Asbestos In School Containing Building Materials Include Fireproofing Material Sprayed On Beams

epa.gov, Mar 31, 2005

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber. Asbestos may be added to a variety of building products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance. Asbestos-containing building materials include fireproofing material (sprayed on beams), insulation material (on pipes), acoustical or soundproofing material (sprayed on to ceilings and walls), and in miscellaneous building materials, such as asphalt, vinyl, and cement to make products like roofing felts, shingles, siding, wallboard, floor tiles. Friable asbestos, or asbestos that can be crumbled or broken by hand pressure, is of the most concern because these fibers can be released into the air more readily and inhaled into the lungs.

The presence of asbestos in high-activity public buildings such as schools presents the opportunity for inadvertent disturbance and potential for exposure. Frequency of use can also lead to frequent repairs which present exposure potential if not properly managed.

If friable asbestos and fibers are released into the air, there is a potential health risk because persons breathing the air may breathe in asbestos fibers. Continued exposure can increase the amount of fibers that remain in the lung. Fibers embedded in lung tissue over time may cause serious lung diseases including: asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma.