I remember when the LAUSD had started construction on classrooms and other school buildings to remove and replace the asbestos-treated insulation. It was towards the end of my 8th grade year, which was early-mid 2000, and there were plastic tarps all over inside various classrooms. Obviously it was at least by this time that they (whomever “they” are) realized asbestos was harmful, causing such health problems like mesothelioma disease, and needed to get it out of public service places, such as public schools. I didn’t understand why they didn’t start until after school had let out, though.

Wouldn’t the process of removing the insulation stir it up into the air and possibly increase the risk of breathing in the asbestos? Kids go in and out of various classrooms all the time, staying no longer than all day for a straight school year in a single classroom (for those in elementary school), but teachers have been in those rooms for longer hours and for many more years. I wonder what the statistic is on them contracting something like malignant mesothelioma? High enough, apparently to warrant fairly heavy advertisements on TV for people to hire a mesothelioma lawyer.

I’m not clear on what other ways asbestos was used, so other than those who work with insulation and those that work & live with it, who else may come in contact? Surely there are quite a few, as anyone who watches enough TV have seen those commercials advertising their work as a mesothelioma attorney. Apparently it’s a big enough deal that there are lawyers dealing specifically with this disease, and fighting for those who’ve contracted it. So far, I’ve yet to know a person who’s contracted the disease so it’s still kind of a mystery to me, as I bet it is to a lot of others. It’s advertised and we know that asbestos exposure can cause it, but I’m not sure how many people actually know what symptoms the disease causes…

What’s a disease you’ve heard a lot about but still don’t really know what it consists of as far as symptoms, how it’s contracted, etc.?