2023-06-15 09:09:11
Carcinogenic, asbestos is far from having disappeared from our daily lives. And children are among the most exposed when they go to school.
The school year is coming to an end for millions of young children. And if the summer holidays mark a period of rest for these children, it is also a period when the pupils stand away from highly carcinogenic material. Indeed, since 1997, asbestos is prohibited as insulation on construction sites.
However, this does not mean that it has totally disappeared from the landscape. All buildings constructed before this date still contain traces of asbestos, unless they have been renovated or treated. Gold, schools are among the buildings that still contain large quantities.
This is the worrying observation relayed in a report broadcast on France 5 but also in an article published on France Info on June 12.
The rates known in only a third of schools in France
Currently, the country has more than 50,000 schools. And within the framework of the report of Vert de rage, the team of the emission contacted the mayors and the schools in order to obtain information on the subject. However, the latter is still sensitive. Fact, only 15,000 schools out of the 50,000 identified shared this data.
It appears that more than a third of them (ie 5,505 establishments and school groups) contain traces of asbestos. They can take different forms and be found in different elements of buildings: Sanitary parts, ceiling tiles, partitions…
Of the 15,000 establishments surveyed, 4,771 confirmed to contain no trace of the compound in their walls or facilities. But for the approximately 5,000 remaining establishments contacted, the reports were shared with journalists but not the conclusions. In fact, asbestos can also be present in these walls. And this can represent a real problem for the health of children and teachers alike.
Many repercussions in the event of exposure to asbestos
The material is made up of very fine fibers that can easily be inhaled and thus remain in the body. But they can lead to the appearance of cancers more than 40 years following being breathed in. This also applies to fine dust and particles flying through the air and invisible to the naked eye.
Asbestos is also responsible for the development of respiratory diseases. Once in the body, the material travels to the lungs where it lodges and is difficult to extract. Among other things, the material can lead to the appearance of fibrosis, pleural plaques or, in the worst case, lung cancer.
To date, all forms of asbestos are considered carcinogenic. Their presence in public buildings is therefore a real health issue to avoid certain diseases. However, the treatments are expensive and may explain this abnormally high presence in the country’s schools.
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