Nine members of staff have been diagnosed with breast cancer

Concerns were first raised after eight staff at Quarter Primary School, near Hamilton, Lanarkshire, were diagnosed in the five years to 2002.

Health chiefs had previously dismissed the need for environmental tests.

However, an urgent probe into environmental factors is now under way after another worker was diagnosed with breast cancer three months ago.

Health risk

The air quality, water supply and radiation levels around the school will be monitored.

The 130-year-old school currently employs 15 teachers.

South Lanarkshire Council said the investigation would be carried out "as quickly as possible".

A council spokeswoman said: "Health concerns were raised by staff at Quarter Primary School.

"This concern was originally investigated in 2002. In March 2004 a further member of staff was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"Following this, concerns were raised again that there may be an environmental health risk leading to the level of breast cancer among women working in the school."

Further reassurance

She said NHS Lanarkshire's department of public health had investigated the level of cancer in the area and assessed possible factors which could lead to increased risk.

"They advised that, from the medical information, it would not be necessary to undertake environmental tests," she added.

"However, both the council and NHS Lanarkshire acknowledge the natural concerns expressed by staff that they would wish to see tests carried out to provide further reassurance."

One can easily understand the concerns both for the teachers and the people living in the area Kate Law Cancer Research UK

The tests are "well under way" and results will be reported back to staff as soon as the results have been assessed.

Labour MSP for Hamilton South, Tom McCabe, said: "I can well understand the concerns of staff at the school and I have been reassured by the local authorities and Lanarkshire health board that the tests are under way, and outcomes will be returned to those concerned at the nearest possible opportunity."

Kate Law, head of clinical trials at Cancer Research UK, said breast cancer was the commonest cancer in women, with one-in-nine affected in their lifetime.

She said: "One can easily understand the concerns both for the teachers and the people living in the area.

'Directly inherited'

"The main causes of breast cancer are well-known and are largely related to lifestyle: the later age at which we have children or are not having children at all; not breast feeding; having a late menopause; being overweight after the menopause.

"Also five per cent of breast cancer cases are directly inherited."

Christine Fogg, the joint chief executive of Breast Cancer Care, said: "We realise that many women hearing about the incidence of breast cancer at Quarter Primary School will be concerned.

"To find such a large percentage of women diagnosed within a group is unusual.