ID :
187645
Fri, 06/10/2011 - 07:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/187645
The shortlink copeid
Asbestos found in 96 pct of S. Korean school buildings: report
SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) -- Asbestos, a cancer-causing construction material, has been found in 96 of 100 school buildings across South Korea, a report showed Friday, raising concerns about the threat the hazardous material poses to students' health.
Asbestos exposure becomes a health concern when high concentrations of asbestos fibers are inhaled over a long time period, causing asthma, respiratory disease or even lung cancer. South Korea has banned the use of the material in new construction projects since the late 1990s for health and safety reasons.
On Friday, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education said in a report that experts examined 100 school, kindergarten and other educational buildings in six major cities and provinces across South Korea, and asbestos was detected in 96 of them.
If it is assumed that 96 percent of all school buildings in South Korea are contaminated with the material, it would cost 5.4 trillion won (US$4.9 billion) to dismantle and rebuild them, the report showed.
According to the study, all 63 buildings that were built before the 1980s were found to contain asbestos, while 82.5 percent of those built during the 1980-1990 period had asbestos, and 85.7 percent built during the 1990-2000 period contained the material.
Five of the eight buildings built since 2000 were also found to contain asbestos, the study showed. Officials said it appears that asbestos-containing materials were used when repairing the relatively new buildings.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
Asbestos exposure becomes a health concern when high concentrations of asbestos fibers are inhaled over a long time period, causing asthma, respiratory disease or even lung cancer. South Korea has banned the use of the material in new construction projects since the late 1990s for health and safety reasons.
On Friday, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education said in a report that experts examined 100 school, kindergarten and other educational buildings in six major cities and provinces across South Korea, and asbestos was detected in 96 of them.
If it is assumed that 96 percent of all school buildings in South Korea are contaminated with the material, it would cost 5.4 trillion won (US$4.9 billion) to dismantle and rebuild them, the report showed.
According to the study, all 63 buildings that were built before the 1980s were found to contain asbestos, while 82.5 percent of those built during the 1980-1990 period had asbestos, and 85.7 percent built during the 1990-2000 period contained the material.
Five of the eight buildings built since 2000 were also found to contain asbestos, the study showed. Officials said it appears that asbestos-containing materials were used when repairing the relatively new buildings.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
