The Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology in Pennsylvania closed for three days due to asbestos in a chalkboard. It has since reopened after tests revealed no further asbestos in the building.
Mifflin County School District Superintendent Vance Varner told parents, students and other school community members that asbestos was discovered Monday on Labor Day. The school district’s Construction Trade program removed a chalkboard from the wall of a classroom. The mastic glue used to keep the chalkboard attached to the wall contained asbestos.
According to tests, the amount of asbestos in the mastic glue was above the recommended limit established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The superintendent announced that the Academy would remain closed for at least Tuesday, Sept. 3 through Thursday, Sept. 5, while air samples are collected to test for more asbestos in the school building. The Academy’s high school programs were moved to instructional areas at Mifflin County High School.
According to CBS News, the school reopened on Friday after clean tests.
Asbestos is a natural mineral capable of causing mesothelioma cancer. Approximately 2,500 people in the U.S. each year are diagnosed with mesothelioma. The presence of asbestos in schools puts children, teachers and others at risk of exposure to a deadly substance.
Asbestos in Other Pennsylvania Schools
Asbestos in schools is a recurring problem in the United States. Pennsylvania, in particular, has had the lion’s share of headlines regarding asbestos in schools.
The School District of Philadelphia is the 8th largest school district in the United States, with 329 schools and nearly 200,000 students. Since 2019, at least 16 schools in the Philadelphia area have closed due to asbestos. In 2023 alone, seven schools closed. Most have reopened.
Asbestos has often been detected in materials known to exist in schools, such as:
- Cement pipes
- Electrical wires
- Pipe coverings
- Ceiling tiles
- Plumbing
- Sealants and coatings (for paint)
- Insulation
- Roofing shingles
- Textiles and curtains
- Vinyl flooring
Read more about asbestos in schools on the Mesothelioma Guide website. If you have mesothelioma and believe you were exposed to asbestos in a school, contact patient advocate Karen Ritter at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com to learn what resources are available.
Sources & Author
- Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology closing due to positive asbestos test. ABC27. Retrieved from: https://www.abc27.com/local-news/mifflin-county/mifflin-county-academy-of-science-and-technology-closing-due-to-positive-asbestos-test/. Accessed: 09/04/2024.
- Mifflin County school closed for asbestos testing. Fox43. Retrieved from: https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/mifflin-county/mifflin-county-school-closed-sept-3-asbestos-testing/521-18c56291-4472-47ce-ad34-5dc3eadd6918. Accessed: 09/04/2024.
- Mifflin County school reopens after asbestos tests come back clean. CBS 21. Retrieved from: https://local21news.com/news/local/mifflin-county-school-reopens-after-asbestos-tests-come-back-clean-academy-of-science-pennsylvania-pa. Accessed: 09/06/2024.
Sources & Author
