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Asbestos in Colorado schools
Public Health Reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)
|July 1, 1982
Summary
A survey of Colorado public schools found asbestos-containing materials in most buildings. These materials pose potentially serious health hazards to students, staff, and the community.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were widely used in building construction.
- Deterioration of ACMs can release asbestos fibers, posing health risks.
- Schools are occupied by vulnerable populations, necessitating exposure assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of asbestos-containing materials in Colorado public schools.
- To evaluate the potential exposure risks associated with identified ACMs.
- To estimate the proportion of Colorado public schools with hazardous asbestos materials.
Main Methods:
- Random sampling of 41 public schools in Colorado.
- Collection and analysis of bulk samples for asbestos content.
- Utilized K2 asbestos screening test followed by polarized light microscopy for confirmation.
- Assessed potential exposure risk for each positive sample site.
Main Results:
- 10.6% of 113 collected samples were negative for asbestos by K2 test.
- 56 out of 101 positive K2 test samples confirmed to contain asbestos (56%).
- Asbestos was found in sprayed materials (12 samples) and other materials (44 samples).
- 31 out of 41 schools (75.6%) contained asbestos materials.
- Majority of identified asbestos materials presented high-exposure potentials.
Conclusions:
- A significant percentage of Colorado public schools contain asbestos materials.
- These materials pose potentially serious health hazards to building occupants.
- Estimates suggest 63-89% of Colorado public schools may have hazardous asbestos materials.
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