Asbestos has been found in the roof of one of Government's apartment buildings, The Royal Gazette has learned.

And some residents living in Sandhurst apartments, off the Old Military Road in St. George's, have expressed concern about their health.

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

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

"We don't drink the water without boiling it,'' she said. "And we have to put bath oil or beads in our bath water. I thought it was just the water.

"I did not know it was asbestos until I was told this week. It (the asbestos) is a real concern right now.'' Another resident said she found out about the asbestos from a workman some time ago and had been trying to get the Bermuda Housing Corporation to relocate her family since.

But Bermuda Housing Corporation general manager Mr. Edwin Cowen said yesterday the Corporation had only recently learned about the asbestos.

"I first found out about it the night before last,'' Mr. Cowen told The Royal Gazette .

"The building is real old. It was built when the army was in position,'' he said, adding that it was likely that most roofs built in Bermuda more than 30 years ago contained asbestos.

However, Mr. Cowen said the Corporation planned to deal with the asbestos situation in the St. George's apartment building immediately.

"If it is determined that we need to remove it, we will,'' he said. "We're going to try to get someone down there tomorrow. We will deal with it urgently.'' He noted that asbestos in a roof was "not bad'' as long as it was "contained or sealed''.

But he added that the families living in the building will be relocated if necessary.