Cancer News, Treatment and Research

A damning report rocked a community in New Jersey this week after the results revealed that virtually every school in the school district is facing considerable – and oftentimes, dangerous – problems. The architectural firm of Fraytak Veisz Hopkins Duthie explored each school in the Hamilton, New Jersey area and found that nearly half of the schools were contaminated with the lethal toxin asbestos and other schools failed to meet federal accessibility standards. However, the litany of issues now facing the Hamilton school district is far more comprehensive than just asbestos and accessibility concerns. Out of the twenty four schools, the architectural firm granted three Hamilton schools grades of “A.” Unfortunately for school administrators and school board members, the failing conditions of the buildings did not come as a shock. In 2010, the school district was forced to cut $16 million from its overall budget in order to meet new regulations issued by the state. Reducing routine maintenance of school facilities was one of the tough budgetary decisions school district officials had to make. According to Jeff Hewitson , school board president, this “rob Peter to pay Paul” mentality left the school district in disarray. Among the faults found by the architectural firms include spacing issues, not enough bathroom facilities to meet the students and faculty needs, not enough emergency exits and electrical system problems. The ages of the school buildings range from over one hundred years old to facilities considered “newer,” clocking in at just under a half of a century. Even the schools that received passing grades – B’s and C’s – have a number of structural concerns. Hewitson pointed out that the grades given reflected how well and thoroughly the buildings have been maintained, and how maintenance was reflected in the school district’s budget. Possibly the most dangerous issues uncovered by the investigation was the discovery of asbestos and black mold. Though asbestos is a highly toxic carcinogen, it can be found in a variety of building materials including plumbing and electrical systems, floor and ceiling tiles and roofing. Exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma , a rare, yet deadly form of cancer that attacks the delicate lining of the lungs, heart or stomach. Now, the school board must decide what is more economically prudent: investing in the necessary repairs in existing schools or building entirely new structures.