More than 200 teachers have died in the past 10 years from the effects of being exposed to asbestos.
And for each teacher fatality, nine ex-pupils can also be expected to fall victim to the silent killer, a study claims – an average of almost 200 per year.
Breathing in asbestos fibres can lead to mesothelioma, a cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs and can strike years or even decades after exposure.
Dr Mary Bousted of the National Education Union said: “These figures are shocking. No one should have to suffer an early death because the building they work in contains asbestos.
“Education staff are at risk but of even greater concern are children, who are more vulnerable to developing mesothelioma if exposed at a young age.
“The only certain way to prevent future deaths is to rid our educational buildings of this deadly material.”
Some 86% of schools contain asbestos, a study found in 2015. The material was typically used in buildings between the 1940s and 1970s.
Experts say it is a greater health risk as it gets older and starts to degrade….
A study last year by the American Environmental Protection Agency estimated that for each school staff member lost to mesothelioma, nine former pupils can be also expected to die.
[Read the full article at original source]Mesothelioma, Asbestos, and Legal Compensation: Basic Facts
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