'No evidence' of airborne asbestos at closed beach
BBCAir quality tests have found "no evidence" of airborne asbestos at a beach which was closed after the substance was in sand, a council has said.
Plymouth City Council said Mount Batten beach, Plymouth, Devon, was closed "until further notice" on 10 July after "high levels of asbestos fibres" was found in the sand for a second time.
However, while no airborne asbestos fibres were recorded from 24 sites tested along the peninsula, preliminary sand sampling results showed asbestos fibres were present in all but one area of the closed beach, the council added.
The UK Health Security Agency said, "all forms of asbestos fibres are hazardous as they can induce cancer following inhalation exposure".
The authority said fibres were also detected in samples from sandy foreshore areas on the north side of the peninsula that were exposed at low tide, so access to those areas had also been restricted as a precaution.
It said further information about the levels of asbestos in those areas and the potential risks would be known when results were available from a full survey that was being carried out.
The council said there was no reason to believe there was a risk to users of the nearby concrete slipways, a landing stage or the water sports and activities centre.
Asbestos was first discovered on the beach in 2019 when a total of 500kg (1,100lb) of asbestos material, was collected from the beach and had continued to be collected every two months.
Prof Steve Maddern, Plymouth's director of public health, said he hoped the confirmation that there was no evidence of asbestos in the air would provide "some reassurance" to people.
He said he understood the restrictions would be disappointing "but we have act to protect everyone's safety while we await further information".
He said: "We are working closely with other agencies, including the UK Health Security Agency, to make decisions that protect people and minimise any potential risks while not causing unnecessary worry.
"We understand this has been very concerning and disruptive, but public safety has got to come first."
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