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Board hears community concerns about asbestos near Bayview Hunters Point; staff outlines testing limits and next steps
Summary
Following community complaints tied to the Lennar development at Bayview Hunters Point, SFUSD staff reported limited air testing results and outlined options to perform playground-level disturbed-surface sampling; staff estimated human metals testing at $700–$900 per person and said blood testing would require MD orders and be costly.
Board members on Tuesday discussed community concerns about potential asbestos and other contaminants connected to the Lennar development at Bayview Hunters Point and what testing the district can or should perform.
The Buildings and Grounds committee reported it had received many community complaints that asbestos and other material dredged by the development could be affecting air quality near nearby school sites. The board asked staff to look into additional testing and possible mitigation steps.
Trish Bascom said that labs the district contacted typically test soil and air but rarely conduct human metals testing; the prices she obtained for human tests for arsenic, antimony, copper and mercury ranged from $700 to $900 per person and would not include the phlebotomist. She added those tests must be MD-ordered and run under a physician's care.
David Golden, the district’s chief facilities officer, said prior sampling had included air tests at multiple heights — above playgrounds, balconies and stair landings — but that the district had not yet completed additional playground-level disturbed-surface testing that would simulate students kicking up dust. Golden said staff could perform that kind of testing in a day or two and send samples to a laboratory for results within a few days.
Board members asked the city health department to forward any clinic-level symptom or testing data to the school district so the district could compile information before deciding whether to pursue costly human testing. The board agreed to reagendize the issue for the Buildings and Grounds committee meeting tentatively scheduled for the 24th of the month and requested staff run cost estimates and options for targeted disturbed-surface sampling.
