Asbestos News
Science experiment causes UK students to be exposed to asbestos
A science experiment gone wrong led to about 70 UK students being exposed to asbestos.Students were evacuated from St. Mary's school in Berkshire following a chemistry experiment that caused a "sonic reaction," according to the BBC.
The incident caused dust to fall from the ceiling. Subsequent testing revealed that the dust contained a small amount of asbestos.
Asbestos exposure can be deadly as the inhalation of the mineral fiber has been associated with a number of serious illnesses including lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer that attacks the thin membrane that lines the body's chest, abdomen and many of the body's internal organs.
The World Health Organization estimates that such asbestos-related diseases kill approximately 107,000 people around the world each year.
The news source reports that cleaners will spend the weekend making sure that the dust is completely cleared from the school. It is expected that the building will be reopened Monday.
The students' uniforms were kept to be tested and the children were sent home in their gym clothes, according to the news provider.
4/1/11
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