'SHOCKING' Asbestos fears as 1 in 4 Scottish Government buildings still contain toxic material

HEALTH campaigners have hit out at the Scottish Government after it emerged that more than a quarter of its buildings still contain deadly asbestos.

A Freedom of Information request revealed that 26 per cent of properties - or 17 out of 65 - used by the authority contain the fibrous minerals linked to cancer and lung damage.

But a Scottish charity helping asbestos-related disease sufferers and families has since blasted officials for their continued “refusal” to safely remove the toxic material.

Dianne Foster, general manager of Asbestos Action said: “The presence or prevalence of asbestos in so many government buildings is a concern because asbestos in any building is a concern.

“It is also reflective of council areas all over Scotland because asbestos was used abundantly to build town halls, schools, homes and even hospitals.

“The findings are disappointing but they are not a shock as asbestos is a long-established problem.

“The real shock comes from the continued refusal of public officials, authorities and big businesses to hire specialised contractors to safely remove this toxic material.”

Asbestos can be present today in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000.

The Health and Safety Executive said it still kills around 5,000 workers annually - more than the number of people killed on the road.

Around 20 tradesmen die each week as a result of past exposure.

When materials that contain asbestos are disturbed or damaged, fibres are released into the air.

When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases which often take a long time to develop.

But once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything.

Illnesses can include mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening.

Ms Foster added: “It is regarded as the number one work-related death in the world. It is not acceptable to sit idly by and allow thousands of families to suffer avoidable deaths every year.

“Asbestos is not a ‘building management’ issue – it’s a public health issue and needs to be treated as such because asbestos is just as toxic now as it was when it was first installed decades ago.”

It comes after Nats ministers were accused of “dither and delay” over the removals of potentially dangerous cladding on public buildings.

The Scottish Sun told on Tuesday how 88 schools are among 108 properties that still have high-risk flammable materials linked to the Grenfell disaster.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government holds information on the location of asbestos in its buildings following surveys by specialist contractors.

“These Asbestos Registers are used to ensure that users of the building and contractors are not put at risk. Encapsulation of asbestos is a recognised approach to managing asbestos in buildings.

“Where other works are being undertaken in a building known to have asbestos consideration will be given to whether or not asbestos removal might be incorporated within those works.

“In these circumstances, specialist asbestos management advice is always taken in order to ensure safety for all.”

via The Scottish Sun