SCHOOL RENOVATIONS AND PUBLIC HEALTH: St. Marie of the Incarnation Catholic School Bradford, Ontario Dr. C. Gardner Medical Officer of Health

PUBLIC HEALTH MANDATE Health Protection and Promotion Act To provide for the organization and delivery of public health programs and services, the prevention of the spread of disease and the promotion and protection of the health of the people of Ontario. Health Hazards Prevention and Management Program Goal  To prevent or reduce the burden of illness from health hazards in the physical environment.

ACTIONS TO DATE Since being notified of the issue on February 6 th : Responded to calls from parents of students Reviewed with SMCDSB the Designated Substance Survey, air asbestos testing, communications, renovation and asbestos abatement plans Reviewed published research on asbestos Consulted with Public Health Ontario

BACKGROUND ON ASBESTOS History of use: Asbestos very commonly used in building materials until late1970’s Restricted use since, with the evidence of health impacts emerging since 1955 Older buildings commonly retain asbestos still  Covered, contained, bound, horded – not airborne

ASBESTOS AND HEALTH Health impacts only if airborne exposure – safe to leave in place if contained Need safeguards to prevent airborne exposure with building renovations With airborne exposure, can cause:  Asbestosis – scarred / stiffened lungs  Lung cancer – greatly increased with smoking  Mesothelioma (cancer of lung lining or abdominal lining)  Cancer of the digestive tract, ovaries  More than 15 years delay in onset (40 years + for Mesotheliomas)

HEALTH RISK DEPENDS ON: With asbestos exposure, risk dependent upon: the amount of asbestos fibres in the air how long your exposure lasts how often you were exposed the size of the asbestos fibres inhaled the amount of time since your first exposure the type of asbestos fibre (Amphibole higher risk than Chrysotile asbestos)

SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT: ST. MARIE OF THE INCARNATION Designated Substance Survey, Jan 2015 findings:  Asbestos vinyl floor tile, drywall joint compound & concrete block mortar. Air asbestos test findings, Feb 2015  No asbestos fibres found in 9 locations tested in the school – Transmission Electron Microscopy

HEALTH PROTECTION PRECAUTIONS Occupational Health and Safety Act  Asbestos abatement requirements – precautions to prevent airborne release of fibres  Removal methods  Hording  Worker protection  Cleansing  Monitoring – air testing

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