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Over 80% of NYC Public Schools with Asbestos Were Not Recently Inspected

Asbestos Testing Services

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	5/22/2025
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	Over 80% of NYC Public Schools with Asbestos Were Not Recently Inspected
Introduction	EMSL Analytical offers laboratory testing services, sampling supplies, test kits, and personal protective equipment to identify and mitigate exposure to asbestos-containing materials, lead-based paints, and other risks in the built environment.
New York City, New York, May 22, 2025 Last month, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander announced a new audit that claims the Department of Education (DOE) is out of compliance with federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulations that require triennial and periodic inspections of schools with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). According to the announcement: During the audit period from 2021 to 2024, only 18% of all schools containing ACM received the required triennial inspections and between May 2023 and April 2024 only 22% of schools had the required periodic six-month inspections. Auditors further found that DOE failed to inspect the vast majority of schools containing ACM in every inspection cycle dating back to 1997. “There are over 1,431 schools in the New York City school system that are required to have regular inspections for asbestos-containing materials,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Unfortunately, this situation is not unique to just schools in NYC. Across the nation, countless schools, commercial buildings, and even homes still have asbestos in them that could create exposure risks for building occupants.” Dedicated to protecting students, teachers, workers, and others from these types of hazards are the material, environmental, and industrial hygiene testing experts at EMSL Analytical, Inc. With asbestos testing laboratories in New York, and dozens more across North America, EMSL provides laboratory services, sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, air monitoring instruments, building inspection tools, and even personal protective equipment (PPE). These resources help to safeguard people, while also keeping companies and institutions in regulatory compliance. To learn more about asbestos or other environmental, health, and safety testing resources, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675, or email info@EMSL.com. For access to indoor environmental quality test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com. About EMSL Analytical, Inc. EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.