Harrow Council contractors Kier disposed of "cancer-causing asbestos" products casually, in your report on February 19.
Asbestos fibres are dangerous; until this penny dropped relatively recently the asbestos industry had handled them carelessly for many years, and the death and illness rate in mining, manufacture and the insulation industry bear witness to this.
Asbestos fibre insulation is still present in buildings and industry, and every care is necessary when it is encountered. When asbestos is present as a plastic compound, the fibres are embedded in the plastic, and in no way can they be released as fibres, however irresponsibly they are handled.
The bakelite cistern and vinyl asbestos tile are as safe in the skip as they were throughout the time they spent in service as a cistern and floor. Kier might be guilty of failing to tick some very silly boxes, but in no way have they behaved dangerously - can we save the concern and hysteria for the situations which deserve it?
MICK OLIVER
Woodcroft Avenue Stanmore
