Alta Vista Middle School, in Carlsbad, New Mexico, closed for a day in late February so that an area of the school where traces of asbestos where found earlier in the week could be cleaned up. According to school officials, the closure was simply a precautionary measure and that at no time were students or staff at risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a highly toxic mineral that is often found in old school buildings. Prolonged exposure to asbestos is known to cause illnesses like asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the lungs and abdomen.
“We were cleared for keeping the school open,” explains Superintendent of Carlsbad Municipal Schools Sheri Williams. “We are taking these extra precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.”
The discovery of asbestos came during the renovation of the middle school’s heating and air conditioning system, which began in October. Asbestos has been detected and cleaned up on several occasions, meaning that there could have been several moments of potential exposure. If asbestos have been inhaled by students and staff, a few decades from now they may have to face the onset of pleural mesothelioma, which specifically affects the lining of the lungs.
“We’re under construction putting in a new heating and cooling system, and since the building is 50 years old, we had some concern about asbestos,” explained CMS director of operations Erich Francke. “Since it is an old building, we do have asbestos. Beginning in October, and then in November and December, we have had crews come in and remove asbestos in the places where that was needed.”