Asbestos

By Luis antonio testa

LONG BEACH- Students and faculty across the United States should be aware that asbestos is not just a concern of the past. Colleges have been dealing with the issue since asbestos was one of the first hazardous air pollutants regulated under Section 112 of the clean air act of 1970.

Asbestos were used in the mixture of cement, insulation, and other type of building materials. The inhalation of the residue or ware of these materials can cause health problems, including lung cancer.

Schools like The University of Nevada Las Vegas have recently dealt with the issue of asbestos. According to Las Vegas review Journal, about 25 current and past custodians at UNLV have filed District court Lawsuit alleging the institution knowingly allowed workers to clean asbestos fibers for years without proper safety equipment or training.

In West Virginia University similar allegations have ascended from Workers including professors, custodians, secretaries and other staff that state that campus buildings put them at an increased risk of getting cancer, according to The Charleston Gazette.

Other Universities have dealt with the problem before it got serious. University of Ohio has been monitoring asbestos on a daily basis since the 1980s. University officials say they are taking the necessary precautions to protect student’s health according to The Post news paper.

California State University at Long Beach, also deals with the situation. In a recent article on the Daily Forty-Niner by Terran C. Odel, stated that Asbestos is present in the majority of the campus buildings; officials say that its presence is not of a concern. Like The University of Ohio, CSULB has the campus inspected for asbestos; though is inspected yearly rather than daily like UO they ensure that if any are found a report is distributed all employees of the university.