EPA Grant Helps Reduce Asbestos Exposure in Oklahoma Schools

From EPA:

EPA Grant Helps Reduce Asbestos Exposure in Oklahoma Schools  

                                          

DALLAS (Oct. 14, 2014) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Oklahoma Department of Labor a grant to help reduce asbestos exposure in schools. The $204,000 grant will go toward compliance monitoring and assistance, public outreach, inspections, enforcement actions, and ensuring workers are properly trained and accredited.

Asbestos can be found in a variety of construction materials and industrial products. Asbestos fibers may be released into the air by the disturbance of asbestos-containing material during product use, demolition, or building maintenance, repair, or remodeling. Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease, including lung cancer or asbesteosis.

Federal regulations require public and private schools to protect school children and employees from asbestos exposure. School districts must inspect their schools for asbestos-containing material, prepare management plans, and to take action to prevent or reduce asbestos hazards.

EPA recognizes the month of October as Children’s Health Month, and during this time of year we make a special effort to raise awareness about the unique vulnerability of kids. Children are different from adults in how they interact with their environment and how their health may be affected by these interactions. These differences make children especially vulnerable to environmental hazards. One in seven children in the US lives with asthma every day.  These numbers clearly demonstrate that air quality impacts children’s health. Our goal is that by 2030, the steps EPA is taking will: Avoid up to 6,600 premature deaths, up to 150,000 asthma attacks in children, and up to 490,000 missed work or school days—providing up to $93 billion in climate and public health benefits. 

For more about children’s health:

www.epa.gov/children

For more about asbestos and how to protect your family:

http://www2.epa.gov/asbestos

Additional information on EPA grants is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/gandf/index.htm 

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6

Activities in EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.htm 

  

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