In Brooklyn, New York, concerns have been raised that students at Lafayette High School may have been exposed to asbestos, a carcinogenic material found in certain older buildings. When a contractor working in the school ripped out an asbestos-wrapped pipe, hundreds of students and teachers were put at risk.

The contractor allegedly dragged the debris through the school’s hallways and past the cafeteria. Students and teachers were not notified about the incident until after they had already traversed the hallways the day after the incident, possibly being exposed to asbestos fibers while simply walking to their classrooms.

The proper handling of asbestos is vital to public health and safety. Even a small amount of asbestos exposure can be lethal, and the US EPA agrees that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, later in life. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemotherapy, the cancer still has not been cured.

The majority of patients die within two years of being diagnosed with this form of cancer. Asbestos can also cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and pleural plaques.

The United Federation of Teachers President has expressed distress over the situation, and the investigation into the situation is ongoing. The Education Department has reportedly conducted an air quality test, and the air has been deemed safe. Students resumed classes not long after the incident.

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