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Health and safety news: Two asbestos dumps found in Sutton

Environmental health and safety fears have been sparked in south-east England after asbestos was found dumped in Sutton twice during December 2009.

The borough's council told the Sutton Guardian that the substance, which is carcinogenic, was most likely to have originated from a garage or similar flat roof. It appealed for witnesses to the incident in a bid to track down the perpetrators.

Sutton Council's executive member for the environment councillor Colin Hall said the offenders could have been professional builders, waste clearers or roofers who "really should know better".

"Asbestos is a hazardous waste material and should not be left lying around polluting our streets," he added.

This development comes after Health and Safety Executive launched its asbestos awareness campaign, in which it revealed that 4,000 deaths each year can be linked to inhalation of fibres from the material.

They can cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma - which is always fatal - and lung cancer.

Quantum Risk Management is a leading Health and Safety consultant

Posted on 04/01/2010

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