Yonkers School Reopens after Asbestos Concerns

A Yonkers area school has reopened after fears of asbestos exposure last week.  The school had closed due to extensive water damage in the building as well as a fear of exposure to asbestos for the staff and students. The natural occurring mineral is the cause of a number of illnesses including asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma.

Asbestos-related diseases occur when the airborne asbestos fibers are inhaled and become lodged into the soft tissue of the lungs. Due to a long latency period, symptoms usually will not appear for twenty to fifty years after exposure. Currently, there is no known cure but treatments usually consist of a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Asbestos is found in a number of building and construction products including insulation, roofing and floor tiles. It was a popularly used product at the turn of the century but, in the 1970s the hazards of the carcinogen were made public and the government restricted its use. The concern for asbestos exposure in the school arose from the floor tiles becoming warped possibility allowing airborne fibers to be released.

Emerson Middle School officials say the district ordered air quality tests after the water leak. Testing began on Friday and continued through the next week and no air contamination was found. The water damaged eight classroom floors and numerous hallways. The total cost for the repairs is estimated to be around eight thousand dollars.