An audit conducted by the New York City Comptroller’s Office has raised fears that teachers, students, and staff in the city’s schools may have suffered years of asbestos exposure that will increase their risk of mesothelioma. The comptroller’s office found that the city’s Department of Education failed to inspect more than 82% of the city’s 1,700 public school buildings known to have been built with the carcinogenic mineral.
Uninspected NYC Schools Raise Concerns Over Mesothelioma Risk
Few people realize that because most of America’s school buildings were constructed before the use of asbestos was discontinued, teachers are at significant risk of mesothelioma. To address this risk, the federal government enacted The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, which requires the Department of Education (DOE) to inspect all schools known to have been built with asbestos for potential issues every three years and to conduct periodic follow-up checks.
Despite this requirement, the audit found “significant gaps in oversight” between March 2021 and 2024 that put students, teachers, and staff at risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Instead of conducting the required 480 inspections per year, the DOE only conducted between 200 and 250 inspections over the most recent three-year period, and of those schools, only 22% of the required follow-up inspections were performed.
Comptroller Urges Swift Action to Prevent Future Mesothelioma Risk
In speaking to the failure and his concerns over the risk of mesothelioma, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander said, “When it comes to our kids, the City must adhere to the rules designed to protect them from known hazards – this is not optional. Yet DOE has stunningly failed to follow the minimum national standard for asbestos management for years.”
In response to the audit, the Department of Education has acknowledged its shortfall and indicated that it plans to put out a formal request for asbestos inspectors and abatement professionals to help complete the needed inspections.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. For more information, contact us at 1-800-692-8608
