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Education Secretary Michael Gove waved away any concern for schools around the UK over the potential for
asbestos exposure as the schools get older, reports Tribune Magazine UK.
As older buildings, which are commonly insulated with the deadly fibers, begin to decay, it's possible asbestos could be inhaled by students. Related diseases such as mesothelioma, a rare form of untreatable cancer, can appear decades later. The cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos.
Currently, the government protocol is to leave the materials in place as time goes forward, but Ellie Reeves, a member of Labour's National Executive Committee, says a "full and comprehensive risk assessment has not been carried out to ascertain the full extent of the problem."
According to Reeves, the Trades Union Congress says cases of mesothelioma in teachers rose 300 percent over the past 20 years.
Budget cuts may be factoring into the government's alleged improper handling of the situation. The Health and Safety Executive bureau is facing a lack of funds, which could lead to the reduction of asbestos inspections.
People who worry they may have contracted an asbestos-related illness, such as mesothelioma, often try to seek compensation through an
asbestos law firm.