Alta Vista Middle School in Carlsbad, New Mexico was closed for the second time in two weeks in early March because of asbestos. Parents say their children are sick, and they still have no concrete explanation as to why. School officials have countered insinuations Parent that asbestos can cause, saying that all precautions are taken to ensure student safety.
Asbestos is a mineral very toxic in many school buildings older, as has been used in a variety of building materials throughout the last century. The use of asbestos was banned only in the United States in the 1970s when the mineral has been linked to outbreaks of lung cancer and mesothelioma, which affects the protective lining of the lungs, heart, chest and abdomen, could not be denied.
Parents have demanded answers from the school district after the school was temporarily closed for air quality issues, but have not received an acceptable answer. "They really do not know much, and did not know what percentage of children who have been exposed and injured, including at all," said Maria Trujillo.
The school building has been ongoing since October 2010 and the school officials have admitted that the reduction occurred asbestos, but the samples showed that air quality is acceptable to OSHA and EPA limits.
"The ultimate test came back with no asbestos detected in this area offices. There was an area that was located at a level below OSHA standards, and that is something our society has gone, if this standard is pretty good, "said Dr. Sheri Carlsbad Superintendent Williams.
For now, parents afraid to send their children to school, and the possibility that they may hire a severe respiratory disease such as mesothelioma, it remains plausible in the future. For now, the school district can not promise that another test of the air quality of the EPA should be back soon.
Asbestos is a mineral very toxic in many school buildings older, as has been used in a variety of building materials throughout the last century. The use of asbestos was banned only in the United States in the 1970s when the mineral has been linked to outbreaks of lung cancer and mesothelioma, which affects the protective lining of the lungs, heart, chest and abdomen, could not be denied.
Parents have demanded answers from the school district after the school was temporarily closed for air quality issues, but have not received an acceptable answer. "They really do not know much, and did not know what percentage of children who have been exposed and injured, including at all," said Maria Trujillo.
The school building has been ongoing since October 2010 and the school officials have admitted that the reduction occurred asbestos, but the samples showed that air quality is acceptable to OSHA and EPA limits.
"The ultimate test came back with no asbestos detected in this area offices. There was an area that was located at a level below OSHA standards, and that is something our society has gone, if this standard is pretty good, "said Dr. Sheri Carlsbad Superintendent Williams.
For now, parents afraid to send their children to school, and the possibility that they may hire a severe respiratory disease such as mesothelioma, it remains plausible in the future. For now, the school district can not promise that another test of the air quality of the EPA should be back soon.
