A COUNCIL is proposing to reintroduce Medium Density Fireboard (MDF) into school lessons, despite banning the material five years ago on health grounds.

MDF was banned from being used in design technology lessons at Darlington schools by Darlington Council, the local education authority in 1998.

But now some schools have requested they be allowed to use the material to enable pupils to gain experience of working with it and also because it is cheaper than wood.

The proposals will be discussed tomorrow at the Joint Consultative Committee meeting, which the Press and public are not invited to attend.

Geraldine Smith, a social worker whose son attends Eastbourne School in the town is angry about the proposals and believes that if approved, it will put children's health at risk.

"MDF is bonded together with formaldehyde, which is carcinogenic. If it is cut or sanded it produces a very fine powdery dust which is a skin irritant and if inhaled will irritate the lungs," she said.

"So many children have asthma and allergies now, as well as staff who will be exposed to this for longer periods than the children.

"I don't care how cheap it is, MDF is full of stuff that causes cancer. Formaldehyde is nasty, nasty stuff. They are talking about the long term health of children here. This is putting cost before people's health."

However, a council spokes-man said it was not a council initiative, it had come from individual schools in the town.

He said schools wanting to use MDF in lessons would have to satisfy council health and safety unit requirements.

"Schools will be properly assessed to make sure they have the right local exhaust ventilation, and adequate means of controlling the levels of dust before they can use MDF. This is a safe substance as long as appropriate controls are taken when using it."