Asbestos News
Australian lawmaker calls for asbestos audits
An Australian member of parliament recently called for asbestos audits to be carried out in a number of schools.Geoff Provest wants all the schools in Tweed to be inspected for asbestos, after two teachers were reportedly exposed to the hazardous substance, according to the Tweed Daily News.
"We should take all steps to ensure the safety of the children; it's paramount," Provest told the news provider. "Asbestos is very detrimental, even fatal, to your health and we should know what’s in our schools. In our older built schools, it's a worry."
Asbestos is found in many older buildings as the naturally occurring mineral was widely used in the construction industry because of its insulating properties and resistance to fire. However, by the mid-1960s it was known that exposure to asbestos could cause a number of serious illnesses such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
Provest told the news provider that he has contacted the Education Minister to see if any students had been exposed to asbestos. The Education Minister has reportedly declined to comment to the Daily News.
4/15/11
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