Philadelphia Schools and the Legacy Asbestos Problem

Philadelphia is once again in the spotlight over hazardous conditions in its aging school buildings, including the dreaded asbestos. 

A new investigative report details how the School District of Philadelphia failed to carry out legally required asbestos inspections, possibly for years. For a city filled with century-old buildings, this isn’t just a school board issue, it’s part of a much greater public health issue. The allegations not only alarm parents and staff but also cast a wide net over broader concerns about legacy asbestos found in public spaces like libraries, community centers, and city-owned housing.

What the Investigation Revealed

Internal emails and whistleblower interviews suggest the district may have submitted falsified documentation to the state, claiming it had conducted six-month asbestos inspections in compliance with federal law. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are now reportedly investigating the matter. These inspections are part of the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)[1], which mandates that public schools inspect for asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and update management plans every three years.

The story gained traction after asbestos was found in Building 21, prompting a temporary school shutdown. This raised red flags among advocacy groups as well as parents who questioned whether the district’s broader compliance practices had been maintained. With over 200 schools in Philadelphia, most of which had been built before asbestos was greatly restricted in the mid-1980s, the scale of potential exposure could be extensive.

Legacy Asbestos in Public Buildings

Asbestos was widely used in construction materials through the mid-1980s. It was favored for its strength, fire resistance, and insulating properties. However, it is now known to be hazardous when its microscopic fibers become airborne and are inhaled. Once inside the body, these fibers can lodge in the lungs, leading to serious conditions such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. The problem is that asbestos has no odor, no taste, and cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Public buildings like schools, libraries, and older municipal facilities are particularly vulnerable due to their age because they were built during a time in which asbestos was a preferred material due to its heat resistance, durability and relative abundance. In Philadelphia, many schools are housed in pre-war structures, which means that asbestos is likely to be embedded inside their pipe insulation, ceiling tiles, flooring, wall panels, and roofing. Even minor renovations, leaks, or vibration from daily activity can release asbestos fibers into the air, exposing anyone inside.

Why Abatement Is Not a DIY Job

Proper asbestos abatement isn’t just a matter of removing old materials. It requires licensed professionals with specialized equipment and containment procedures. Attempting to remove asbestos without training can make the situation worse by spreading fibers that would otherwise remain sealed.

An incident in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serves as a cautionary tale. The city filed a lawsuit after a contractor allegedly conducted unlicensed asbestos work in a city-owned building, endangering workers and potentially violating environmental laws. Similarly, debris removal following natural disasters has been found to disperse asbestos-containing materials, as seen in hurricane-affected regions.

Even in everyday settings, poor asbestos handling can be dangerous. For example, during New York tunnel work, outdated and deteriorating asbestos insulation was disturbed during construction, potentially exposing workers and commuters in the busy urban area.   

Community Concerns and Government Responsibility

A long time coming

Back in Philadelphia, local advocacy groups have been sounding the alarm for years. Parents, teachers, and building staff have pushed for better transparency and more aggressive remediation. Some schools have seen piecemeal repairs, but these efforts are often reactive rather than preventive. Incomplete removal or patchwork solutions can actually increase the risk of exposure if disturbed materials are not properly contained.

Under AHERA, school districts must create asbestos management plans and make them available to the public. These plans should detail the location of asbestos-containing materials, inspection dates, and steps for proper containment or removal. Yet, many parents in Philadelphia say they have never seen these reports or have had difficulty accessing them, a situation that is, unfortunately, not unique to Philly.

Public Health Implications

Health experts stress that there’s no safe level of asbestos exposure[2]. Even short-term or secondary exposure, such as a child bringing home fibers on clothing, can lead to disease years later. The long latency period for asbestos-related illnesses makes it hard to track exposure sources, complicating legal and medical follow-up. By the same token, once an asbestos-related disease is identified, the illness tends to be far advanced, limiting treatment options.

Children are particularly vulnerable. Their developing lungs and longer life expectancy mean there’s more time for asbestos-related disease to manifest. Attending a school[3] that contains asbestos everyday can be particularly detrimental to their long-term health.

Call for Better Regulation and Transparency

Experts and legal advocates are calling for a multi-layered approach to deal with legacy asbestos:

• Transparent reporting of inspections and abatement activities.
• Independent oversight to ensure school districts comply with federal law.
• Community access to management plans and historical asbestos data.
• Funding for proactive remediation, not just emergency fixes.

Not all contractors brought in to do remediation work are properly licensed or trained to perform asbestos removal safely. Parents and staff are urged to ask for credentials and verification when work is done in their children’s schools or local libraries.

Federal and State Support

There is some momentum building. In nearby Allentown, PA, a federal grant was awarded to help assess and clean up asbestos in local buildings. These funds help cities identify where asbestos is present and plan safe abatement. But grants alone can’t keep up with the sheer number of buildings in need of remediation.

Philadelphia’s school system is one of the largest in the country. If the allegations of skipped or falsified inspections are confirmed, it could prompt federal penalties and lead to broader scrutiny of asbestos management policies across the region. While legal consequences will play out over time, the immediate focus for many families is to simply make their schools safe.

Final Thoughts: Prevention Starts with Accountability

Legacy asbestos is an invisible threat that lives behind walls, beneath tiles, and above ceilings. In cities like Philadelphia, the problem is decades old and will take years to fully solve. But awareness, community pressure, and transparency can drive change.

For families concerned about asbestos exposure in schools, the best step is to stay informed. If abatement is taking place, parents should confirm that the workers brought in by the district are certified and that post-removal testing will be conducted.

[1] H.R.5073 – 99th Congress (1985-1986): Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986. (1986, October 22). https://www.congress.gov/bill/99th-congress/house-bill/5073.

[2] Committee on Environmental Hazards. (1987). Asbestos exposure in schools. Pediatrics, 79(2), 301–305. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.79.2.301.

[3] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024, August 5). Asbestos and school buildings. https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/asbestos-and-school-buildings.