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Memorandum

To:
SandraCopper
From:TyWhalin
Date: 6November2003
Subject:
Asbestos
DearMs.Copper,
Iwouldliketodirectyourattentionconcerningtheasbestosproblemsonshipsand
buildings.

Overtheyearspeoplehavebeeninfectedbyasbestos.Thisproblemhasledtocancerin
manyvictims.AnexampleisMesothelioma,whichisarareformofcancerwhichmost
oftenoccursinthethinmembraneliningofthelungs,chest,abdomen,and(rarely)heart.
About200casesarediagnosedeachyearintheUnitedStates(Mesotheliomanet)
Evidencesuggeststhatcancersintheesophagus,larynx,oralcavity,stomach,colonand
kidneymaybecausedbyingestingasbestos.Formoreinformationonasbestosrelated
cancers,contactyourlocalchapteroftheAmericanCancerSociety(Mesotheliomanet).

Themedicalsystem,insuranceandfamilieshavebeenaffectedbythishealthproblem.
Formanyyearsasbestoshasaffectedmillionsofpeople.Asbestossurroundspeople
everydayandthepeoplemightnotevenknowthattheyaresurroundedbyasbestos.
Manyolderschoolswithinoureducationsystemarelinedwithasbestos.Usually,ceiling
tilescovertheasbestosupaboveyou.Itissaidthattheasbestosisnotharmfulunless
touchedorstirredup.Greatstrideshavebeenmadeintheremovalofasbestosfromor
schools,butarestillpresentwithinoureducationsystemtoday.

Theshipbuildingindustryhasusedasbestostoinsulateboilers,steampipes,hotwater
pipes,andincinerators.Asbestosdustcollectsaroundtheseareasandinpoorlyventilated
compartmentsofaship.Manyoftheoldershipspipingisinsulatedbyasbestos.Iknow
thatthishasaffectedpeopleinwaysthattheymightnothaveeverthoughtabout.The
longtermaffectsofasbestos,isanongoingproblemthatshouldbetakenseriously.The
processofasbestosremovalistimeconsumingandveryexpensive,butshouldbegiven
seriousconsideration.

Removalofasbestosrequiresnumerousmanhours,thecarefulremovalofhazardous
materialandproperdisposalofthehazardousmaterial.Afterthosestepsarefinished,
anothertypeofinsulationmustbeputinplaceoftheasbestos.Furthermore,peoplecreate
asbestospollutioneverydaywithoutthinkingaboutit.Anexampleofthiseveryday
pollutionisthebrakedustthatcomesfrombrakepadsfromthevehiclesandmachinery
thatweoperateeveryday.Thistypeofpollutioniscausingmoreproblemsthanyou
mightactuallyknowabout.

AsbestosHazardEmergencyResponseAct(AHERA)

In1986,theAsbestosHazardEmergencyResponseAct(commonlyreferredtoas
AHERA)wassignedintolaw.AHERArequirespublicandprivatenonprofitprimary
andsecondaryschoolstoinspecttheirbuildingsforasbestoscontainingbuilding
materials.(U.S.)TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)haspublishedregulations
thatrequireschoolssubjecttoAHERAto:

Performanoriginalinspectionandperiodicreinspectionsevery3yearsfor
asbestoscontainingmaterial

Develop,maintain,andupdateanasbestosmanagementplanandkeepacopyat
theschool

Provideyearlynotificationtoparent,teacher,andemployeeorganizations
regardingtheavailabilityoftheschool'sasbestosmanagementplanandany
asbestosabatementactionstakenorplannedintheschool

Designateacontactpersontoensuretheresponsibilitiesofthelocaleducation
agencyareproperlyimplemented

Performperiodicsurveillanceofknownorsuspectedasbestoscontaining
buildingmaterial

Providecustodialstaffwithasbestosawarenesstraining

ItisEPA'sgoaltoprovideschoolswiththetechnicalassistancetheyneedtomeetthe
requirementssetforthbyCongress.SchoolsthatfailtomeettheAHERArequirements
aresubjecttocivilenforcementactionbytheEPAordesignatedstateenvironmental
agency.(U.S.)

Sincerely,
TyWhalin

WorksCited
Mesotheliomanet.
GetTheFacts
.2003,6November2003,
<
http://www.mesotheliomanet.org/facts/asmes.asp?gaw21
>
U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency.
AsbestosinSchools
.2003,6November
2003,<
http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/asbestos_in_schools.html
>.