Asbestos News

A high school in Wales recently reopened after flooding over the holiday break caused concerns about potential asbestos contamination.

Frozen pipes burst at Welshpool High School in Powys while students were away, causing damage to a theater, two gymnasiums, a science room and the school kitchen, according to the BBC.

The flooding in the kitchen caused damage to the ceiling, which was suspected to contain brown asbestos.

Chair of governors Graham Lewis said that the carcinogenic material has been removed and that a new ceiling is being put in.

"The offending asbestos ceiling has now been removed by specialist contractors over last weekend, which has given us limited access to the kitchen while a new ceiling is installed," he told the news source.

Lewis said that the limited access to the kitchen would allow some food to be delivered to students.

"This will permit us to bring all pupils back into school and provide them with a limited lunchtime menu until such time we have full access to the canteen, which we are hoping will be Monday," he told the news source.

Asbestos exposure can cause a number of serious illnesses such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.