Asbestos in 124 Highland schools

Highland Council has insisted there is no risk to pupils or staff after it emerged more than 120 schools across the region contain asbestos.

The council's asbestos register shows the substance is contained in more than half of its primary schools and about 80% of secondary schools.

Serious health problems including cancer can be caused by exposure to high concentrations of asbestos fibres.

The council said it did not believe the asbestos posed an "immediate risk".

The vast majority of the 124 schools included in the asbestos register contain the least dangerous chrysotile, or white asbestos, but some have the much more hazardous amosite, or brown asbestos.

Millburn Academy in Inverness is among nine schools listed as having crocidolite, or blue asbestos, which is generally considered to be the most dangerous form of asbestos.

Anti-asbestos campaigners have claimed in the past that the risk of contracting lung cancer from inhaling large quantities of crocidolite and amosite can be up to 50 times greater than with chrysotile.

They also believe those exposed to blue asbestos fibres are up to 500 times more likely to develop mesothelioma, a form of cancer usually caused by close contact with asbestos, than through exposure to chrysotile.

It can take up to 60 years for mesothelioma to develop.

'Controls in place'

The council's register shows that much of the asbestos contained in many school buildings has either been removed or sealed off to make it safe.

David Goldie, the council's interim director of housing and property services, said: "We do not believe that any asbestos in schools presents an immediate risk.

"The council has management arrangements and controls in place to ensure that asbestos is recorded.

"The presence of asbestos is taken into account in any building maintenance work being undertaken and any work undertaken to buildings containing asbestos is managed within the relevant regulatory framework."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7200286.stm