Teacher with mesothelioma raises awareness about asbestos in local schools
Thanks to a former teacher diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining caused by asbestos exposure, the public in the UK borough of Redbridge has been made aware of the presence of asbestos in school buildings. According to a story published in the Guardian, more than 60 school buildings–including almost every major secondary and most primary schools–contain asbestos. Carol Hegedorn, the 58-year-old former teacher with mesothelioma who worked at three of the borough’s schools in her 34-year career, publicly warned that asbestos at the schools was a “ticking time bomb” for teachers and students. It is estimated that 80 percent of schools in the UK contain asbestos, which has been linked to 4,000 deaths yearly due to mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other diseases. Under recent legislation, local councils are now required to identify and monitor the presence of asbestos in school buildings. For the full story, including a list of the schools in Redbridge containing asbestos, go to Guardian.
