I read in the paper today that a mother of three who was only 45 years old has developed terminal lung cancer after being exposed to asbestos during her school years. Her story is one of a growing number of cases among younger people who have never worked in heavy industry but who are suffering from asbestos related diseases as a result of being exposed to asbestos during their childhood.

In November 2012, we blogged that asbestos materials were present in Cwamcarn High School, Wales. The school was temporarily closed after the level of airborne asbestos fibres at the school was found to be 10 times higher than acceptable, posing a dangerous threat to teachers and pupils. We have also blogged about the 75% of schools in Sheffield that contain asbestos.  

Astonishing figures announced by the Department of Education state that over 75% of schools contain asbestos. Shockingly, about 90% of schools in Wales, Greater Manchester and the North East contain asbestos according to local articles in 2009. The figures are alarming; in 2007/2008 there were 9.7 million full-time and part time pupils in 33,700 schools in the United Kingdom, a statistic which, coupled with the high percentage of schools which contain asbestos, illustrates that asbestos exposure in schools will inevitably rise despite the EU and 55 countries, including the UK, enforcing a ban on the product in 1999.

Asbestos is a very dangerous mineral when cut, knocked, old or damaged as it allows the fibres to escape into the atmosphere which in turn will be inhaled by those around it. The inhalation takes the fibres into the lungs where it could then cause fatal conditions such as mesothelioma or asbestos related lung cancer.

We at Pannone solicitors have dealt with many claims for victims with mesothelioma whose exposure to asbestos was at their school, it is important to remember that no matter how small the quantity, asbestos fibres are dangerous.

If you have suffered from asbestos exposure and would like to arrange a discussion with an industrial disease solicitor click here or call us free on 0800 840 4929.