Asbestos News

Airborne asbestos has reportedly been discovered in a business center in Northamptonshire, UK, forcing its closure until testing results are released.

The BBC reports St. Mark's center is home to six businesses, which have taken a significant hit due to the closure.

"It has had a big impact on us because we have people coming to the door on a daily basis responding to adverts," Mark Stonestreet, who runs Bell Recruitment from St Mark's, told the news source. "We now have to try to get the word out to our clients as quickly as possible."

The asbestos discovery was reportedly made during a routine inspection of the buildings, according to the news provider.

Norman Stronach, a member of the local borough council, told the BBC that four of the tenants had already been relocated, with options being explored for the other two.

Taking precaution when dealing with asbestos is critical, as exposure to the carcinogenic material can have deadly consequences including the development of lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer. Such illnesses kill approximately 107,000 people around the world each year, according to the World Health Organization.