Massachusetts Attorney General Martha M. Coakley has reached an agreement with the city of Worcester, Massachusetts. Public school officials were charged with improperly handling and disposal of aging asbestos floor tiles from the Vernon Hill School auditorium back in 2007. As part of the agreement, Worcester is now required to develop and implement an environmental management system for all of the city’s public schools. The city must comply by July 1, 2010, or it will face a $75,000 penalty.

Asbestos exposure is the leading of the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. While there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure. A large number of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years. The cancer may manifest initially in the lining of the lungs, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or the membrane which lines the heart. This lining is known as a the mesothelium.

City employees removed the vinyl asbestos floor tiles from Vernon Hill’s auditorium, rather than hiring a licensed asbestos removal specialist for the job. The removal was handled improperly and ultimately forced the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to decontaminate the school and test the air quality.

“There were no issues” with the air, said Edmund J. Coletta Jr., director of public affairs for the DEP, adding that the cleanup was completed before students returned to the building.

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