The United Kingdom is currently facing an asbestos and mesothelioma crisis. Over 200 teachers in the past 10 years alone have died from asbestos related mesothelioma. Along with the 200 teachers, 1800 ex-students have contracted asbestos related mesothelioma.

    Mesothelioma is a type of cancer in which fibers from asbestos bury themselves deep in the tissue of your lungs. This causes the cells to react abnormally and start producing cancer cells. It is a fatal disease that usually begins years after the initial exposure.

    This is the disease now facing hundreds of United Kingdom school teachers. Dr Mary Bousted of the National Education Union had this to say on the matter: “These figures are shocking. No one should have to suffer an early death because the building they work in contains asbestos. Education staff are at risk but of even greater concern are children, who are more vulnerable to developing mesothelioma if exposed at a young age. The only certain way to prevent future deaths is to rid our educational buildings of this deadly material.”

    Unions, like the one Dr. Mary Bousted in involved in, have been calling on the government to supply funding to get rid of asbestos in schools and reduce the risk of mesothelioma for teachers and students.

    A study from 2015 found that 86% of schools in the United Kingdom are contaminated by asbestos, and they are in desperate need of asbestos abatement.

    For every teacher affected by asbestos related disease, nine students are expected to die of asbestos related disease as well. Clearly the United Kingdom must take action soon to fight against asbestos.