cause for alarm''.

Bermuda Housing Corporation general manager Mr. Edwin Cowen stated this yesterday following an inspection by the Health Department.

And senior environmental health officer Mr. Martin Law confirmed it.

Mr. Law told The Royal Gazette : "We did an inspection of it (Sandhurst apartment building off the Old Military Road in St. George's) and it is quite a common occurrence. In itself it (asbestos) is not a concern, providing it is not disturbed.'' Residents voiced concerns earlier this week about the asbestos.

One resident, who has children, said she did not learn about it until this week.

But she said she noticed her water smelled "sandy'' and made her skin itchy and dry after baths or showers.

Another resident said she found out about the asbestos from a workman, some time ago.

She also noted that her roof was leaking and she said she was trying to get the Bermuda Housing Corporation -- which had promised to patch up the "hairline leaks'' -- to relocate her family.

But Mr. Cowen said the Corporation had only learned about the asbestos this week.

And he said: "If it is determined that we need to remove it, we will.'' Yesterday Mr. Law explained that as long as the roof remained stable and nothing -- such as power washing or power sawing -- was used to cause it to crack into fine dust, the residents had nothing to worry about.

"It is a sound structure,'' Mr. Law stressed about the apartment building which dates back to the Second World War.

"It is not a rarity to have a roof of this kind in Bermuda, providing it is sound,'' he said. "People hear the word asbestos and there becomes a fear factor.'' However, Mr. Law said it was advisable for "any organisation that knows it has asbestos on its property to check it from year to year''.

"If it is breaking down,'' he added, "they will have to remove the roof, following proper procedures.''