health and safety: Will asbestos be used again?

Leading environmental and health and safety experts have warned that the big debate about the benefits of asbestos is likely to re-emerge following speculation that the use of the substance may extend evacuation time ahead of a collapse.

'This could now become a big debate again and that is very worrying,' said Ross Udall at AsbestosRegister.com. He believes that there are other substances that can be just as effective as asbestos. But many other experts maintain there is no substitute.

'Nothing is as good as asbestos, it is a very stable mineral in extreme temperatures,' said Jeff Llewelyn, director of safety, health and environment at the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

'Asbestos has undoubtedly saved lives in ordinary buildings. It is very effective protection against fire, that is the plus side, but there is a down side, as we all know. I think that it would be worth revisiting the issue.'