A government advisory on the handling of asbestos roofing debris from Hurricane Fabian is no cause for alarm, officials insisted yesterday.

But it should not be dismissed either, health authorities say. The Department of Communication and Information (DCI) sent out a press statement September 19 - two weeks after the hurricane struck - advising on how to handle the potentially killer substance.

It said an "abundance of asbestos roofing debris" had been created by the hurricane and that affected homeowners should, ideally, hire an "asbestos abatement contractor" to prepare the substance for collection by Government.

"I can't speak to that - not being a health expert but asbestos is dangerous when airborne," said Health Minister Patrice Minors when asked whether there was a looming public health crisis.

"It has been indicated to me by my technical officers that there is no reason for alarm but we would want people to use precaution if they have reason to believe that asbestos is indicated."

She said those who were not sure whether they had asbestos debris should contact the Health Department.

Government officials contacted yesterday could not say how many Island residences were known to have asbestos.

"I would not have used that word (abundance) to be honest," said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Cann. "I would agree the word abundance was not the appropriate term. There is no reason for people to panic."

The press release was "just a precautionary measure reminding people of something that's been repeated many times over", he said.

Dr. Cann said that the advisory was prepared in response to calls to his department and acknowledged that they could have been more "proactive" and issued the warnings earlier.

In years past asbestos was widely used in corrugated roofing for small structures like sheds. It is also used, in its potentially more dangerous form, as insulation for pipes and sound proofing.

Either way it has to be made airborne for it to be harmful.

"As long as its not disturbed - if you don't saw it or drill into it - it's okay," Dr. Cann continued. "But we still encourage people who deal with it to let us know so we can recommend the appropriate contractor.

And our concern was that there may still be some people who still have asbestos or building materials that may have some form of asbestos that may have been damaged in the hurricane. I would say that there is no cause for alarm."

Government does have a handle on commercial and public use buildings with asbestos in them, but they have no idea what the situation is in the private residential sector. He dismissed a suggestion that the advisory is likely useless because most residential areas have already been cleaned up.

"I can't hundred percent agree with that because people are going to be concerned with their own roofs first, and damage to their houses."

The advisory was a joint release between the Works and Engineering Department and the Health Department.

It recommends wearing gloves and a dust mask when handling the substance, wetting it to minimise airborne fibres, placing in a cardboard box and then double wrapping the box and taping thoroughly.

Government begins collecting the debris this week until September 30. Those who do not put their asbestos out for collection by Tuesday will have to deliver it to the Government Quarry in Bailey's Bay.

The latest Government report on asbestos has been completed but not yet released. Mrs. Minors said yesterday that she intends to release it during the next parliamentary session.