Asbestos containing materials in schools of Rome and surrounding area (Italy)

Abstract

Despite Italy banning use and production of asbestos in 1992, it continues to represent a risk to human health due to its permanence in the places where it was located. The aim of this work is to estimate how many schools in Rome (Italy) have asbestos containing materials (ACM), and to assess whether the location, condition and nature of ACM can influence the level of risk for student health. 3,672 schools were contacted and 1,451 participated to asbestos survey. 692 bulk samples were collected and analyzed by optical and electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. About 16% of the surveyed schools had ACM. Most of the ACM were not accessible to students (water tanks, boiler thermal insulations). Asbestos-cement materials and vinyl floor tiles were the most common non-friable materials found in schools and equipment insulation linings and Bunsen burner gauze mats were the friable ACM found in science laboratories. Measures to prevent or reduce asbestos hazards were applied where necessary. This study allowed to develop the awareness of the asbestos health hazard among headteachers and the need to manage these hazards appropriately. It represents the beginning of a larger study leading to ACM national mapping in schools.

The Past, Present and Future of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Australia: What Are the Data Telling Us?

“…In the Australian setting, the amount of in situ asbestos has been estimated [33]; the risk from in situ has been characterised quantitatively [8] and qualitatively [27,34]; the potential application of mobile phone applications has been explored [35,36]; and the challenges of communication have been considered [37]. Similar considerations have been undertaken in several countries-Colombia [38][39][40][41], the Czech Republic [42], Denmark [43], Iran [44,45], Italy [46][47][48][49], Korea [50][51][52][53][54][55][56], Peru [57], Poland [58,59], Serbia [60], South Africa [61], Turkey [62,63], the United States [64][65][66][67]-and more generally [68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76]…”

Feasibility of a questionnaire on asbestos awareness among students: a pilot study

“…Unfortunately, there is still the risk of asbestos exposure, because most of ACMs have not been removed yet and are also located in public buildings. 3,4 Asbestos exposure can occur in occupational and/or environmental settings, although asbestos is banned in most industrialized countries because of its harmful effects on human health. 5 Damaged ACMs can release airborne fibers which, if inhaled can lead to Asbestos-Related Diseases (ARDs), ranging from nonneoplastic to neoplastic diseases, such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening and many others.…”