation;
Floor tiles;
Roofing;
Ceiling panels;
Old heating equipment;
Old air-conditioning;
Wallboard, drywall or plaster.
8. What to do if
you suspect
that
you were
exposed to
asbestos?
Visit your primary care physician;
Talk to an asbestos specialist;
Go to regular check-ups;
Pay attention to your symptoms;
Don't live in fear;
Quit smoking;
Try to maintain a healthy diet;
Contact an experienced attorney in
order to receive fair compensation.