Schools Asbestos Exposure Sites | High-Risk Educational Facilities
School Workers Face Significant Asbestos Exposure Risks
School workers face some of the most significant documented rates of occupational asbestos exposure in American educational history. From the 1940s through the 1980s, educational facilities extensively used asbestos-containing materials throughout their construction and operations, creating hazardous conditions that continue to affect thousands of teachers, custodians, and support staff today. Educational services represent 8.8% of all mesothelioma cases, including teachers, custodians, cafeteria workers, maintenance workers, administrative assistants, and coaches¹. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health documented that between 1999 and 2018, there were 352 teacher deaths associated with mesothelioma compared to the overall U.S. population². Teachers are at a higher mesothelioma risk, twice the expected rate, with elementary school teachers more than twice as likely as the general public to develop the disease. Schools represent a critical category of asbestos exposure sites where millions of workers and students spend substantial time in environments containing legacy asbestos materials. An estimated one-third of all American schools contain asbestos, with over 53 million children and approximately 6 million adults spending significant portions of their days in these potentially contaminated buildings³. Unlike other occupational settings, schools created unique exposure scenarios affecting both workers who handled materials directly and those exposed through environmental contamination in classrooms, offices, and common areas.
History of Asbestos Use in Schools (1940s-1980s)
The massive expansion of American educational infrastructure following World War II coincided directly with the peak period of industrial asbestos use. Schools constructed between the 1940s and 1970s extensively incorporated asbestos-containing materials for fire resistance, durability, and cost-effectiveness. As of 2024, the average age of U.S. schools is approximately 49 years, with nearly half of all primary and secondary school buildings constructed between 1950 and 1969⁴. Educational facility construction during this era prioritized fire safety due to the concentration of children in large buildings, making asbestos seem like an ideal solution for protecting vulnerable populations. Federal and state building codes often required fire-resistant materials in schools, inadvertently mandating the use of asbestos products throughout educational facilities. Construction companies developed standardized school designs that specified asbestos materials as primary components for fire protection, acoustic control, and structural durability. A comprehensive 1982 EPA risk assessment study estimated that between 100,000 and 300,000 teachers in approximately 8,600 schools were exposed to airborne asbestos in their classrooms⁵. The study projected that 1,000 premature deaths related to asbestos exposure would occur over the following 30 years, with people exposed as schoolchildren accounting for 90% of those deaths. This alarming projection led to national concern and congressional action. The discovery of widespread asbestos hazards in schools during the 1970s and 1980s prompted federal intervention. Parents, teachers, and health advocates demanded action to protect children and educational workers from continued exposure. This grassroots movement culminated in Congress passing the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) in 1986, specifically targeting asbestos management in educational facilities. Despite AHERA requirements, many schools continue operating with contained asbestos under "in-place management" policies rather than complete removal. This approach, while cost-effective for financially strapped school districts, maintains ongoing exposure risks for current and future generations of students and educational workers.
Common Asbestos Exposure Sources in Schools
High-Risk School Products and Materials
- Acoustic ceiling tiles in classrooms, auditoriums, and libraries
- Vinyl floor tiles and adhesives throughout all educational areas
- Textured paint and decorative coatings on walls and ceilings
- Chalkboard backing materials and classroom panel systems
- Stage curtains and theater fire safety equipment
- Laboratory table tops and fume hood components
- Pipe insulation in mechanical rooms, basements, and utility tunnels
- Boiler insulation in heating plants and utility areas
- HVAC ductwork insulation and gasket materials
- Electrical panel boards and wiring insulation throughout facilities
- Spray-on fireproofing in gymnasiums and large assembly spaces
- Door gaskets and fire-resistant barrier systems
- Asbestos-cement panels and exterior siding materials
- Roofing materials, felts, and weatherproofing systems
- Drywall joint compounds and texture materials
- Structural fireproofing and insulation systems
- Teacher lounge materials, often located near mechanical rooms with boiler exposure
- Cafeteria equipment and kitchen insulation systems
- Custodial equipment, cleaning supplies, and maintenance materials
- Maintenance shop tools and protective equipment
- Administrative area materials and office building components
Educational facilities utilized asbestos more extensively than many other building types due to unique requirements for fire safety, acoustic control, and durability in high-traffic environments. Schools built during the peak asbestos era incorporated the mineral in virtually every building component, from foundation to roof systems. Industry-specific school exposure patterns varied by type: • Elementary and Secondary Schools presented the highest exposure risks due to their large size, diverse material usage, and constant occupancy. Teachers faced daily exposure from ceiling tiles, floor materials, and building systems, while custodial staff encountered concentrated exposure during maintenance activities. • Universities and Colleges, regulated by OSHA rather than AHERA, often contained extensive asbestos in dormitories, academic buildings, research laboratories, and historic campus structures. • Vocational and Technical Schools exposed students and instructors to asbestos through specialized equipment, workshop materials, and training environments that simulated industrial conditions. • Administrative and Support Facilities often housed in older buildings exposed administrative staff, mechanics, and support personnel to significant asbestos concentrations.
Health Risks and Legal Rights for School Workers
Disease Patterns in Educational Workers
School workers and students experience significant rates of asbestos-related diseases due to the widespread presence of asbestos materials in educational facilities. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health documented elevated rates of mesothelioma among school teachers⁶. The Environmental Working Group reported that 137 teachers died from mesothelioma between 1985 and 1999⁷. Teacher Mesothelioma Risk: Multiple studies have documented significantly elevated mesothelioma rates among teachers. A Wisconsin study analyzed the deaths of 12 teachers from pleural mesothelioma and found that for nine of these educators, their only potential source of asbestos exposure was from their classrooms⁸. Similarly, New York research reviewed four teachers with pleural mesothelioma and determined that their only contact with asbestos occurred in the schools where they taught⁹. Custodial and Maintenance Worker Exposure: School custodians and maintenance workers face the highest exposure risks due to their direct contact with building systems and materials. Recent settlements demonstrate the severity of exposure, including a $24.4 million award to the family of a janitor who worked at a facility processing asbestos-contaminated materials¹⁰. Administrative and Support Staff Risk: Massachusetts Cancer Registry data indicate that both teachers and school custodians reported cases of malignant mesothelioma for the period from 1982 to 2003¹¹. Children face particularly concerning asbestos exposure risks in school environments. Research from the U.K. government's Committee on Carcinogenicity concluded that a 5-year-old child's lifetime risk of developing mesothelioma is approximately five times greater than that of a 30-year-old adult¹². Students potentially face 13 years of exposure from kindergarten through 12th grade. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry notes that children have longer lifespans following exposure, increasing their lifetime risk¹³. School workers unknowingly exposed family members to asbestos through take-home contamination on work clothes, shoes, and personal items.
Legal Rights and Compensation
School workers and their families diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases have multiple avenues for seeking compensation, though the legal landscape presents unique challenges due to sovereign immunity protections and complex regulatory frameworks governing educational institutions. Personal Injury Lawsuits and Settlement Examples: School workers can file personal injury lawsuits against companies that manufactured, distributed, or installed asbestos-containing products used in educational facilities. A notable example involves a 51-year-old former teacher who developed mesothelioma after teaching in the Philadelphia School District for 28 years. The school district settled the case for $850,000¹⁴. Recent litigation continues to produce significant awards, including a Chicago-area jury award of $24.4 million to a janitor's family¹⁵ and a California jury award of $107 million to another janitor's family¹⁶. AHERA Violations and School District Liability: The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act creates specific legal obligations for school districts. A 2020 audit found that 90 percent of Massachusetts schools chosen at random were not in compliance with AHERA during the previous ten years¹⁷. These widespread compliance failures create potential legal liability. Asbestos Trust Fund Compensation: School workers may be eligible to file claims with multiple asbestos trust funds. Over 60 active asbestos bankruptcy trust funds contain more than $30 billion set aside for asbestos exposure victims¹⁸. The average trust fund payment for mesothelioma cases is approximately $41,000 per individual trust¹⁹. Major Trust Funds for Educational Workers include: • Johns Manville Trust (established in 1987, has paid over $4 billion to victims)²⁰ • Kaiser Gypsum Trust (compensates victims exposed to joint compound and drywall materials) • Armstrong World Industries Trust (provides compensation for exposure to floor tiles and ceiling materials) Workers' Compensation and Sovereign Immunity Challenges: Educational workers may pursue workers' compensation claims through their state systems, particularly public school employees covered by state workers' compensation programs. However, sovereign immunity protections may limit direct lawsuits against public school districts. Private school employees and university workers may have broader legal options. The statute of limitations for asbestos-related claims typically begins at diagnosis rather than exposure, recognizing the long latency period of asbestos diseases.
Find Schools Asbestos Exposure Sites by State
Use the dropdown menu below to explore documented asbestos exposure sites in schools across the United States. Our comprehensive database includes detailed information about elementary schools, high schools, universities, and educational support facilities to help identify relevant exposure locations.
Interactive State Filter:
Select a state to view schools with documented asbestos exposure histories, including facility names, locations, operational periods, and documented exposure sources at each educational institution.
Educational Industries with Documented Asbestos Exposure
Public Elementary and Secondary Schools
Public K-12 schools represent the largest source of educational asbestos exposure, with comprehensive AHERA requirements governing asbestos management. Teachers, custodians, maintenance staff, and administrative personnel in public schools face ongoing exposure risks from legacy asbestos materials in older buildings. These facilities often struggle with inadequate funding for proper asbestos management, leading to compliance failures and continued worker exposure.
Private and Charter Schools
Non-profit private schools fall under AHERA requirements, but enforcement mechanisms vary significantly by state and local jurisdiction. Charter schools face particularly complex regulatory oversight, with unclear responsibility chains between operators, authorizers, and building owners. Many private educational institutions lack adequate funding for comprehensive asbestos management programs.
Universities and Colleges
Higher education facilities operate under OSHA regulations rather than AHERA, creating different compliance standards and enforcement mechanisms. Historic university campuses often contain extensive asbestos in dormitories, academic buildings, research facilities, and infrastructure systems. Faculty, staff, researchers, and students in older campus buildings face exposure risks during routine activities and renovation projects.
Community Colleges and Trade Schools
Vocational training facilities built during the peak asbestos era exposed students, instructors, and staff to asbestos materials in workshops, laboratories, and technical training areas. These institutions often provided hands-on training with equipment and materials containing asbestos, creating unique exposure scenarios combining educational and occupational risks.
School District Administrative Buildings
Central administrative facilities, transportation departments, and maintenance centers often occupy older buildings with significant asbestos content. District administrators, support staff, mechanics, and visitors face exposure risks from building materials and equipment in these essential support facilities.
School Maintenance and Construction Services
Contracted maintenance companies, construction firms, and specialized trades working in school environments face elevated exposure risks during renovations, repairs, and emergency maintenance. These workers often lack adequate training in asbestos recognition and may disturb materials without proper precautions.
Educational Support Services
Food service workers, transportation employees, security staff, and other support personnel working in school facilities face exposure through building materials and equipment containing asbestos. These workers may not receive adequate training on asbestos risks despite regular exposure to potentially contaminated environments.
School-Based Healthcare and Special Services
School nursing offices, health centers, counseling facilities, and special education spaces contained medical equipment and building materials with asbestos components. Healthcare providers and specialized staff working in these areas faced exposure through both building materials and specialized equipment.
Were You Exposed to Asbestos in Schools?
For Teachers and Educational Staff
If you worked in educational facilities and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related diseases, you may be entitled to significant compensation through multiple sources. School workers have successfully recovered millions of dollars through building material manufacturer lawsuits, trust fund claims, and educational institution settlements. Your exposure at elementary, secondary, or higher education facilities may qualify you for compensation from multiple sources, including asbestos trust funds established by building material manufacturers and personal injury lawsuits against companies that supplied asbestos products to educational facilities.
For Families and Students
If your loved one worked in schools and developed an asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible to file wrongful death claims and seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages. Family members who experienced secondary exposure through contaminated work clothes may also have valid personal injury claims. Students who attended schools with documented asbestos exposure, particularly those with childhood exposure leading to earlier disease onset, may qualify for personal injury compensation.
For Legal Professionals
Our comprehensive schools database provides detailed facility information, AHERA compliance records, and documented exposure sources to support case development and expert testimony in educational facility asbestos litigation. The unique regulatory framework surrounding schools, including AHERA requirements and state educational oversight, creates specific legal considerations that require specialized expertise in educational facility exposure cases. School workers and their families deserve justice for the harm caused by decades of asbestos exposure in educational environments.
References
- Environmental Research study mapping occupations, industries and mesothelioma (2006-2022). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2023.
- Lanier Law Firm. "Elementary school teachers are more than twice as likely as the general public to develop mesothelioma." [Link]
- Multiple estimates from EPA and educational facility studies suggest one-third of American schools contain asbestos.
- Mesothelioma.com. "Asbestos in Schools | Risks, Products & Lawsuits." 2024.
- Environmental Protection Agency. "Risk assessment study on school asbestos exposure." 1982.
- "Occupational cancer incidence among teachers." International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2006 Jan-Mar; 12(1): 9-15.
- Environmental Working Group. "Teacher mortality data from mesothelioma." 1985-1999 analysis.
- "Pleural mesothelioma in teachers." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1991 Dec 31; 643: 550-72.
- "Health and asbestos exposure history of teachers with pleural mesothelioma." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1991 Dec 31; 643: 454-86.
- Chicago-area janitor mesothelioma verdict. Cook County Circuit Court, 2024.
- Massachusetts Cancer Registry data on teachers and custodians malignant mesothelioma cases, 1982-2003.
- U.K. Committee on Carcinogenicity childhood exposure risk study, 2013.
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. "Asbestos Toxicity: Children's Health Considerations."
- Philadelphia School District teacher settlement records, $850,000 award.
- Cook County Circuit Court jury award, $24.4 million to janitor's family, 2024.
- California jury award, $107 million to janitor's family, 2025.
- Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. "Widespread Asbestos Violations in Massachusetts Schools." 2020.
- Mesothelioma Hope. "Asbestos Trust Funds." [Link]
- Mealey's Litigation Reports: Asbestos Trust Fund Statistics, 2024-2025.
- Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust. Annual Reports, 1987-2025.