On January 5, two special education classrooms at A.B. Davis Middle School in Mount Vernon, New York will be closed as a result of asbestos contamination via a leaking heating coil.
The leak, discovered on Christmas day and originating in the second floor of the school, is the result of a damaged heating vent coil, presumably part of an under-floor heating system. According to a spokeswoman for the Mount Vernon School District, the coil released water that passed through asbestos fireproofing in the floor and dripped into the classrooms below.
Testing by Niche Analysis, an asbestos removal and abatement firm located in Mount Vernon, revealed air quality has not been impacted. However, two out of 20 surfaces tested were positive for asbestos traces.
The Mount Vernon School District subsequently hired Infinity Environmental Services, also of Mount Vernon, which placed the site off-limits until asbestos abatement procedures are completed and the site is re-tested for contamination.
A.B. Davis Middle School is a magnet school consisting of 867 students, 75 teachers, five administrators, four counselors, a psychologist and 30 support staff members. The special education curriculum is designed to facilitate students who benefit from a non-traditional educational setting, and offers an innovative curriculum of academic studies as well as motivational activities.
The link between asbestos and mesothelioma - an almost incurable form of lung cancer - has been recognized since the 1960's. The the tiny fibers of asbestos, when breathed into the lungs, cause persistent irritation which can lead to chronic inflammatory lesions. These lesions can then cause cancer, though the course of the disease can take up to 40 years to manifest, making asbestos a ticking time bomb in the eyes of health professionals.
Asbestos, used in insulation, floor tiles, soundproofing materials, and roofing shingles, was banned in the 1970's, but many asbestos products remain in situ because removing them can create more problems than leaving them in place. When damaged or disturbed, however, as in the case of A.B. Davis Middle School, removal or sequestration are the only options, and both procedures must be conducted by licensed professionals under the auspices of state or regional environmental quality agencies.
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