Berea, Ohio - A Ohio religious school is under fire after it was uncovered that volunteer students were intentionally exposed to the deadly toxin asbestos during a renovation project. The Buckeye Education School, in direct violation of state and federal regulations, did not hire an outside asbestos removal contractor to abate the toxin from the school, but instead relied on the volunteer labor of its students, including some teenagers as young as 13 years old.
In a shocking video captured by a concerned neighbor, Buckeye Education School students are shown to be removing asbestos from the building in buckets, without protective gear, and dumping the toxin into dumpsters. The video also shows a contaminated cloud rising from the dumpster after the students pour the asbestos debris into it.
According to Darren Clink, the neighbor who shot the video, the students were ?loaded with? asbestos and the ?entire site was contaminated with asbestos.? Clink witnessed only school-age children removing, handling and dumping the asbestos at the building.
When asked who proposed the use of the students as volunteer renovators, the principal of the Buckeye Education School Jonathan Borys declined to answer. The motivation for using student volunteers to handle the toxic material is also unknown, but speculation suggests that the school was looking to save some money on the renovation.
However, in response to the public outcry and an investigation by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Bruce Carmichael said that the school is now engaging a professional asbestos abatement contractor to finish out the work at the building. Carmichael is a part of Sterling Education, an organization that manages the Buckeye Education School along with other private Christian schools across the country.
?We are fully cooperating with the EPA for an amicable resolution to the situation,? said Carmichael. The Ohio EPA launched its investigation into the Buckeye Education School renovation project after it received complaints last month.
After surveying the school property, the Ohio EPA found that not only was asbestos dumped without being properly sealed into dumpsters, some of the contaminated material was thrown into the school's pool. Further, the renovation work carried out by the student volunteers was extensive, including the removal of the ceiling and walls. Preliminary environmental tests showed the presence of asbestos in floor tiles, duct fabric and pipes.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen that was once highly prized for its durability and heat insulating properties. Though not commonly known, asbestos is a naturally-occurring set of minerals that was often manufactured into building and plumbing products. Buildings built prior to the 1980s often contain asbestos materials. Asbestos exposure can cause severe medical conditions including lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that currently does not have a cure.
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