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Children and teachers are being exposed to a mesothelioma timebomb by the failure to clear asbestos from schools, it was claimed recently.

At least 178 teachers died between 1980 and 2005 from asbestos-related disease and an unknown number of children could fall victim in later life.

At the recent teaching union conference it was stated that the continued use of asbestos in school buildings represented “deliberate and knowing murder” on the part of the Government.

One teacher dying from the mesothelioma, contracted after working in schools for 34 years, warned of the threat to pupils and staff.  The lady, who was diagnosed last summer stated that mesothelioma was caused by exposure to asbestos, in her case in schools. It is incurable and virtually always inoperable.

Those suffering from mesothelioma have a life expectancy from diagnosis of between six and 18 months. The cancer lies dormant in the lung for between 10 and 50 years before symptoms appear.

The teachers union voted to lobby schools and local authorities for asbestos removal from all education sites by 2012.

6,000 asbestos fibres could be released by sticking a drawing pin in an affected area and just one fibre was needed to cause a related disease.

Teachers speaking at a fringe meeting on the issue said many of their schools had been told it was safer not to remove asbestos, as it lay undisturbed. But they said this was dangerous and foolhardy as the substance could be released by flooding, accidental damage or vandalism.

Frenkels Chartered Accountants have extensive experience of acting for both Claimants and Defendants in mesothelioma and asbestos related cases.  For more information on how we can help please contact John Frenkel on 020 8457 2929.