UK schools are riddled with asbestos
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The government is under increased pressure to
put in place a scheme to remove asbestos from UK schools.
In the past 10 years more than 140 teachers
have died from the rare form of cancer, mesothelioma, caused by
exposure to asbestos fibres. There is no known cure for
mesothelioma, meaning teachers and pupils are being put at
risk.
Mesothelioma is a cancerous tumour of the
mesothelium lining, which surrounds many of the major organs. The
risk of developing mesothelioma increases with the amount of
asbestos someone has been exposed to. On average mesothelioma
develops into noticeable symptoms up to 40 years after asbestos
exposure.
MPs and peers have labelled asbestos in
schools as a national scandal. Asbestos was used extensively from
the 1950s to the mid 1980s as a building material and it is still
not known how many schools are affected. The government is under
pressure to investigate and remove asbestos from affected
schools.
Simon Ellis, Solicitor and Partner within the
Asbestos Exposure Team at Hugh James says, “We continue to act
for the families of a number of former school workers who have
sadly died as a result of asbestos exposure. The government needs
to act promptly to identity affected schools and remove this
extremely harmful substance to prevent more unnecessary deaths from
this terrible disease”.