An English beach has been closed to the public after tests showed high levels of asbestos fibres in the sand. Mount Batten beach in Plymouth was shut off to the public on Friday as further investigations and tests are carried out.
Plymouth Council said it would "remain closed to all users until further notice" to ensure the safety of the public. The decision to close the beach was made by the Director of Public Health in consultation with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to protect from the potential health risks from asbestos fibres.
Material containing asbestos was previously found at the beach in 2019, the council said, but samples at the time showed very low levels.
Repeat sampling of the sand in recent weeks found asbestos fibres in 14 of 16 samples, with two types of the fibres found at levels deemed "hazardous waste" by the contractor.
If inhaled, asbestos fibres get trapped deep in the lungs, where the body cannot break them down. This causes severe lung scarring and cancer, though symptoms may not show right away as these diseases take 10 to 60 years to develop.
Professor Steve Maddern, Plymouth Director of Public Health, said: "Closing a beach that is well used by local residents is the last thing we want to do and we understand the disappointment this will cause but the latest sand samples are concerning and we must prioritise the safety of the public.
"We need to carry out further tests, including assessing the risk of airborne fibres and conducting a further survey to try and trace exactly where the materials are coming from.
"I would urge everyone, for their own safety, to take notice of the signage around the beach and not to enter areas that have been closed. Once we have carried out further tests we will know what needs to be done to reduce the risks on the beach.
"We would ask everyone to bear with us and be patient while this work takes place and to enjoy the other beautiful areas of the Mount Batten peninsula, including the Mount Batten Watersports and Activities Centre, in the meantime."
