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EPA Awards Louisiana $137,000 to Reduce Asbestos Exposure in Schools

Release Date: 10/17/2014
Contact Information: Jennah Durant or Joe Hubbard, R6Press@epa.gov or 214 665-2200

DALLAS (Oct. 17, 2014) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality a grant to help reduce asbestos exposure in schools. The $137,000 grant will go toward compliance monitoring and assistance, public outreach, inspections, enforcement actions, and ensuring workers are properly trained and accredited.

Federal regulations require public and private schools to protect school children and employees from asbestos exposure. Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease, including lung cancer or asbesteosis. School districts must inspect their schools for asbestos-containing material, prepare management plans, and take action to prevent or reduce asbestos hazards.

EPA recognizes the month of October as Children’s Health Month. During this time of year, we make a special effort to raise awareness about the unique vulnerability of kids. Children are different from adults in how they interact with their environment and how their health may be affected by these interactions. These differences make them particularly susceptible to environmental hazards.

One in seven children in the U.S. lives with asthma every day. These numbers clearly demonstrate that air quality impacts children’s health. Our goal is that by 2030, the steps EPA is taking will avoid up to 6,600 premature deaths, 150,000 asthma attacks in children, and 490,000 missed work or school days – providing up to $93 billion in climate and public health benefits.

Learn more about children's environmental health: https://www.epa.gov/children

Additional information on EPA grants is available at https://www.epa.gov/region6/gandf/index.htm

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