Few think of schools as mesothelioma risks, but the average age of U.S. school buildings is 49 years old. Roughly 38% were built before 1970 and 28% before 1950, when asbestos was commonly used in construction. In 2023, asbestos began falling from the walls and ceilings of Philadelphia’s 115-year-old Frankford High, leading to the building’s closure and renovation. The asbestos remediation project totaled $30 million, and the price was just one of the costs that asbestos contamination imposed on the educational community.
The Price of Preventing Mesothelioma in Students and School Staff
Philadelphia’s iconic Frankford High School was built in 1910, long before the link between asbestos and mesothelioma was known. When asbestos was found in April 2023, it raised immediate fears among those who’d worked in the building for years — especially since a Philadelphia teacher had recently been diagnosed with the rare and fatal form of cancer.
Beyond mesothelioma, asbestos exposure has been connected to lung cancer, asbestosis, and other serious illnesses, so the school district was required to take immediate action for the high school’s staff. Longtime staff members now face a lifetime of fear. The district is providing medical monitoring for potential asbestos-related health complications, but many say that the psychological toll of worrying about their health after years of unknowingly breathing contaminated air extends beyond physical concerns.
$30 Million Asbestos Removal Price Tag to Prevent Mesothelioma and Other Illnesses
Treating mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases comes with staggering costs, and so does asbestos abatement to prevent them. Frankford’s asbestos problem had been put off for years, and as a result, the price reached nearly $30 million. This encompasses asbestos removal as well as comprehensive building upgrades, including new air conditioning systems, LED lighting, flooring, and protective wall paneling to contain remaining asbestos-laden plaster.
The Philadelphia school district’s financial burden surrounding asbestos extends beyond Frankford, as multiple schools have required similar closures and remediation efforts in recent years. The district’s failure to conduct proper asbestos inspections between 2015 and 2023 resulted in federal criminal charges, adding legal costs and enforcement agreements requiring inspections every six months—creating ongoing financial obligations for taxpayers.
Educational Disruption and Lost Opportunities
As essential as the abatement project was to protecting students from mesothelioma and other illnesses, doing so came at an educational cost for students. The school’s two-year closure disrupted the learning environment as students were first moved to virtual learning, then spread out to other buildings throughout the city. The upheaval robbed students of the full high school experience—from properly equipped classrooms to extracurricular activities in their assigned building.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
