Asbestos Found in Three Other Schools
Following up on the last entry about finding asbestos present in schools, the NSW Department of Education and Training found three more public schools in Cowra, a town in the Central West of New South Wales, to contain the potentially deadly mineral. Representatives from the Department of Education stress that these findings are a result of statewide efforts to locate and manage asbestos found in public institutions and that much of the asbestos discovered was in good condition and did not pose a health risk.
Asbestos when intact and in good condition does not pose any danger. A health risk is only created when the fibers are disturbed and become airborne. The asbestos found in the schools ranged from:
Exposure to asbestos can cause serious diseases, such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a cancer affecting the mesothelium and lining of the lungs. Mesothelioma causes the mesothelium to thicken as tumors develop, reducing its ability to expand, making breathing difficult, and also causing pain. Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma.
The intention of the survey is to detail the presence, condition, and location of the asbestos. From there, repairs can be made safely if the conditions are poor or if damage is done and repairs are needed. The schools regarded as posing a low risk are being repaired according to safety regulations.
