The local authority has revealed that 47 of its schools and nurseries have asbestos present.
The list obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request includes thirty-four primary schools, six high schools, two additional support needs schools and five pre-5 centres.
The primary schools on the list include: Arkleston, Auchenlodment, Barsail, Bishopton, Brediland, Bridge of Weir, Bushes, East Fulton, Gallowhill, Heriot, Houston, Howwood, Inchinnan, Langbank, Langcraigs, Lochfield, Lochwinnoch, Newmains, Our Lady of Peace, Ralston, Rashielea, St Anne's, St Anthony's, St Catherine's, St Charles, St Fillan's, St John Ogilvie, St Margaret's, St Mary's, St Peter's, Thorn, Wallace, West, and Williamsburgh.
Other educational establishments on the list include Paisley Grammar, Trinity High, Johnstone High, Castlehead High, Gryffe High, Renfrew High, St Margaret's Nursery and Mary Russell School as well as pre-five centres Douglas Street, Glenburn, Glendee, Hugh Smiley and Paisley.
A group, which supports asbestos victims and calls for the removal of asbestos from buildings to mitigate its risk, has described the list as “frightening”.
Renfrewshire Council, however, has stressed that they have a “robust asbestos management policy to make sure that no one is exposed to asbestos dust or fibres in any council building.”
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A spokesperson for Clydebank Asbestos Group said: “As a charity that supports asbestos victims, we know all too well the dangers of asbestos exposure and we continue to campaign to bring about change to protect current and future generations from the dangers of asbestos exposure.
“The use of asbestos was prolific during the industrial era and as a result it is within the fabric of our buildings, schools and hospitals.
“In recent years at CAG, we have experienced an increase in the numbers of people we support who have not worked in the traditional sectors associated with exposure but rather they have worked in buildings that contained asbestos.
“In addition to this, we have experienced an increase in younger people being diagnosed with Mesothelioma and also women. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer almost always caused by asbestos exposure.
"It was therefor frightening to see the list of schools that contained asbestos in Renfrewshire, and some with more than one type including crocidolite and amosite.
“There is a way to mitigate that risk, and that is to safely remove asbestos from our buildings, starting with our schools.
“In doing so we would protect our children and surely that is worth the money."
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Asbestos was fully banned in the UK in 1999, but due to its properties such as heat resistance, the fibres were used in a number of products and building materials in the past.
In all cases where asbestos is known to be present in schools and nurseries the council’s recommendation is listed as to “re-inspect and manage”.
The list notes one reported asbestos-related incident between 2010 and 2019, which took place in February 2013 at Bishopton Primary.
The list also outlines asbestos containing materials in Renfrewshire’s schools and nurseries, as well as the known types of asbestos present.
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According to the UK Government, asbestos is generally divided into two sub-groups, serpentine and amphibole.
Serpentine asbestos (chrysotile or white asbestos) was the most commonly used type of asbestos.
Chrysotile asbestos fibres are soft, flexible and curved, while amphibole fibres (crocidolite-blue asbestos, amosite-brown asbestos, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite) are brittle fibres and are often rod- or needle-like in appearance.
It is this amphibole form that is more hazardous to health, with crocidolite being the most commonly-used amphibole asbestos in the past.
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The list shows that 24 of the 47 educational establishments in Renfrewshire Council have either crocidolite, amosite or anthophyllite recorded as a known asbestos type within their buildings.
A further FOI has revealed more details about the three schools with crocidolite present.
In Heriot Primary in Paisley it is located in the external cement soffit located behind the fascia.
In St Fillan’s Primary in Houston there is a small quantity of pipe residues at wall penetrations within the boiler house. These materials are encapsulated and labelled.
Finally, in Lochfield Primary in Paisley the crocidolite is in the boiler room undercroft, and this area is sealed off and access is restricted.
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A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Council said, “We are committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of everyone who learns in our schools, works in them or visits them.
"We comply with all the relevant laws and regulations relating to asbestos.
“We have a detailed register of which buildings contain asbestos and where it is located along with asbestos management plans and survey reports.
"We also carry out regular inspections of our buildings known to have asbestos.
“Asbestos only becomes a hazard when it is damaged or disturbed and asbestos dust and fibres are released into the air.
"Often the best approach is to leave it where it is and regularly monitor its condition.
"When we do carry out any removal work in our buildings air tests are then carried out to check if there are any asbestos fibres in the air.
“We have a robust asbestos management policy to make sure that no one is exposed to asbestos dust or fibres in any council building.
"We adopt the most appropriate measures for each building to ensure people are safe.
"Sometimes that involves removing the asbestos and sometimes it involves sealing it in place.”
The following facilities have been recorded by Renfrewshire Council as containing asbestos:
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