Asbestos News
Asbestos concerns arise after prison riot in the UK
It was confirmed recently that one of the buildings that was burned to the ground in the New Year's Day riot at Ford Prison in the UK contained asbestos, the Littlehampton Gazette reports.As a result, a number of local residents have expressed their concerns about contracting certain deadly diseases such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer. According to the World Health Organization, such asbestos-related illnesses kill approximately 107,000 people each year around the world.
"It’s very worrying for us all along here, because breathing in asbestos can lead to all kinds of health problems," Andrea Hixon, a nurse who lives near the building, told the news provider. "People with asthma, for example, are particularly vulnerable, and it could be really dangerous for them."
However, a Prison Service spokeswoman told the news source that there was only a "small amount" of asbestos discovered in one of the buildings, adding that "there is no risk to the public, staff or prisoners.
The environmental health team for the local Arun District Council agreed, saying any public health risk would be "extremely small."
1/13/11
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