Exposure to environmental hazards like lead and mold in schools can cause serious, and sometimes permanent, health problems for children. Because kids’ bodies are still developing and they breathe more air relative to their size than adults, they are significantly more vulnerable.

The 2019 investigation by WHYY revealed that Mastery Frederick Douglass Elementary in North Philadelphia failed several city-mandated lead tests, including one fountain with lead levels 350 times the district’s limit. Despite being aware of these results and long-standing issues like “brown water,” school administrators failed to notify parents for nearly eight months, only doing so after being questioned by reporters.

Asbestos is extremely dangerous because its microscopic fibers can be inhaled or swallowed when building materials are disturbed. For children, these risks are heightened as their lungs are still developing, and because asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma or lung cancer have long latency periods (20–50 years), exposure in childhood creates a lifelong risk of developing fatal illnesses.

When teachers returned to the building in September 2020 after the COVID-19 lockdown, they reported finding mold on walls, keyboards, desks, and inside cabinets. Sal Finelli, president of the Teachers Association, noted that music rooms were particularly affected, with instruments covered in mold.

The mold was attributed to a malfunctioning heating and cooling (HVAC) system that allowed moisture to build up while the school was unoccupied during the pandemic.