An alarming new audit released by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander reveals a significant oversight in public school safety, finding that mandatory asbestos inspections have been neglected in over 80% of NYC public schools that are known to contain the hazardous material. Lander, who is also vying for the mayor's seat, underscored the gravity of the situation in a statement obtained by CBS News New York, emphasizing that "No level of exposure is safe, and prolonged exposure to asbestos during childhood can cause lung disease and can cause cancer."
Running from March 2021 to March 2024, only 257 of the 1,431 identified schools were inspected according to federal guidelines, leaving thousands of students and staff at potential risk, reports Lander's office based on data from CBS News New York. Particularly troubling is the case of P.S. 107 in Brooklyn, which has not been inspected for asbestos since 2008. These inspections, required under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, are crucial in detecting and managing this silent threat that, if not contained, frays and releases fibers into the air where they can be easily inhaled.
The distribution of inspections—or lack thereof—across boroughs paints a disturbing picture of inconsistency, with Brooklyn and Queens trailing behind in compliance. The former saw a mere 13% of its schools inspected, and a 16% compliance rate was recorded in Queens. This was obtained from the audit breakdown on CBS News New York. Staten Island, Manhattan, and the Bronx fared modestly better, but still fell significantly short of the mandated standards.
Despite the concerning findings, a New York City public schools spokesperson insisted that "We keep students safe from asbestos by requiring testing before performing any work that includes drilling, installation, or in any way modifies a building; construction work is what creates a risk of exposure." This statement suggests a reliance on precautionary measures, even though asbestos-containing materials pose little risk until they become airborne, a fact that parents like Mike Zaf acknowledge, as reported by CBS News New York. They quoted him saying, "I do construction. As long as asbestos is sealed, it's not really an issue. Once it becomes disturbed and airborne, that's when it becomes a problem for breathing it in."
In response to the audit's pressing revelations, the New York City Department of Education has agreed to a set of nine recommendations from Lander's office, aimed at improving asbestos regulation compliance and ensuring the safety of schools. These include steps such as raising awareness among school officials about asbestos regulations and developing better record-keeping systems to maintain accountability. Lander has pressed the Adams Administration for swift action, stating that the education department has "stunningly failed to follow the minimum national standard for asbestos management for years," as per details obtained from Gothamist's report.
