Washington, D.C. – A new investigation reveals serious failures by states and the federal government to adequately protect students and teachers from asbestos in the nation’s schools.

The report – Failing the Grade: Asbestos in America’s Schools – follows an inquiry by U.S. Senators Edward Markey, D-Mass. and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. who earlier this year sent letters to the governors of all 50 states asking for detailed information on asbestos in each state’s schools.

States were asked to complete a 20-question survey on how many schools have asbestos, compliance with required inspections and what they’ve done to correct problems. Under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) of 1986, public school districts and private schools must regularly inspect their buildings for asbestos and take appropriate abatement actions and other measures to protect students, teachers and staff.

Only 20 states bothered to respond to the inquiry, and even fewer answered all survey questions. But the limited responses show almost nonexistent enforcement by states and the Environmental Protection Agency, and a systemic lack of abatement in school districts.

The report said that in the states that responded, more than two-thirds of districts have schools that have been identified as harboring asbestos. Of the 3,690 districts where asbestos has been found, only 288 have been inspected regularly.

What’s more, states and EPA are not taking steps to audit or enforce AHERA’s requirements. Only three – Kentucky, Montana and Utah – said that each district is periodically audited or inspected for compliance.

The responses show that compliance is largely left to the districts themselves. The report said the states “generally do not follow up with the local education agencies, but rather assume the local education agencies are complying unless there is reason (such as hotline complaints) to suggest otherwise.”

The report also reveals significant shortfalls in AHERA itself, most notably lack of federal funding, oversight and information sharing between states and EPA.

Reade Wilson, staff attorney with EWG Action Fund, said: “The report should serve as a wakeup call to Congress that much more must be done to address this public health hazard that could expose countless children, teachers and others to deadly asbestos fibers.”

Last April, EWG Action Fund issued its own report that found the federal government’s response to the looming health threat in schools woefully inadequate, including many of the same failures highlighted in Senate investigation.

 ###

 EWG Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that is a separate sister organization of the Environmental Working Group. The mission of EWG Action Fund is to protect health and the environment by educating the public and lobbying on a wide range of environmental issues. Donations to EWG Action Fund are not tax-deductible.