Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) views on asbestos in commercial facilities
There are five major facts that the EPA has presented in congressional testimony. These facts include:
- Asbestos is hazardous and human risk of asbestos disease depends upon exposure.
- Prevailing asbestos levels in buildings - the levels school children and others face as building occupants - seem to be very low, based upon available data.
- Removal is often not a school district's or other building owner's best course of action to reduce asbestos exposure. In fact, an improper removal can create a dangerous situation when none previously existed.
- EPA only requires asbestos removal in order to prevent significant public exposure to asbestos, such as during building renovation or demolition.
- EPA recommends in-place management whenever asbestos is discovered. Instead of removal, a conscientious in-place management program will usually control fiber releases, particularly when the materials are not significantly damaged and are not likely to be disturbed.
You can find more information at https://www.epa.gov/asbestos.
