Asbestos News

Officials in the Australian state of Queensland, the northeastern portion of the island nation, are telling parents that an asbestos scare has been completely dealt with at a state school and that it is now safe for students to return to class.

A contractor inspecting a ceiling at Broadbeach State School in Gold Coast, Queensland, disturbed some asbestos-containing sheeting, according to the Australian Associated Press. The class, which was occupied by students at the time, was immediately evacuated but the contractor said that no student was within the small area where they could have come in contact with asbestos.

"After the incident, the Principal contacted the families of the students in the classroom by telephone to clarify the situation, and explain why students were unable to take their school bags home with them," Education Queensland said.

Some of the bags were in the area where the asbestos damage occurred.

Testing confirmed that the asbestos was contained in about a three-yard radius where it had been disturbed by the contractor.

Caution is essential when it comes to dealing with asbestos as exposure to the deadly mineral can cause malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.